"Touhoku" is the northern part (blue area of the map) of Japanese main land that has big nature, colder weather (many snow in winter) and less population."Touhoku" is the northern part (blue area of the map) of Japanese main land that has big nature, colder weather (many snow in winter) and less population.
This trip started from Tokyo, my abode, and I went up northward visiting some area in Touhoku for 4 days then reached to "Hokkaido", north land where also has big nature,and stayed one night.
Then, I left Hokkaido for my hometown "Osaka" by ferryboat! (gray line in the map)
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Farm | Golf club house | Restaurant | Park |
Nasu is a resort area near by Tokyo (pink area in the map yet). There are springs, parks, golf course and hotels on the big foot of volcano Mt. Nasu.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Inawashiro lake |
Mt. Bandai through a window of a restaurant |
Music box shop | "Dali" museum | Stream near by Dali museum |
Top of Mt.Bandai |
This area is the beginning of Touhoku where has a big lake, big fields and Mountains. Whether is quite colder than Tokyo.
There are some toll gate on the roads around Mt. Bandai which charges about one thousand yen for each! In spite of such expansive charge, , the view was blind by many clouds and temperature was so cold and sulfur smells bad on the top of mountain because Mt.Baidai is a volcano.
Yamagata is one of big cities of Touhoku. On the night I stayed the city, the famous summer festival named "Hanagasa-matsuri" was held by chance. Many people dance walking through the streets as it is traditional Japanese style.
My hotel was located on the main street of the city, so when I reached to the hotel, I could not enter the parking with my bike due to many audience placed on the street waiting for the dancers! So, I parked my bike on a back street through the night.
Then I had dinner in the Hotel's restaurant but I got feeling bad by drinking little beer served free. It may be because I was so exhausted by very long riding of the day and I usually drink alcoholic drinks very few.
So, this night was so tough for me, but it is now one of my good memories of this trip.
|
|
Down load Quick Time Movie |  |
 |
| Hanagasa festival | foot of Mt. Gassan | Fall | |
On the next morning, I was OK and my bike was safe too.
I went northwestern through the foot of Mt. Gassan where I could not see the Gassan but road and sight was pretty nice.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Beach of Akita | Top of Mt. Cyokai | Foot of Mt. Cyokai | |||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Foot of Mt. Cyokai | Mt.Cyokai from hotel room | ||||
This is one of the best area of this trip. Beach is so beautiful and wide which I never experienced in Tokyo nor Osaka area.
The Mt., Cyokai has beautiful woods and nice view form the top where I could see farms and "Sea of Japan" below.
On my way to the Hotel in Mt. Cyokai, I met two sheep that has no shepherd aside near by a beautiful stream.
Tazawa lake is the deepest lake in Japan (may be). It was beautiful as the water looks very clean.
This mountain route is also one of the best areas. Weather was fine, sight was excellent! Silhouette of Mt. Iwate is beautiful . White color of beech trees in the green leaves are so nice . To my further joy, this road is free of charge!
Lake Towada did not look very beautiful because of the clouded weather. But, Oirase, streams from Towada lake, was beautiful, so I work for a while.
 |
Down load Quick Time Movie |  |
| Sea gulls following our ferry | Night view of Hakodate port | |
I left Oirase for Aomori, the north end of Tohoku, through Mt. Hakkouda covered by heavy mist on the top.
I got ferry boat at Aomori Port and cruised to Hakodate, south end of Hokkaido.
On the next morning , I feft my hotel of Hakodate in the rain as the weather of Hokkaido is usually changeable in August.
 |
 |
Lake Ohnuma, near by Hakodates |
After this fight, I reached to a town in end of the seaside road and had late lunch there.
Then I went into the mountain road where the rain getting less. Through the long country roads surrounded by typical farm in Hokkaido, I reached to the hilltop where I could see Otaru city, last destination.
Otaru is a small port city that has some histrical building.
The main street is pretty nice as there are some fashionable gift shops and
restaurants.
This is the last stage of the trip. I got in the ferry boat at Otaru port to cruise to Kansai region, my home town, through the gray line of the top map.
The boat(ship?) was so big and gorgeous like big hotel. But, beds are narrow as usual and I had nothing to do except eating in the restaurant during 20 hours cruise.
By the way, car deck of a ferry boat is always tough for motorcycles because the metal floor with many projections is so slippery. In fact, a rider of a new big bike slipped down when he got off.
After I got off the boat in strain, I left the port Turuga for my grand mother's house. Although it was night, the temperature was much higher than in Tohoku and Hokkaido. To be worth, it started rain on the way which blind my sight.
After about 3 hours riding, I reached to my grand mother's house which is closer than my home town. This is the end of long long trip.
Copyright (C) 2000-2005 Taichi Adachi. All Rights Reserved.
