2018 Winter. Tohoku. Japan.
The JNTO #VisitTohoku campaign was a project that I consulted for. I was also commissioned to film the video interview with blogger Mr Brown in Singapore and Bangsarbabe in Kuala Lumpur. It was a great experience for me to film instead during the initial stage of the campaign. During the trip to Aomori, Akita and Hirosaki, I went back to shooting still images. Here I’m sharing with you some of the things to do in Tohoku based on this trip of mine.
Since this is a Japanese government related project, I needed to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility with the Japanese Ministry of Justice. Sounds cool. LOL.
And the journey begins….
I always like this view upon arrival in Haneda, the whole row of JAL’s flights at their gates.
Aomori is only 3 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station. So upon clearing Customs at Haneda airport, we took the Shinkansen to Aomori from Tokyo station.
The bento lunch which I bought from Tokyo station. It’s very normal for passengers to buy their meals at the stations and have them onboard the shinkansen (don’t forget to separate and throw your rubbish at the designated area when you are done).
The scenic view from Tokyo to Aomori.
Snow covered paddy field.
Isobe-san from Tohoku region tourism office welcoming us at the station.
A view from the station’s window. The snow looks so “creamy”.
The first thing I did when I got out from the station in Aomori was to make a hand print on the powder snow.
One storey high snow wall by the road side.
Some are even taller than the shop’s roof!
Miss Cecil.
Cecil is a Malaysian Japanese interpreter who worked on this project with me.
Japanese high school girls after school.
The very first thing to do is PLAY WITH SNOW!
What to eat : BUTTER MISO CURRY MILK RAMEN
Our first stop after checking into the hotel was to film at the famous miso curry milk ramen restaurant called Ajino Sapporo Oonishi.
Miso milk curry ramen topped with a pat of butter. Ajino Sopporo Oonishi’s miso milk curry ramen broth is milky in color.
After Ajino Sopporo Oonishi ramen, we went to film at another famous ramen restaurant called Nagao-Cyukasoba ( Ekimae branch ). They also serve the same type of ramen but with a slight differnce.
Unlike Ajino Sopporo Oonishi’s ramen, Nagao-Cyukasoba’s miso milk curry broth was boiled with anchovies, resulting in a darker broth.
Where to eat dinner :
Day 1 filming was quick and easy. Next is dinner at an izakaya we randomly came across at a market. Basically 50% of a Malaysian’s travel to do list is EAT!
Click on the map above for Google map direction.
One thing I’ve always wanted to do is eat softserve ice-cream outdoors when it’s snowing! LOL.
Cecil and I enjoying our dessert outdoors in the blizzard. It was about -16 degree Celsius. One of the things I enjoy doing is to explore the neighborhood where I’m staying so after my dessert I went for a walk.
Took a walk around the hotel and did a bit of exploration.
The main street outside my hotel.
Ohayo!! View of Aomori bay from my hotel room (Hotel Sunroute Aomori).
Scallop for breakfast!
Cecil enjoying her natto (smelly sticky fermented beans).
The five-foot way is covered with thick snow in the morning.
Place to visit : Nebuta Museum, Wa Rasse
After breakfast we went to Nebuta Museum to film the nebuta. Nebuta are the giant floats of brave warriors which are carried through the city center during nebuta matsuri in summer, accompanied by dancers wearing a unique costume called “haneto”.
Giant faces of brave warriors in the museum.
Nebuta float in simple term is like a giant lantern on wheels decorated with magnificent designs.
A work-in-progress nebuta on display. Visitors can participate in nebuta-making experience workshop in this museum if interested.
Ooo…so Ultraman is considered a brave warrior. LOL. Well he did fight off monsters to protect Japan after all.
The museum is quite big and I didn’t have the time to explore the whole place. Allocate at least 2 hour if you want to explore the whole museum.
Nebuta Museum, Wa Rasse
Address: Aomori-shi Bunka Kankou Kyuryuu Shisetsu, Aomori-shi Yasukata 1-1-1 030-0803
Tel: +8117-752-1311
Business Hour: 08300~2200
Ticket: Adult 600yen, Student 250-450yen (depends on age)
Website: http://www.nebuta.jp/warasse/foreign/english.html
Click on the map above for Google map direction.
