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Ouchijuku like a theme park welcomed by healthy old women good at business !

ouchijuku post town
ouchijuku roof material
ouchijuku roof material

Since the thatched roof is made from thin and manpower is required, dubbing work is done by all the villagers, which helps to form a community.

An ancient post town was on the highroad connecting Aizu and Nikko in Edo period.  Now it is left from main transportation route but the community keeps Ouchijuku remain as it is.  Thatched roof is not just beautiful, it is an important gimmick to maintain the community !

ouchijuku shop
oushijuku shop

At each thatched-roof house, a charming saleswoman sits at the edge of the porches and sells her own cooked food and crafts. Each item is hand-made, and the wallet’s string is loosened as the grandmother smiles.

 

Gallery (click photos)

go to ouchijuku
ouchijuku post town viewpoint
ouchijuku roof top
ouchijuku shrine

tou no hetsuri shrine
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Tou no hetsuri(cliff of towers)  is a temple created by nature

tou no hetsuri viewpoint
tou no hetsuri explanation
tou no hetsuri explanation

The cliff of towers’ shape was created by nature, 1 million years of erosion and weathering.  People had been worshiping the tower like a Buddha.
The river flows gracefully and you can cross the suspension bridge and walk under the cliff of towers.

snake on sale
snake on sale

 

Bottled snake(mamushi or viper) with liquor is on sale as a souvenir at the entrance shop.  Who buy it?  Instead, be careful of walking the cliff of towers?

Gallery (click photos)

tou no hetsuri left
tou no hetsuri center
tou no hetsuri right

Detour

A cat stationmaster ‘Love’ welcome you at Ashinomaki Hot Spring station.  He will appear if he is in a good mood, but I don’t think he is fulfilling his duties as a stationmaster.  Although he is the stationmaster, he is merely living at the station.  In the countryside, we often see small animals as honorary stationmasters.

ashinomaki hot spring
cat stationmaster

tou no hetsuri shrine
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Sazaedo like a turban shell is a pilgrimage place of religion

inawashiro lake
sazaedo front
sazaedo front

Sazaedo is located at the foot* of Mt.Iimori, where 19 young samurais committed suicide by seeing a burning their lord’s castle in 1868 when Aizu Domain was artificially hit by the new government after the Edo Shogunate to show it.

*)There was a guide to recommend using a paid escalator not to get tired when going to the sacred place from now on.   What about that?
The Aizu-Wakamatsu city at twilight that spreads to the west was very impressive.

twilight aizu wakamatsu city
twilight aizu wakamatsu chity

Sazaedo means not only the name ‘Turban shell Temple’ in English but also the shape of inside structure.  When you enter from the front, the slope climbs in a spiral to the right. However, when you cross the bridge at the top, it turns into a descending counterclockwise slope, and at the end you will be behind the building.  This structure not only did not cause traffic congestion inside, but it was also a place where people could visit many Buddha efficiently by placing 33 Kannon(Buddha statues) on the slope at that time.   Was it profitable in faith?

sazaedo inside top
sazaedo inside top
sazaedo front
sazaedo side

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Distant view of Inawashiro Lake like Death Sea in Israel and Jordan and Mt.Bandai illuminated by the setting sun

inawashiro lake
bandai mountains
bandai mountains

tou no hetsuri shrine
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too quiet and scared Nakanose Pond is the face that represents Geopark

nakanose numa viewpoint

I have never met such a spacious and refreshing scenery.  But it’s amazing because the horrific volcanic activity in 1888(recently!) created this landscape.  The collapse of the mountain body occurred on the Urabandai side due to the steam explosion as one of the volcanic activity, and rocks avalanche from the collapse dammed the river creating many lakes and ponds.  On the viewpoint, the top of chunk of rock,  you can imagine how Mt. Bandai collapsed and rocks avalanche rushed in the direction you were in to create lakes and ponds.

Geosite View (click photos)

nakanose pond left
nakanose pond right

Taking a walk, many chunks of rocks are recognized here and there and  become a blindfold, so when you pass through it, the scenery suddenly changes and a bear may suddenly appear.   That’s why a bear bell is indispensable if you are not enough bigger than a bear !

*)The Renge Pond walking and the Nakanose Pond walking are connected and enjoy quiet walking except for a bear.

Gallery (click photos)

renge pond parking
renge pond walking
renge pond
bear caution

tou no hetsuri shrine
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deep Nakatsugawa Valley with bright autumn leaves

nakatsugawa valley viewpoint
nakatsugawa valley bridge
nakatsugawa valley bridge

The normal tourist overlooks here, but those who love the countryside cannot.  You can enjoy the autumn colors even from the bridge, but for those with good legs, let’s go down the deep valley 15min for one way.

nakatsugawa valley4
nakatsugawa valley4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gallery (click phtos)

nakatsugawa valley bridge
nakatsugawa valley under the bridge
nakatsugawa valley2
nakatsugawa valley4
nakatsugawa valley viewpoint
nakatsugawa valley5

