[Tohoku] I went! 150th anniversary of railway opening! Travel with JR East Pass. Part 1 of Day 1

[Tohoku] I went! 150th anniversary of railway opening! Travel with JR East Pass. Day 1, Part 1 (Morioka to Kakunodate)

This is a continuation of.

We will depart from Kakunodate Station after 2:00 pm and head to Akita on the Akita Shinkansen Komachi.

According to the timetable, you will arrive at Akita Station in about an hour from Kakunodate Station.

Arrive at Akita Station at 3:00 p.m.

We arrived at Akita Station, our destination on the first day.

I have booked a hotel in the city, but since I have plenty of time until check-in, I will take a walk around the city.

The general destination in the city is "Neburi Nagashikan" and the "Former Kaneko Family Residence" right next to it.

It's about 1.2 km from Akita Station, but both close at 4:30 pm, so I head there quickly.

arrival! Folk Performing Arts Museum (Neburi Nagashi Museum)

The Kanto Festival in Akita City is famous and one of the three major festivals in Tohoku, but I had never been to a Kanto Festival before, so I was really looking forward to coming here.

Neburi Nagashikan is a folk performing arts tradition museum nicknamed after the Tanabata event "Neburi Nagashi" which is said to be the origin of Kanto.

This ``Neburi Nagashi'' is said to be based on the ``Neburi Nagashi'' that wards off evil spirits and sleepiness in midsummer.

Nemuri-nagashi itself has been practiced since before the Edo period, and its current prototype is said to have existed during the Horeki era, along with the Tanabata festival held on July 7th in the lunar calendar to pray for a rich harvest, good health, and skill improvement. It is said that it took on its current form as a series of events to welcome Obon, which falls on July 15th of the lunar calendar.

In Akita City, the word "Neburi Nagashi" has an accent and is called "Neburi Nagashi".

The Neburi Nagashi Museum exhibits kanto floats and floats from the Tsuchizaki Shinmeisha Festival, and there is also a hands-on section where you can try your hand at holding kanto floats.

The kanto lights of the Kanto Festival are said to be the lights of the golden rice ears of northern Japan.

The lanterns used for Kanto are decorated with vivid town crests and company emblems.

It is only at Neburi Nagashikan that you can see all of this all at once.

Lucky charms are often depicted on the town crest, and Akita Kanto is unique in that you can judge the town by its pictures.

Folk Performing Arts Museum (Neburi Nagashi Museum)

• Address: 1-3-30 Omachi, Akita City
• Phone number: 018-866-7091
• Usage fee: General 100 yen (groups of 20 or more 80 yen) Free for high school students and under
• Opening hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Closed: December 29th to January 3rd

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To the former Kaneko family residence, right next to Neburi Nagashikan

The former Kaneko family residence is a building that is attached to the Neburi Nagashikan and is designated as a tangible cultural property of Akita City.

The Kaneko family operated their business in this building until 1981, and the owner donated it to Akita City in 1996.

The Kaneko family opened a pawnshop and used clothing store in the late Edo period, and a wholesaler of kimono and heavy goods in the early Meiji period.

Although the main building and rice storehouse were destroyed by the Tawaraya fire around 1899, the internal structure survived and was rebuilt, and the building retains the architectural style of Akita townhouses from the late Edo period.

It's hard to tell from the photo, but there's a fireproof ``Tensui jar'' on the roof, and the magnificent built-in interior built in the Edo period is connected to the roof of the house, so you can come and go without having to go outside. Masu.

The former Kaneko family residence can be used for hobby classes and small gatherings by contacting the Akita Folk Performing Arts Museum.

Of course you can't eat or drink, but it's a good idea to gather a group of people and immerse yourself in your hobbies and things you like in a quaint building.

Former Kaneko family residence

• Address: 1-3-31 Omachi, Akita City
• Phone number: 018-866-7091
• How to use: Enter from the adjacent Folklore Arts Tradition Museum
• Fees: Admission fee is 100 yen for adults (shared ticket with the adjacent Neburi Nagashikan), free for high school students and younger.
• Opening hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Closed: December 29th to January 3rd

GOOGLE MAP

2 minutes walk from Neburi Nagashikan and former Kaneko family residence, Akita Akura Beer Brewery Shop

Let's go to Akita Akura Beer Brewery Shop and wash away the fatigue of the trip with beer! I thought so, but the timing was bad and it was a holiday.

It's my fault for not researching thoroughly beforehand.

“I will definitely come back the next time I come to Akita!”

I vowed and left the store. Please stop by if you are nearby.

This beer has won awards at beer contests and judging committees for 16 consecutive years since 2006.

Related article: [Akita Prefecture] Popular craft beers | Akita Akura Beer has unique beers!

Akita Akura Beer Brewery Shop

• Address: 1-2-40 Omachi, Akita City
• Business hours: 11:00-19:00 
• Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays (open on public holidays)
• URL: Akita Akura Beer Brewery Shop Official URL

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Once at the hotel

It was around 6pm, which was a good time, so I headed to the hotel to check in.

This time, we chose a location that is conveniently located 1.2 km from Akita Station.

After a short break, I decided to take a walk around the city station, and head out into the city at night in search of the Akita local cuisine and local sake that I had reserved.

There is still something to aim for. Yes, Akita Station West Exit Bus Terminal.

This is one of the places I personally wanted to see.

"Akita Station West Exit Bus Terminal"

This is a bus terminal designed by designer Katsushi Nagumo in 2013.

