Times listed are the timetables at the time of the visit.
Day 1
Tokyo Haneda 0750 (Japan Airlines JAL141) >> Aomori 0905
Aomori Airport 0920 (Bus) >> Namioka Town Center 0933
Namioka 1021 (JR Ou Line) >> Kawabe 1029
Kawabe 1038 (JR Gono Line) >> Fukaura 1244
Lunch: Sailing
Fukaura 1441 (JR Gono Line) >> WeSpa Tsubakiyama 1456
Overnight stay: Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen
Tips for Day 1
– The schedule was practically the same as last year’s visit, with the earliest possible arrival to Koganezaki Furofushi Onsen from Tokyo area.
– I bought Aomori apple juice and local snacks at the Aomori City’s facility called “Apinesu” attached to Namioka Station.
– While waiting for connecting train in Fukaura, I ate tuna sashimi, stew with local carotte, and drank sake at a restaurant called “Seiling.” I had visited this place last year and I loved it. It was worth getting off at Fukaura Station to visit this place.
Day 2
WeSpa Tsubakiyama 0935 (JR Gono Line) >> Higashi-noshiro 1037
Higashi-noshiro 1056 (JR Limited Express Tsugaru 2) >> Akita 1145
Akita 1213 (Shinkansen Komachi 224) >> Shin-Hanamaki 1402
JR Shin-Hanamaki Station (shuttle) >> Hotel
Overnight stay: Namari Onsen Fujisan Ryokan Kokoro no Toki Jusangetsu
Tips for Day 2
– You can buy “Torimeshi (chicken rice)” lunchbox of Odate Station even at Akita Station. It was wonderful.
– Due to the suspension of Tohoku Shinkansen caused by the earthquake, I did not have to change trains at Morioka Station. Normally, the Shinkansen from Akita passes Shin-Hanamaki.
Day 3
Hotel (shuttle) >> JR Hanamaki Station
Hanamaki 1027 (JR Tohoku Line) >> Hiraizumi 1108
Rent a bicycle at Hiraizumi Station.
– Chuson-ji Temple
– Motsu-ji Temple
– Takkoku Iwaya Bishamondo
Hiraizumi 1451 (JR Tohoku Line) >> Hanamaki 1532
Hanamaki Airport 1700 (J-Air JAL4954) >> Tokyo Haneda 1805
Tips for Day 3
– For unknown reasons, it is unseasonably hot whenever I visit to Hiraizumi, and regular trains on JR Tohoku Line are crowded.
– The rental bicycle shop in front of Hiraizumi Station had electric bicycles. If I had to use a regular bicycle, I would have given up on visiting Takkoku Iwaya Bishamondo because of the continuous uphill to get there. Still, 6 kilometers one way is a long way to go even on an electric bicycle.
– For return to Tokyo, I took Tokyo Haneda flight operated by J-Air, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines. This was a temporary route due to the Shinkansen shutdown.