Panoramic view of Onogawa and Akimoto Lake (click photos)

On the way to Nakatsugawa Valley, Bandai-Azuma Lake Line(road) runs along the ridge.  The mountains colored in autumn colors looked like broccoli !

onogawa lake
onogawa lake broccoli
onogawa lake viewpoint
akimoto lake

tou no hetsuri shrine
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Urabandai Goshiki-Numa Ponds(Five colors ponds) walk

goshiki numa viewpoint
goshiki numa midoro
goshiki numa midoro

‘Red Pond’ in literary among Goshiki-NumaPonds is not real red.  The color of Hell Ponds in Beppu Hot spring (Oita prefecture) reproduces the color more faithfully. Five colors here mean that various colors can be found depending on the weather and season, etc.   Its color is due to the reflection of particles of the melted mineral matter.

goshiki numa map
goshiki numa map

 

 

To save time, recommend to use a bus for one way. Return to Goshiki-Numa entrance / Urabandai-Kogen by bus (to Inawashiro / Kitakata for each) to pick up the parked car there.  Check  in advance a time table of bus available per about one hour.  In case go forward to the other starting point taking a bus immediately after parking a car.

Gallery (click photos)

goshiki numa bishamon1
goshiki numa bishamon2
goshiki numa aka
goshiki numa midoro
goshiki numa benten
goshiki numa mountains
goshiki numa ruri
goshiki numa ao
goshiki numa yanagi1
goshiki numa yanagi2
goshiki numa map

tou no hetsuri shrine
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Lake Towada at twillight

towada lake from Hakka pass
pleasure boat
pleasure boat

Lake Towada  is not far behind from Mt.Aso (in Kumamoto prefecture) as ‘Caldera Topography’.    In the past, the subduction of the Pacific plate produced magma and many giant caldera volcanoes existed.   The Caldera outer ring mountain is huge so always I’m wondering which mountain pass to choose as a panoramic view point.
Hakka Pass is too famous and you can find delicious apples, etc. with cheap price at the souvenir shop there but “Kankodai” is very calm especially at twillight.

We have visit Lake Towada even twice searching for nice weather.  On the other hand we had also visit Mt.Aso even twice !   We never get tired of watching the caldera terrain.

Galley (click photo)

towada lake from Hakka pass
somma of towada lake
camp
twilight towada lake

 

Mt.Gentagatake
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Snoopy Waterfall, No Doubt !

head of snoopy

It appears in front of you the moment you turn the promenade.  There is no doubt  that it looks snoopy no matter what you look at.  I recognized this waterfall when watching TV program casually a few years ago.   The official name is Miroku Waterfall, which come from Buddhist thought.  Certainly, I felt that way because it suddenly appeared after turning the promenade.
I was planning to make a detour* on the way back from Lake Towada on 2nd day but the sunset was early in the deep mountains, so I gave up to stop by and next day challenged.

*)It is on the way down from Lake Towada to Iwate prefecture through the southside of Aomori prefecture.   Entering from the main road**, it is at the end of a dead end road.   No gas station nearby around Lake Towada.  Be careful !

**)Takko Town is located along the main road.  The garlic in Takko Town is famous for its quality, which makes it possible to revitalize the town.

miroku waterfall like snoopy

Mt.Gentagatake
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Bullfight festival in Japan

bullfight waiting
bullfight ready go
bullfight ready go

Japanese style of bullfight is completely different from Spanish one.  It’s a fight between bulls and
like Japanese wrestling  ‘SUMO’ with a table of ranking.
Fights are held about 10 times according to the ranking.

bullfight
bullfight
eyes return red
eyes return red

Judgment of winning or losing is decided naturally with the breath of “Aun” and may sometimes be settled by face confusion !
Bull eyes turn red from fighting spirit.   Indeed, the Yokozuna, Champion of bullfight, won by its face and red eyes without real fight !

bullfight venue
bullfight venue

Bullfight festivals are held 4 times a year on Hiraniwa Heights in Iwate prefecture.   According to the web page the starting point of bullfighting is to match the cows in order to decide which one to lead the caravan of transporting salt from Sanriku coast.   So Hiraniwa Heights is located near Kuji city on Sanriku coast.

bullfight ready go
bullfight
eyes return red
‘YOKOZUNA'(champion)


Mt.Gentagatake
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Matsukawa Valley near Hot Spring

matsukawa valley 1
columnar joint
matsukawa valley 2
matsukawa valley 2

On the way to Matsukawa Hot Spring village there is a local but famous attraction that tourists miss in the countryside.
Columnar joint with autumn colors decoration  welcome you when getting off on the river.   It is located on the east side across the river, so it would be better in the afternoon to take a photo of shining autumn colors with columnar joint under the sun.  Near here the view from “the big bridge of forest ” is also recommended.

 

Surrounded by Mt.Hachimantai and Mt. Iwate, the Matsukawa basin is a countryside full of autumn colors.  It is the best place to enjoy autumn in Tohoku.

matsukawa valley from the big bridge of forest

 

Mt.Gentagatake
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