Northeastern Japan is simply stunning. Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada are the top destinations in Aomori Prefecture. This astonishing part of Japan can conveniently be reached via a JR train or Shinkansen. The city, Hachinohe, is where the buses bound for Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada depart from and terminate. On top of that, it …
Have you ever wondered what the world would look like after you die? Well, we have. According to Japanese folk tales, those who die will pass a bridge to cross the Sanzunokawa river. It has been said that the river divides our world from another world. As we all need to cross that river one …
After a day or two of exploring Hirosaki, you might feel like you haven’t experienced enough of the Tsugaru region’s hospitality. You decide to hop on a train and are on your way to the sister-like city, Kuroishi. During the 50-minute train ride, you might look out of the window and think, “I wonder whether there is …
The Ultimate Guide to the Attractions in Hirakawa City Read More »
When we first saw a picture of the rice field art (or rice paddy art), we thought, “ah, who destroyed the rice field by putting paint on those poor plants…”. And then, when we were told the drawings were formed by planting various types of rice to create different colors at different spots of the …
A Guide to the Amazing Inakadate Village Rice Field Art Read More »
Sakura Park (猿賀公園) is a 6.3-hectare park surrounding the Saruka Shrine. It can be enjoyed any time of the year (*’▽’). In Spring, the pink flowers on almost 330 cherry blossom trees gorgeously decorate two ponds in the park. If you want this magical experience, attend the Cherry Blossom and Tree Planting Festival (桜と植木まつり), held …
We have all seen them, the fantastic views photographed from mountaintops. Surely they must have been edited? Well, now you can find out in the laziest way possible with an easy mountain peak climb! Mt. Iwaki (岩木山), the highest mountain in Aomori Prefecture, is a great mountain to cross off your bucket list! With an …
Mt. Iwaki – Tsugaru’s Fine Imitation of the Mighty Mt. Fuji Read More »
Mt. Iwaki (岩木山), the highest mountain in Aomori Prefecture is known as Tsugaru Region’s Mt. Fuji. While it is certainly a favorite to hiking enthusiasts, you can get to the summit of the mountain with as little as a 30-minute hike!
People with a bit of knowledge of Aomori Prefecture will most likely have heard about the famous Hirosaki City. What they might not know or hear of is its sister-like city – Kuroishi (黒石市), which prospered with Hirosaki City as Hirosaki Castle’s castle town.
Have you ever wondered what a traditional Japanese arcade looks like? When you visit Kuroishi City, come and explore Nakamachi Komise Street (中町こみせ通り). It is the only arcade in Japan that has remained almost intact since the Edo period (1603 – 1868)!
There are plenty of “joyful trains” in Japan but have you ever boarded one with live performances? Resort Shirakami (リゾートしらかみ) is the only joyful train in Japan with live performances, including shamisen (Japanese guitar), puppet plays, and Japanese folk tales told in the Tsugaru dialect (津軽弁)!