Tried to go to hirosaki today – up early to get a good start but no trains were running there for and hour and half coz of the heavy snow! The day morning looked pretty calm so i guess they were still clearing the tracks. So to use up some of that time we headed to the tourist centre – a big, glass triangle, pointy building down by the bay and we went up to the observation deck – entry was 400 yen that includes a vending machine drink – bargain!
While we were there we saw a big snow flurry blanket the city. I guess that’s why some trains weren’t running! Also Watched chunks of snow/ice tumble down the side of the building.
Headed back to station to catch the train to Hirosaki. Almost to hirosaki when they had to stop the train again coz of snow – all the Windows were covered in snow. T noticed while waiting that the castle and gardens are closed in winter – already knew they were starting renovation work on the castle but so far it’s the moat that’s covered – didn’t notice in my research that a lot of Hirosaki is closed in winter. Oh well not much point going to hirosaki then if half the stuff we want to see is closed. Got off when the train finally made it to hirosaki – took some pics of the out side of the train blasted with snow then jumped back on – off to Aomori again.
Both places will have to get a return visit on another trip – hirosaki might be a while coz the castle renovation sounds pretty extensive. Seems there’s a lot more to see in Aomori when the snow isn’t keeping us away from tourist spots 😛 Plus the Nebuta festival of course.
Went to the Aomori Prefectural Museum. Usual A4 handout with a few paragraphs of English. The item cards were titled in English then half way thru they started having big sections described in English.
4:30 when we finished there so everything else would be closing – back to our room for a couple drinks and a shower then out for Yoshinoya gyuudon.
Japan travels 