It won the "GOOD DESIGN AWARD" in 2014, and to quote:

Akita Station West Exit Bus Terminal is a wooden bus terminal that uses plenty of Akita cedar. Utilizing Akita cedar, which is counted as one of the three most beautiful forests in Japan and boasts the largest accumulation in the country, we will harness the potential of wood to create a space that welcomes guests and is suitable for the gateway to Akita City, the prefectural capital. In addition to appealing to the whole country, we are also contributing to improving the scenery in front of Akita Station.

It was on the web, but when I saw it for the first time, I was scared and wanted to see it someday.

Partly because it's a place I don't know, but it might be interesting to go somewhere from here just by looking at the name of the place, and I get excited when I think about it.

GOOGLE MAP (Akita Station West Exit Bus Terminal)

Dinner is of course Akita's local cuisine and local sake.

From the time I was planning my trip, I was choosing the most interesting places for dinner.

but! ! ! !

A disaster here? but,.

There was a restaurant that I had made a reservation for in advance, and when I walked up to the front of the store, the lights weren't on and I felt disgusted.

"Due to the owner's illness, we will be temporarily closed."

That's what he said.

"Yeah, it can't be helped. We're living in times like these, so please don't overdo it and get some rest."

I chanted this in my heart as I left the store. However, things got tough from here, there were a lot of tourists like me, thanks to national travel support and JR free passes, and all the restaurants where we could eat local cuisine were full!

After getting lost on the road for about an hour, I decided to go all the way to Kawabata and hit the road around Suzuran Dori without making an appointment.

With my smartphone in hand, I went to the 4th or 5th place where I could eat local cuisine while calling.

We finally met!

“Akita Kiritanpoya”

When I negotiated with them, I was told that they were only accepting reservations, but since there was a seat available, I could go right in. That was a really big help.

You can drink the special products recommended by each brewer from all over Akita Prefecture.

it's the best. (Please forgive me for showing beer in the photo while promoting local sake, I was thirsty.)

The menu is truly local cuisine! As I said, I just don't know.

We ordered ``Kiritanpo Hot Pot'', ``Akita Wild Vegetables Mizu no Tama'', ``Iburigakko'', ``Shottsuru Soraage'', ``Ego'', and more!

This is an excuse, but I was so tired from the trip and so delicious that I forgot to take pictures.

Kiritanpo hotpot is truly a local dish, and it's different from the Kiritanpo hotpot that I usually eat.

What surprised me was that it contained "bird kumquats." I'll never forget the flavor of the thick soup stock, which seems to eat all of the bird. And the main character, Kiritanpo, is soft! I'm also surprised at the difference.

Usually when I make Kiritanpo hotpot at home, I just buy a vacuum-packed Kiritanpo, but it's a little hard inside and out.

In comparison, the surface of authentic Kiritanpo is like high-quality charred rice, but the inside is soft and delicious, like freshly made rice! As expected.

And this is also the local gourmet “ego”

I've posted it on NEFT once, but this is my first time actually eating it.

It has a texture similar to konjac, and the scent of seaweed whets the appetite, making it an addictive dish.

To be honest, I was a little hesitant about the combination of wasabi and lemon, but when I sprinkled it with lemon, I was satisfied with the taste.

This is delicious.

Related article: [Akita Prefecture] What is Ego? Introducing low-calorie and healthy souvenirs made from seaweed

Akita Kiritanpoya Akita Omachi Branch

• Address: 4-2-20 Omachi, Akita City, Akita Prefecture
• Business hours: 17:00-24:00 (LO: 23:30)
• Regular holidays: None
• Contact: 018-801-3311
• URL: Nadai Akita Kiritanpoya official homepage

GOOGLE MAP

Very satisfied with the delicious local food and drinks, we left Akita Kiritanpo-ya and stopped at one more place before heading back to the hotel.

I wanted to go until the morning, but since I have an early morning tomorrow, I decided to do it in moderation.

"Akita Cedar GIN" is a craft gin from Akita Prefecture that I received at the last shop I visited.It is a refreshingly flavored craft gin made with 5 types of botanicals (juniper berry, coriander seed, angelica root, orange peel, lemon peel). This is my first time drinking gin with such a strong aroma.

The slogan is ``It has a refreshing scent that makes you feel like you're taking a bath in the forest,'' but that's not a lie.The scent and taste are truly wonderful.

The gin is still very popular now, and I have no doubt that it will continue to grow, and I highly recommend it as it can be purchased online.

Summary of today's transportation expenses for the first day (compared to normal fare)

This is a summary of the first day.

Departure from Sendai Station via Morioka and Kakunodate to Akita City. The trip will continue tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, but please take a look at today's summary table!

Celebrating JR East's 150th anniversary, free pass ticket 22,150 yen

Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the railway's opening, articles related to JR East Pass travel

[Tohoku] Let’s go! 150th anniversary of railway opening! Travel with JR East Pass. Explanation ~ Preparation

[Tohoku] I went! 150th anniversary of railway opening! Travel with JR East Pass. Day 1, Part 1 (Morioka to Kakunodate)

TikTok videos

@neft_tohoku I went on a train trip with the JR East Japan Pass commemorating the 150th anniversary of the railway. Let's see how much you can save in three days! #150th Anniversary of Railways #JR East Pass #Shinkansen Year 2022 #Train Travel #Tohoku ♬ Walker – Official Sound Studio