While you are at Nebuta Museum, walk over to A-Factory (literally right next door) which is a warehouse-sized retail space that sells everything and anything made from Aomori apple. Yes anything apple!
They looked like toy soldiers. These Japanese soldiers were building snow sculptures outside Nebuta Museum.
One of Aomori’s popular produce is their apple.
A-Factory sells a huge variety of apple based products, from fresh Aomori apple to locally produced apple wine, apple champagne and the list goes on. I only tried the apple champagne and it does taste very good compared to the usual grape champagne.
Place to visit : Hakkoda mountain
Next location we are filming require about 45 minutes drive through snowy mountain road to Hakkoda mountain cable car station.
The first thing that caught our attention the moment we got off the car was the snow hut near the cable car station.
Japanese skier squeezing into a cable car. They packed the car so tight that the sliding door couldn’t close so it required two person to push the doors shut and lock them. If you don’t want to get squeezed like them you can always wait for the next car. Our destination is the top of mount Hakkoda, the top of a ski slope.
Packed like sardine can!
It takes about 15 minutes to reach the top by cable car.
Cecil playing with my Huawei Mate 9.
Our main mission up here is to film the Hakkoda snow monsters. Few minutes after I shot this the blizzard started.
The visibility was so bad due to heavy blizzard so we didn’t stay long.
We could barely see no further than 10 meters.
The Hakkoda mountain ski slope is for advanced skiers as the slope is steep and long.
The blizzard was quite bad so everyone hid in the station to wait it out.
Visibility from the cable car on the way down.
Cecil is still playing with my Huawei Mate 9. She love it so much she kept taking selfie with it.
You see what I meant?
Snow flakes on my glove.
Some of the house by the car park were buried under the snow.
Three meters tall snow wall.
Click the map above to view in Google map.
Place to eat : Yamazaki Restaurant
After venturing up high on Hakkoda mountain ski slop we headed over to Yamazaki restaurant. Yamazaki restaurant specialized in French cuisine and they use organic apple from Aomori. The “cold apple soup” is their signature. If you are not sure what to order, go for the their full-course meal that was featured in the film “Kiseki no Ringo” (Miracle Apple). The “Kiseki no Ringo” course as shown in the photos below.
Their signature Cold apple soup.
They even have their own books.
With the founder and Chef Yamazaki.
Click on the map above for Google map direction
Yamazaki Restaurant
Address: 41 Oyakatamachi, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori Prefecture, Japan
Tel: +8117-38-5515
Business Hour: 1130~1400, 1730~2030
Website: http://www.r-yamazaki.com
Place to visit : Tsugaru Neputamura
Tsugaru Neputamura is a place where visitors can experience a quansi Hirosaki Neputa festival. The fan-shaped Neputa that they used in the actual festival are on display in this hall. If you are adventurous or into music you can play the Japanese drums together with the Japanese musicians there. Besides trying out the drums you can also watch the live performance of Tsugaru Shamisen and shop for traditional Japanese handcrafts that are actually made there or you can also experience making them yourself.
Lantern depicting the 12 zodiacs.
Besides shopping for crafts or souvenir, you can also shop for more Aomori apple.
Look at the size of the apple.
Tsugaru Nebuta Village
Address: 61 KamenokÅmachi, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori Prefecture< Japan
Tel: +81172-39-1511
Business Hour: 0900~1730
Website: http://www.neputamura.com/
Click on the map above for Google map direction
Where to eat dinner : Tsugaru Izakaya WaiWai Izakaya
Click on the map above for Google map direction
When I’m in Japan I try not to miss eating their ice-cream. Even if the weather is -15 degree Celsius. So every night after dinner this was my dessert.
Just as I came out from the Family Mart next to my hotel (Family Mart Hirosaki station) I came across this giant apple. Pix below.
Wow! This giant apple is made of steel!
Read part 2 of this guide Tohoku : Hirosaki & Akita – Castle, Winder Wonderland Train, Onsen