Akita Trip Day 2 Part 2

We drove to Lake Tazawa to visit 2 more shrines located at the lake. We brought food at the shrine to feed the fishes and while feeding, a crow flew and stopped at the rock which was the surface of the water. The moment we were wondering it was waiting for a lunch, it scooped the fish and flew back to the surface. It sure had an easy time since it was waiting for us to draw the fishes with the food!

During our late snack at the local store near the lake. There was an old man sitting next table beside us, even though he was speaking in Japanese (Dialect?), none of us could understand at all... I just keep nodding and smiling when he was speaking to us. But when I asked S what did he said, S said he had also no idea, terms that elderly used was only used in the past and had been obliterated. Moreover his dialet was strong.  

Said to be deepest lake in Japan 

Lake Tazawa

Ukiishi shrine

Statue of Tatsuko, said to be a princess

can i bring you home?

Gozaishi shrine

ordered this as its rarely seen and looked like chinese dumpling

tasted like chinese dumpling as well! its glutinous rice with meat. 

all the food stuff we brought, some were meant for my in laws.

Akita Day 2 Part 1

Had super heavy breakfast and continued on his Shrine's journey. Overall Akita shrines were quite hard to find even with the car GPS. Some of them are hidden in the tiny road areas that you won't think of driving in. The most wonderful discovery we made was kakunodate town. We drove across the bridge and the sight of sakura was breath-taking! Usually most of the towns of course will have sakura but its only in a few areas, like playgrounds, garden etc.. This town has it almost everywhere. We then realised this was a famous town for sakura viewing and many japanese tourist will drive here to visit the town. We knew it must be very hot tourist area as all the locals were displaying signs for chargeable parking at the stores or houses lol. Very smart of them.

Paid extra for the hotel breakfast

Taihesan shrine

sosha shrine

kumano shrine with the sakura!

front view of the kumano shrine

hiyoshi shrine

half sesame half vanilla 

kakunodate town famous for sakura

Akita Day 1 Part 2

Dropped our bags at the hotel and we went to visit Akita Sakura Festival which was nearby. Did not eat anything though since we were still full from our late lunch (that jumbo prawns). I noticed that many Akita food stalls sold potato dishes ( either its the whole potato or fries, even the fries had different taste and varieties). I hardly seen or never seen potato stall in Aomori, Hachinohe and Hirosaki. Seem to be Akita speciality? Everywhere we walked, beauties were all around, be it school girls, office ladies, with families... 70% of them have good complexion, pretty eyes and sharp noses... If I am a guy, I be in heaven haha!

For dinner, we had to choose between a nice, cosy western restaurant and typical Japanese style that served the Akita famous dish, oyakodon (egg with meat and onions on the rice). Its actually a simple dish that you can eat anywhere and make it easily at home. Glad we chose oyakodon in the end, it was amazing! No way we can ever cook it at home. The egg has such rich and thick texture and meat was juicy. 

Akita Museum

Akita sakura festival

As I mentioned, Akita is famous for beauties in Japan. Even their promotional poster is about their beauties 

Potato stall is super popular, look at the cartons of potatoes! I think its speciality in Akita, as I never seen it in Aomori. 

Have to try Akita famous food! Oyakodon!

Never eaten such delicious meat/egg don set! U will regret not eating it!

2nd dinner at the cafe

their menu

prawns and avocado pancake, also delicious!

Akita Road Trip Day 1 Part 1

 Went with S on his road trip to Akita for his shrine stamp collection once again. Set off early at 6am and reached his first shrine at 9am in Akita. I noticed some of the shrines in Akita all have childcare facilities. S said its quite common in Iwate and Akita area but I have not seen this type in Aomori and Hachinohe. Had slight quarrel with S as I was getting hungry and when I became hungry I will also become angry lol....... The wait was worth it when he brought me to kotooka roadstation and ate the jumbo size fried prawns set! It was at least 3 times bigger than a typical fried prawn. I was at last happy again haha!

odate shinme shrine

odate shinme shrine childcare center

odate shrine and its childcare at the side.

odate shrine

takanosu road station

famous butter mochi, very sinful

tsuduriko shrine

takanosu shrine

shichiza shrine

lovely river, thats the closet i can get

noshiro shrine

heyoshi shrine

jumbo size fried prawn set! SO SO SO delicious!

kotooka roadstation