Recommended for such people
・ I don't like being too crowded
・ Because it's a special trip, I want to enjoy things that are unique to that area.
What is the Gono Line?
The Gono Line connects Higashi Noshiro Station (Akita) to Kawabe Station (Aomori).
The scenery is wonderful because it runs on the Sea of Japan side, and there are many attractions along the line, such as the Shirakami Mountains, which is a World Heritage Site, and Tachineputa.
We will introduce the charm of the Gono Line, which is often ranked high in Japan's local line rankings.
Resort Shirakami
There is a sightseeing train called "Resort Shirakami" running on the Gono Line.
When you arrive at a sightseeing spot, you can get off the train for about 10 to 15 minutes, and you can go around the Gono Line efficiently.
Notes
(When I went, I could make a reservation the day before, but if possible, save it with plenty of time. There are many unmanned stations on the Gono Line.)
There is also an in-car event
There are three types of resort Shirakami, Aoike, Buna, and Black Woodpecker, all of which are fashionable.
Depending on the time of day, there will be live performances of the Tsugaru shamisen and a storyteller of the Tsugaru dialect, which will entertain passengers.
In-car sales are mainly products of local companies, and it is a sightseeing train where you can fully enjoy Akita and Aomori.
Model plan
I will introduce the plan that I actually got on.
(If you go in the off-season such as winter, the number of trains will decrease. Please reduce the number of places to get off or divide it into two days.)
Depart from Akita Station
Board the first resort Shirakami in the morning, departing from Akita Station. (Around 8 o'clock in the morning)
Akita → Aomori is a calculation of the time when Aoike in the Shirakami Mountains looks beautiful.
(It doesn't look very blue in the evening when it's hard to get the sun)
Noshiro Station | Basketball Town
The first stop is Noshiro Station. You can get off on the way for about 10 minutes.
Noshiro Technical High School in this area is a basketball super powerhouse, and has won the national championship 58 times.
(High school basketball holds national-level tournaments three times a year, but this is an unusual number of wins.)
Because it was too strong, it is also a model for Sanno Technical High School, the strongest enemy in the basketball manga "SLAM DUNK".
There is also a free throw challenge, and you can get a commemorative sticker when you score a goal.
Isn't this the only station in Japan where you can play basketball?
Juniko Station | Aoike in the Shirakami Mountains, a World Heritage Site
Take a bus to the Shirakami Mountains
When you get off at Juniko Station, take a bus to the "Oku Juniko Parking Lot" which is about 15 minutes away.
Buses and trains are operated so that you can transfer, but let's check in advance.
Official site: Bus operation status
This area is called the Shirakami Mountains, and is registered as a World Heritage Site because "natural beech forests are distributed on the largest scale in the world."
To be honest, it's a reason why it doesn't come out very well, but it seems that the fact that the primeval forest remains as it is is extremely rare in the world.
Aoike of Juniko
A little further, you will find a numbing blue pond.
It's surprisingly blue, but transparent enough to see the trees at the bottom of the pond.fantastic!
Personally, I think it is the bluest pond in Japan. (Depending on the weather on the day and the condition of the pond)
There are several "blue ponds" in the world, but one of the following is why they look blue.
① Ingredients that look blue are dissolved in water
(XNUMX) The transparency of water is too high, and water other than blue, which has a high refractive index, is absorbed.
(XNUMX) is famous for Aoike in Biei-cho, Hokkaido, and (XNUMX) is Aoike for Juniko.
Wakitsubo pond
This is a pond that is as transparent as Aoike.
Group passengers on the bus do not come this far, so you can enjoy it leisurely.
There are many other ponds as it is named Juniko.
Considering the bus time, it will probably be about 70 minutes, so
I think it's best to go around Aoike → Boiling Pond → Ochiguchi Pond.
Pay attention to the time and enjoy your walk.
Get hungry in the car
When I return to the train, it's just noon.
Let's eat the local ekiben because it's a big deal.
I ate a lunch box shop in Akita called "Sekineya" that was on sale in the car, and it was delicious.Scallops.
Senjojiki Station | Senjojiki Coast
It will stop for about 15 minutes at Senjojiki Station.
A 1-minute walk from the station, you will reach the rocky beach as far as the eye can see.It's quite rugged.
This landscape is said to have been uplifted by the 1792 earthquake, and has been selected as one of the "55 Best Beaches in Japan" and "XNUMX Best Sunsets in Japan".
The whistle will sound before departure, so hurry back when you hear it.
Goshogawara Station | Tachineputa Museum
The "Nebuta Festival" in Aomori is very famous, but there is also the "Tachineputa Festival" in Goshogawara.
The difference is that the Aomori Nebuta is made large horizontally, but the Goshogawara is made large vertically.
(Nebuta and Neputa are the same except for the problem of accent)
Its height is as high as 23m, and powerful past works are exhibited.
I saw it for the first time, but I was overwhelmed by its size.
This is a level that I would like people who are not interested in Neputa to see.
Guru around Neputa
You can walk around the Neputa, and you can go quite close, so it's a powerful score.
The expressive power of fire is amazing here.
The three works actually used for the festival are on permanent display.
Glittering picture
Another difference from Aomori Nebuta is in the "picture".
The Tachineputa has a picture on the pedestal.
Unlike the dynamic doll part, it was a delicate expression, matching the faint light and beautiful.
帰 り 道
With this plan, the day should be about to end.
Let's arrive on the way back according to the future schedule while enjoying the setting sun over the Sea of Japan from the train window.
Recommended seats and great tickets
Recommended seat (A seat side)
Seat A is on the sea side whether departing from Akita or Aomori.
Be sure to reserve the A seat side.
(There is a switchback in which the direction of travel of the train is reversed on the way, but seat A is always on the sea side.)
You can also make a reservation at Ekinet or a ticket vending machine, but you cannot choose a seat.
We recommend that you make a reservation at the "Midori no Madoguchi" nationwide, where you can choose a good seat.
Advantageous ticket (Gono Line free pass)
The unlimited ride "Gono Line Free Pass" from Akita Station to Aomori Station costs about 4000 yen.
Since the reserved seat fee for Resort Shirakami is 1 yen each time, it is +500 yen (for 1500 times), for a total of 3 yen.
It is valid for 2 days, so you may want to add where you want to go.
(For example, going around Lake Juniko or staying overnight at a resort facility called Wespa Tsubakiyama or Furofushi Onsen.)
Notes
It can be purchased on the day.
Operation time
Resort Shirakami operates all year round, but the number decreases in winter and off-season.
Check the driving status on the official website in advance.
Official site: Operation calendar
Finally
"Resort Shirakami" is a well-thought-out tourist train that makes you realize the hardships of the person in charge who tried to entertain tourists.
Please take a ride at Resort Shirakami and enjoy the charm of the Gono Line.
Tourist information around
Honke Abeya | Very delicious Oyakodon (Akita)
Located about 10 minutes from Akita Station, this shop specializes in Hinai chicken (Akita's high-class chicken).
The menu name says "Limited to 20 meals! Ultimate Oyakodon Goku (Kiwami)", and I thought it was such an exaggeration, and it was really the ultimate.
The crispy roasted chicken and egg are perfect, and I personally like it the most in Japan.
As I thought when I ate fried chicken in Nakatsu, freshness is the life of chicken.Perhaps.
(There is a store in Tokyo and I ate it, but it may be a matter of mood, but something is different.)
Nebuta House Wa Rasse (Aomori)
Near Aomori Station, there is a facility that has a permanent exhibition of Nebuta.
Let's take a look at this as well.
The building is so fashionable that you may wonder, "Is this the facility really?", But don't worry, it's not wrong.