Sapporo Heading South - Can't keep the Idiot Out

[Noel Mugavin]

First class seating


Up to the officer's quarters












You follow a designated path throughout the ship, eventually coming to a lift that takes you below to where the trains were loaded and secured onto the boat

 

[Noel Mugavin]

As you can imagine, there weren't a hell of a lot of tourists on a cold, windy, snowy day in Aomori. I was the only person on the boat, and it was a bit unnerving with all the creaks and groans going on in the bowels of the ship. I did the circuit in record time, just wanting to get to fresh air.







Fresh air. Still no one on the beach


Blue skies as well



Wandered back to the Nebuta Museum to pick up some bits and pieces


Not quite Abbey Road


It was a Wednesday and to avoid a fine from missing a football training session back home, I needed to send a photo with a piece of footy club merch in the picture.
So back off to Utou Shrine it was

 

[GarrettM]

Dear God that is a lot of snow.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Back to the hotel


Sky cleared again and I wanted to get to the waterfront to get a photo of the mountains to the North-East


Itupid me tried cutting across I guess what i a park during the non-snowy season, but I wasn't having much luck,constantly finding myself thigh deep in snow


Race against time as the light was quickly going, and I eventually caved and went the long way around the tourism building along a designated path




About the best I could get




Out to dinner and a quick pass through Utou Shrine. I was totally mesmerized by this place

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Disappointingly had dinner at Saizeriya. Can't remember what it was, would have been something very ordinary.
Strolled back to the hotel




One last stop at the shrine


A stop at the konbini adjacent to the hotel then to the front desk to forward my baggage and that was about it for another day in Aomori

 

[GarrettM]

Is that duck wearing your footy club merch or am I missing something?

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Is that duck wearing your footy club merch or am I missing something?

Nah, you haven't missed anything. Didn't post a photo with my beanie in it .
And re your earlier comment about there being a lot of snow - you aint seen nothing yet

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Thursday morning, and the weather had set in

A last walk to Aomori Station




An undulating sidewalk

 

[Noel Mugavin]

On the train and there was about a 7 or 8 minute delay before it departed. Was getting a little antsy about getting going as there's quite a bit of a wait between shinkansen departures at Shin-Aomori.
Finally got going and still had about 10 minutes to wait
Train departing at Shin-Aomori

Up to the shinkansen tracks






On the 10.54 Yamabiko

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Off at Fukushima for the transfer to the Yamagata Shinkansen




Down below and up again to change platforms





Delays somewhere as they were running a bit behind




Not much to see on the journey to Yonezawa, a complete whiteout outside the train
Shinkansen departing from Yonezawa

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Bit of a wander around the station

 

[Noel Mugavin]

It's lunch time and it's Yonezawa, so the only thing on my mind was beef. I was here in April 23 and had a fantastic meal at a place about a 7 or 8 minute walk from the station. There's probably 50 places I could have gone, but I'm loyal, so off I went.
Couple of photos first




Snow was falling, it was knee deep on the sidewalks, but I was loving it. Don't tend to get much snow in Perth, so the novelty effect was in full swing.
My flimsy umbrella was working a treat as well












To the restaurant and a salad to start

 

[Noel Mugavin]

The main course




The restaurant

Bit of a walk after lunch






Back to the station




In the station


I had to get a bus to get to the ryokan I was staying for the night, so out to the bus stops to work out which one I needed to take

 

[Noel Mugavin]

I wasn't 100% sure which bus I had to take, so back into the station to ask at the tourist information desk. Gentleman behind the desk, came out from behind and took me to the right stand to get the bus I wanted. All while snowing, Great service.
There was still around 30 minuted before the bus came, so sat, examined the small konbini about 5 times and scrolled through my phone.
At some stage I realized I'd lost my umbrella, so back to the konbini and another flimsy umbrella purchased for 1800 yen
Bus eventually came and I was on my way to Onagawa Onsen, about a 30 minute drive



Lot of snow around









Off at my stop and seemed like I was dropped in the middle of nowhere


Off any warmth goes


As long as my directions were right, shouldn't be too much of a walk to the ryokan.

 

[kevrosmith]

It's like a cliff-hanger suspense TV show, waiting for the next episode: "Were his directions right? Did he make it to the ryokan? Or did he fall foul of the weather and become lost in the never-ending piles of snow... tune in for the next episdoe to find out all these answers and more!"

 

[Noel Mugavin]

Trudged on








Should be at the end of this road


And, made it. Kajikaso Ryokan


Greeted outside by some ancient bloke with no English.
Inside another bloke greeted me, escorted me to my area to put my shoes then led me to the waiting area

Check in was done in a couple of stages.
First impressions were the buildings and interior are a bit dated and worn


Eventually escorted to my room bu a young lady, who gave me a tour of the room, and apologised in advance for the noise made by the snow falling on the roof
View from my balcony

 

[jastel]

Damm that noisy snow...

The little tractor brings back memories of being dug out each morning at a resort in Niseko, we tipped the driver to dig us out first so we could hit the slopes early.

 

[Justinf]

One of the things I will miss most about Japan is the wonderful Hokkaido soup curry.

I dreamt about it last night.

 

[Justinf]

Good old Aomori. If it’s not snowing, it’s trying to snow.
I found it a pleasant enough place, but not much to see.
Snow is awesome, but I had a whole day where I was holed up in my room.
That ship I found boring as hell.
Enjoying this TR.

 

[Noel Mugavin]

The room




As part of the check in information, you are encouraged to visit the baths as soon as possible after check in to avoid over-crowding.
Not for me just yet though, I wanted to do a little bit of exploring in the town, and I also needed to visually confirm where the bus stop to get back in to Yonezawa was, as I was on a bit of a tight schedule the next day. And there wasn't much daylight left on the day.
Down the hallway


One of the water features of the ryokan


To the foyer and all the guests shoes were nowhere to be seen. There were however heavy jackets and rubber boots available for guests to use. I told the bloke there I was fine with my shoes, he went into a nearby room and like magic had the right pair of shoes in his hands.
Off to wander