I got on a Shirakami express train on the JR Gono Line at Akita Station at 8: 25am on September 7th. It was the main purpose of my three-day-trip to the north of Japan, the Akita and Aomori prefectures. Gono Line is known because its trains run along the coast of the Sea of Japan and the scenery from the window is superb.
Gono Line
http://www.jrtr.net/jrtr42/back.html
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| Resort Shirakami |
My train stopped at Noshiro Station for about ten minutes, where station attendants gave a warm welcome and gave us a basketball to shoot at a ring on the platform. Noshiro is the town of Noshiro Kogyo High School, a long time champion school of basketball
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| Have a fun with basketball in Noshiro Station |
I got off at Juniko Station at 10:22 am and took a bus to Juniko for 15 minutes. Juniko in the west of UNESCO World Heritage Shirakami Sanchi, is a natural forest with 33 ponds. The most beautiful one is Aoike or blue pond.
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| A beautiful pond, Aoike |
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| Juniko |
After walking around Juniko I went to Furofushi Onsen by bus and stayed in a ryokan to enjoy a few hot spring baths and a natural one.
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| Furoufushi Onsen; a natural hot spring in front of the Sea of Japan |
Next day I took the Shirakami again at Wespa Tsubakiyama to go to Hirosaki, Aomori Prefecture. It was a beautiful day. The scenery was fantastic and didn't fall short of my expectation.
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| The Sea of Japan from the window of Shirakami |
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| People enjoy the sea from observation seats |
Tsugaru Shamisen is a local musical instrument like banjo and two performers played and sang local tunes during Ajigasaki Station and Gshogawasa Station.
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| Tsugaru Shamisen's performance in the train |
My train ran toward my destination Hirosaki, the inland town of Aomori. Mt. Iwakisan called Tsugaru Fuji, is the highest one of Aomori Prefecture. Tsugaru is a former name of Aomori.
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| Mt. Iwakisan called Tsugaru Mt, Fuji |
