I love Goshougeke Onsen in Akira Prefecture. It has been about 15 years since the first time I visited, and it is especially nice in winter because there are fewer people.
January in 2023, I participated in a snowshoe trekking organized by Hachimantai Visitor Center for the first time. I enjoyed the spectacular snow-covered scenery, but the weather was not so good. For my 2nd trial seeking nice weather, I made a guided tour and lodging reservations for January of this year. Since I made the reservations two months in advance, with a national holiday in mind, I had no choice of days I stayed.
In reality, it was more of a gamble. When selecting travel destinations, I often check the weather trends on Weather Spark, and according to this site, the chance of clear skies is as low as 15% in Akita Prefecture in winter.
On the other hand, the probability of precipitation is also low, around 30%. However, the site does not seem to count precipitation of less than one millimeter, so the probability may be much higher if you include days with light snow. Even if I cannot aim for clear skies, I would like to avoid snowfall in my photos.
By the way, nothing good has happened since last December. I thought that things could suddenly get better after new year came. On the day of the tour, the same guide as last year made the same comment when we started the tour. “If you want to take pictures, you have to come when it’s sunny”. Well, the weather was such that in this year too.
After a while, the weather turned into a blizzard. It was definitely worse than last year. I knew I cannot statistically expect clear skies, but it does not have to be a blizzard.
The worst blizzard was occured when we climbed the hill overlooking the steam-spewing swamp. The view was spectacular, but snow was flying up from bottom of the hill, making low visibilities. If this is a result of my daily life, I must be a terrible person.
As is often the case, it was turned sunny when we returned to the onsen hotel. The guide asked me with a smile, “Will you come back for the third time?”
Some of the hotel staff knew that I participated in the snowshoe trekking, and after I returned, they told me that they were glad the weather was clear. The kindness of the Akita people touched my heart, but the Akita sky accused me that I was not a good person.
Next year, I will try for the third time. It is difficult to improve my human nature, but as long as I keep doing it many times, one day I will be able to win the gamble.
COLO’s Traveler Guide: Northen Akita
The time and other information are the timetable at the time of my visit.
Day 1
Tokyo Haneda 0855 (All Nippon Airways ANA719) >> Odate-Noshiro 1005
Odate-Noshiro Airport 1020 (airport bus) >> Odate Station 1113
Lunch: Hanazen
Odate 1336 (Hanawa Line) >> Kazuno Hanawa 1428
Kazuno Hanawa 1435 (shuttle bus) >> Goshougeke Onsen 1520
Overnight stay: Goshougeke Onsen
Tips for Day 1
– I originally wanted to visit “Akita Hinaiya” on this day, but my flight from Tokyo Haneda was delayed for about an hour, and it was past noon when the bus actually arrived Odate Station, so I had to give up. I decided to go to “Hanazen” in front of Odate Station, which was originally planned for the third day. Freshly made chicken rice was delicious.
– The bus at Odate-Noshiro Airport was new and larger than last year, which was a welcomed change since it used to be crowded on its way to Takanosu Station.
Day 3
Goshougeke Onsen 0930 (shuttle bus) >> Kazuno Hanawa 1020
Kazuno Hanawa 1053 (Hanawa Line) >> Higashi-Odate 1141
Lunch: Akita Hinaiya
Odate 1357 (Limited Express Tsugaru 4) >> Takanosu 1414
Takanosu 1440 (Akita Nairiku Line Express) >> Kakunodate 1641
Kakunodate 1702 (Shinkansen Komachi 38) >> Omiya 1939
Omiya >> Yokohama
Tips for the 3rd day
– Got off the train at Higashi-Odate Station and walked to “Akita Hinaiya”. The restaurant served excellent “Hinai Chicken” oyakodon (chicken and egg bowl) and treated us wonderfully.
– Sake was sold on the express train of Akita Nairiku Line. We headed for Kakunodate in a warm train, enjoyed winter scenery as we sipped sake. It was a nice time.