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Simply 5 weeks after my earlier journey to Japan’s Tōhoku area within the north of Japan I used to be again for a extra widespread journey taking in 5 prefectures together with 4 that I had by no means beforehand visited. All of this was carried out utilizing native trains and as a result of their extra restricted nature on this a part of the nation I needed to plan all the things very fastidiously which regularly meant having to run to numerous areas and again! I used to be away for 5 nights this time and these have been the primary highlights…
Day 1: I travelled as much as Koriyama (Fukushima Prefecture) by way of Utsunomiya and headed west from there for an hour or so. A half an hour stroll to the 57 metre tall Aizu Jibo Daikannon Statue adopted. Extra particulars right here
It was then 90 minutes on foot to Aizu Sazae-do Temple which is recognised as a Naturally Designated Essential Cultural Asset. This 16.6 metre excessive, three-storey, hexagon formed Buddhist construction was in-built 1796 and is the world’s solely wood constructing remaining from the mid-Edo Interval. It’s fairly distinctive in that two ramps come up from each the entrance and rear entrances and are united by way of a bit bridge on the prime having made two revolutions. Extra particulars right here
A couple of bus rides later and I used to be at a historic landmark often known as Nakamura-yama; a mountain in a totally silent nook of Aizu Wakamatsu that includes load of bizarre-looking household tombs standing atop turtle-shaped stones. Extra particulars right here
Day 2: After spending the night time in Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture), I travelled as much as Hiraizumi with a brief cease in Furukawa early morning to see the fascinating trying architectural design of the Osaki Civic Corridor.
In Hiraizumi I went to Genbikei Gorge by bus. What was capturing most individuals’s consideration was not the attractive views of the gorge however the wood bowl zipping throughout the valley on a wire. Throughout the valley is a restaurant which is ready to ship dango (a Japanese candy comprised of rice flour) to prospects with out them going wherever close to the bricks-and-mortar constructing! I later went to test it out in additional element and bought to satisfy the person behind the creation. Extra particulars right here
Takkoku no Iwaya lies six kilometres south-west of Hiraizumi station and one bus each hour goes in that route. It’s a phenomenal temple constructed beneath an overhanging cliff which isn’t one thing you see too usually. Extra particulars right here
Motsu-ji Temple was subsequent and that’s supposedly very well-known in Japan as a consultant of a Heian interval land backyard and has thus been designated a Particular Place of Scenic Magnificence. Motsu-ji could also be a temple however it’s the backyard which is of curiosity to most individuals because it’s a World Heritage Website and a spectacle of magnificence that has not modified in over 800 years.
Subsequent it was onwards and upwards to Morioka (Iwate Prefecture) which is famed for just a few several types of noodles. Jajamen on the metropolis’s hottest restaurant was my selection. Extra particulars right here
Day 3: Summer time watermelons are the speciality of an space in Iwate prefecture and that’s supposedly the rationale why this gasoline tank has been adorned to look precisely like the massive fruit. Attending to this place was my first mission of the day and it concerned extra strolling. Simply the 55 minutes on foot a technique this time! Extra particulars right here
It wasn’t fairly all native trains on this journey up north to the Tohoku space as I needed to take a two hour bus from Morioka to Hirosaki. Consuming apple curry in a European model home throughout the grounds of Fujita Memorial Backyard was my precedence and after that I visited Hirosaki Citadel which is the image of the city. Extra particulars right here
The ultimate cease of the day was to see the station with a large 17.3 metre clay determine nicknamed Shako-chan. Extra particulars right here
I arrived in Aomori late night and made it to a restaurant simply earlier than they closed to pattern the distinctive miso milk curry ramen. Extra particulars right here
Day 4: There wasn’t an excessive amount of time to go searching Aomori within the morning however I did go to see the pyramid formed ASPAM constructing. It’s really alleged to seem like an “A” (to signify the A in Aomori Prefecture) quite than a pyramid! Extra particulars right here
Over 200 beautiful torii gates winding their means gently up the hill via the standard Japanese backyard of Takayama Inari-Jinja Shrine was the vacation spot however getting there took plenty of effort. From Aomori it was 75 minutes to Goshogawara by way of a fast change in Kawabe. There was then an 80 minute wait earlier than the bus left at 12:30 pm and that took an additional 46 minutes. Though the bus cease was known as Takayama Jinja Iriguchi mae, it was nonetheless one other 40 minutes on foot from there! It was all price it although. Extra particulars right here
One hour south of Hirosaki is that this station consisting of nothing far more than a conventional Japanese drum which doubles up as a ready room. The drum is just below 4 metres in size. There was completely no signal of life wherever close to this station, and I needed to wait there for 2 hours till the following practice arrived to take me again up the road to my nights lodging in Odate. Extra particulars right here
Day 5: Odate was solely ever going to be a spot to spend the night time however little did I do know beforehand however it’s really the birthplace of Shibuya’s beloved, trustworthy canine Hachiko. The bronze statue of Hachi was first unveiled in entrance of the station in July 1935 however the authorities ordered it to be withdrawn in 1945. Within the mid-80’s there was a motion to get the statue again and it will definitely returned in November 1987 after fundraising. Extra particulars right here
Namahage is a Japanese ogre custom originating within the Oga Peninsula space of Akita Prefecture. I needed to see these superior figures exterior Oga Vacationer Data Centre however but once more it took a good quantity of effort in getting there to see them. Extra particulars right here
At Akita station I headed straight for the bus station and instantly hopped on to a bus to see the fantastic structure of Akita Prefectural Gymnasium. Extra particulars right here
Day 6: Yesterday noticed me journey over 400 kilometres south to Koriyama (Fukushima Prefecture) and the ultimate vacation spot of this complete journey was Pyramid Onsen (Tochigi Prefecture) which was 80 minutes on foot (a technique) though I did get supplied a raise by a automobile driver passing by on the way in which again when it was raining! Extra particulars right here
Click on right here to learn ‘An Unfinished Kannon, A New Buddha Statue, A Lovely Bay, Cave Temples, Mini Fuji, Spiderman, Sperm, Capsule Motels & Native Practice Journey In Miyagi & Fukushima (2018)’
Click on right here to learn ‘A Trio Of High Sights In The Aizu Wakamatsu Area’
Click on right here to learn ’24 hours In Sendai’
Click on right here to learn ‘On The Fox Path……At Zao Fox Village (Miyagi)’
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