Japan.It's Bloomin marvellous.

[drron]

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And the train made another 20 minute stop here so out and stretch the legs-

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[VPS]

this is just such a great TR that I'm planning a trip for 2018 - thanks - love the combination of the flowers and the birds

 

[drron]

The area seems to be a lava field-

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We then began to leave the coast-

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And then something else came into view-

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Mt.Iwake sometimes known as Northern Japan's Fuji or to the people of Aomori prefecture the best mountain in Japan.It certainly dominates the surrounding country.

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At this point 2 local musicians got on and gave a performance in our carriage-

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[drron]

And their music-
[video=youtube_share;vH_BzKd4How]https://youtu.be/vH_BzKd4How[/video]

 

[drron]

[video=youtube_share;JFCGY7dcGL8]https://youtu.be/JFCGY7dcGL8[/video]

 

[drron]

Some more of the musician.

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Now we are going around the north side of Iwake and beginning to see the apple orchards that are a feature of Aomori prefecture-

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[drron]

Now we get to the second station where the train reverses direction and where we wait for the third resort shirakami service-

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Two older Japanese women got on here and told tales of old Japan.The Japanese passengers enjoyed it.So now to the west of Iwake on the short run to Hirosaki.

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And a demonstration of the traditional apple orchard and the modern easy care orchard-

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[drron]

We arrive at Hirosaki station and find the middle sized apple-

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Just a short walk to our hotel the Naqua city hotel.Really no English spoken here so the printout of our booking was essential.A reasonable room and once again complimentary internet.Also again no English channels on TV.So the room-

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The views were magic-

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Mrsdrron had been having cravings for a pasta carbonara for a few days.Just a few doors from the hotel was an Italian restaurant so she got her wish.A large office or birthday party going on.All were well lubricated so much noise.food was OK and cheap-

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[drron]

Monday morning and again it is quite cold but mainly sunny.Start with the view then catch the loop bus to Hirosaki castle.The bus has seen better days-

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Hirosaki castle is said to be in the top 3 blossom viewing in Japan.It was the highlight of our sakura viewing and I would highly recommend a visit for Cherry Bloosom viewing.Even before we got to the castle the blossom was magnificent-

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[drron]

No excuses.You are going to get a lot of cherry blossoms from here-

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At last we are inside the castle grounds-

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[drron]

Just for a change a magnolia,then back to the cherries-

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[drron]

This bridge was just so photogenic-

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[drron]

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Time for a snack-strawberry with an apple cream inside a mocha covering.lovely.

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