Japanese Countryside Travel Notes, mainly TOHOKU district

Travel Notes (Elements that make up a travel itinerary)

too quiet and scared Nakanose Pond is the face that represents Geopark

I have never met such a spacious and refreshing scenery. But it's amazing because the horrific volcanic activity in 1888(recently!) Read more

deep Nakatsugawa Valley with bright autumn leaves

The normal tourist overlooks here, but those who love the countryside cannot. You can enjoy the autumn colors even from Read more

Urabandai Goshiki-Numa Ponds(Five colors ponds) walk

'Red Pond' in literary among Goshiki-NumaPonds is not real red. The color of Hell Ponds in Beppu Hot spring (Oita Read more

Lake Towada at twillight

Lake Towada is not far behind from Mt.Aso (in Kumamoto prefecture) as 'Caldera Topography'. In the past, the subduction Read more

Snoopy Waterfall, No Doubt !

It appears in front of you the moment you turn the promenade. There is no doubt that it looks snoopy Read more

Bullfight festival in Japan

Japanese style of bullfight is completely different from Spanish one. It's a fight between bulls and like Japanese wrestling 'SUMO' Read more

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too quiet and scared Nakanose Pond is the face that represents Geopark

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 — Go back to itinerary

deep Nakatsugawa Valley with bright autumn leaves

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.

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

Urabandai Goshiki-Numa Ponds(Five colors ponds) walk

‘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.

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

Lake Towada at twillight

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

Snoopy Waterfall, No Doubt !

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

Bullfight festival in Japan

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.

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 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.