JR Gono Line: Shirakami runs along the coast of the Sea of Japan

 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

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

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.

 A beautiful pond, Aoike



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.

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.

The Sea of Japan from the window of Shirakami

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.

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.


Mt. Iwakisan called Tsugaru Mt, Fuji