Graduation Tour
Trip Start
Apr 02, 2006
1
2
6
Trip End
May 17, 2008
Aomori,
Tohoku,
Japan
Sunday, August 2, 1998
The main purpose was to join Nebuta Festival of Aomori. It took very long time to get to Aomori from Tokyo, but only Daiei had a driver's license and drove all the way. It is one of the biggest festivals of Japan. The floats and rhythmic dancers called "haneto" were impressive. However, we were so stupid that we had not reserved a hotel. As a result, we slept outside without a tent and blankets, although it was still cold in the summer of Aomori.
On the next morning, we visited Mt. Osore, which is one of the sacred sites of Japan and took a bath in a public bathhouse. However, Daiei had to go back home and so Hiro and I left him in Hiraizumi after we visited Chusonji Temple including Konjikido Hall. It was a pity, but we wanted to continue our travel. Then we headed for Matsushima with a Seishun 18 pass for JR lines.
Matsushima is said to be one of the best scenic spots of Japan. I am sure it was, but the shits of gulls discouraged us in the enjoyable cruising there. Still, the scenery was beautiful at least. Sendai had a Star festival on the same day, but it was not so good, compared to the Nebuta Festival. We happened to find a sauna house in the city and we were so lucky that the house was closed down on the next day. We got up a little bit earlier than we asked to be waken up at six and left for the last destination, Aizu Wakamatsu in Fukushima.
We were kind of tired in Aizu, although I didn't want finish our travel. The main tourist spot is the Castle of Aizu Wakamatsu aka Tsuruga Castle. We took a long walk from and to the closest station, but it was O.K., because we hoped that the travel lasted so long. Then we had more than enough conversation before we came back.
