Enjoy the scenery along the Sea of ​​Japan! Resort Shirakami Trip [Akita/Aomori]

There is a local line that runs through the Sea of ​​Japan coast of Akita and Aomori prefectures, and offers spectacular views of the Sea of ​​Japan and the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Site from the train window.
It the JR Gono Line .
It is gaining popularity nationwide as a "local line that everyone should ride at least once."

There is also a tourist train that allows you to enjoy the Gono Line to the fullest: the Resort Shirakami .
We will introduce what makes the Resort Shirakami

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What is "Resort Shirakami"?

"Resort Shirakami" is a tourist train operated by JR East.
It runs from Akita Station to Aomori Station or Hirosaki Station via the Gono Line. It
operates up to three round trips per day, which is a lot for a tourist train.
It also operates almost every day, including weekdays, from April to November, which shows how popular it is.
In winter, it mainly operates on weekends.

the Resort Shirakami , you can enjoy the spectacular scenery along the Gono Line from a scenic carriage, and there are also various events on board, such as shamisen performances.
This is a train that will make your trip on the Gono Line an incredibly enjoyable one.

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How to ride the Resort Shirakami?

Resort Shirakami operating times and days

Here are the operating days and times for the Resort Shirakami (information as of March 16, 2024).
A maximum of three round trips will run per day, so you can use it to suit your schedule, such as when touring tourist spots.

• Resort Shirakami No. 1
  Departs Akita Station at 8:19 and arrives Aomori Station at 13:34. Operates mainly on weekends during the winter
  
• Resort Shirakami No. 3
  Departs Akita Station at 10:50 and arrives Hirosaki Station at 15:50. Operates most days except during the winter season.
  
• Resort Shirakami No. 5
  Departs Akita Station at 14:00 → Arrives Aomori Station at 19:38 Operates mainly on weekends in winter
  
• Resort Shirakami No. 2
  Departs Aomori Station at 8:09 and arrives Akita Station at 13:29. Operates mainly on weekends in winter
  
• Resort Shirakami No. 4
  Departs Aomori Station at 13:52 → Arrives Akita Station at 19:01 Operates mainly on weekends in winter
  
• Resort Shirakami No. 6
  Departs Hirosaki Station at 16:06 → Arrives Akita Station at 20:42 Operates on most days except during the winter season
  

Along the way, the train stops at major stations such as Higashi-Noshiro, Noshiro, Goshogawara, Hirosaki, and Shin-Aomori, as well as stations that are convenient for touring tourist spots such as Akita-Shirakami, Juniko Lakes, WeSpa Tsubakiyama, and Senjojiki.
The stations that the train stops at vary slightly depending on the train, so please check the website or timetable for details.

How to purchase tickets

All seats on all Resort Shirakami trains are regular cars and reserved seats. In addition to a regular ticket, you will need a separate reserved seat ticket to board the train. Reserved seat tickets can be purchased at JR station "Midori no Madoguchi" ( Green
Window
) or " reserved seat ticket machines ," JR East's online reservation service "Eki-net ," and major "travel agencies" cannot be reserved through
reserved seat ticket machines or "Eki-net").

The fare for the Akita to Aomori route is 4,510 yen for the ticket and 840 yen for the reserved seat, for a total of 5,350 yen .
For the Akita to Hirosaki route, the fare is 4,070 yen for the ticket and 840 yen for the reserved seat, for a total of 4,910 yen .
(Generally, the price of a reserved seat ticket on JR trains varies depending on the season, but for the Resort Shirakami it is 840 yen all year round.)
You can experience a sightseeing train journey at a relatively reasonable price.

Because the Resort Shirakami is a rapid train, you can use tickets such as the Seishun 18 Ticket, which does not allow you to ride on limited express trains, and you can ride it by purchasing a reserved seat ticket. There are
also tours available from travel agencies that include a ride on the Resort Shirakami.

Seating

The Resort Shirakami has standard seats facing the direction of travel , as well as box seats, which are recommended for groups .
Car 2 has box seats, while cars 1, 3, and 4 have standard seats.

The Resort Shirakami changes direction at Higashi-Noshiro Station in Akita Prefecture and Hirosaki Station in Aomori Prefecture. When traveling
along the Gono Line, car 1 is the lead car for trains bound for Aomori and Hirosaki, and car 4 is the lead car for trains bound for Akita.
Of the standard seats, seats A through D, seat A is the seat closest to the Sea of ​​Japan on the Gono Line.
If you want to enjoy the scenery to the fullest, keep this in mind when selecting your seat.

Three types of formations

As we've already mentioned, the Resort Shirakami is a popular tourist train that operates up to three round trips per day, and there are three different train formations available.
These are called
the "Buna formation , the "Aoike formation," and the "Kumagera formation." JR East's website publishes in advance which formation will be used (*), so if there's a formation you want to ride, it's a good idea to check.

*The schedule may be subject to sudden changes on the day of operation

Attractive spot

Here we will introduce various spots that will make your trip on the "Resort Shirakami" even more enjoyable.
Please note that what we introduce here is only a small part of the whole.
There are still many more attractive spots along the Gono Line!

Senjojiki Coast

Senjojiki, located in Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture, is a rocky beach created by an earthquake in 1792 (Kansei 4).
As the name "Senjojiki" suggests, it is a vast rocky ledge.
It is a one-minute walk from Senjojiki Station.
Resort Shirakami No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 trains stop at Senjojiki Station for 15 minutes, allowing you to stroll along Senjojiki Beach during the stop.

INFORMATION

• Name: Senjojiki Coast
• Location: Kitakanegasawa, Fukaura-machi, Nishitsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture
• Inquiry number: 0173-74-4412 (Fukaura Town Tourism Division)
• URL: Senjojiki Beach

Google Maps

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Furofushi Onsen

Furofushi Onsen is located at the tip of the coast called Koganezaki in Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture.
It is famous for its
gourd-shaped open-air bath with a spectacular view that blends seamlessly into the coastline It is only about 1 meter from the sea, so there is nothing to obstruct the view.
At dusk, the entire area is dyed gold, as its name suggests, and you can enjoy an otherworldly view.
To get there, there is a shuttle bus (reservation required) from Wespa Tsubakiyama Station, where the Resort Shirakami train stops.

INFORMATION

• Name: Furofushi Onsen
• Address: 15 Shimokiyotaki, Oaza, Katsukura, Fukaura-machi, Nishitsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture
• Inquiry number: 0173-74-3500
• Opening hours: 9:00-16:00 (for day trips to the open-air beach baths, as of February 2024)
• URLKoganezaki Furofushi Onsen

Google Maps

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Kizukuri Station and the Jomon Dwellings Museum Karuko

The Kizukuri Station building in Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture, where the Resort Shirakami stops, is unique in that it features a huge clay figurine motif on its exterior wall.
This is a replica of a clay figurine excavated from
the Kamegaoka Stone Age Site is one of the ruins that make up the Jomon Sites of Hokkaido and Northern Tohoku , a World Heritage Site

A 15-minute walk from Kizukuri Station is the Karuko Jomon Dwellings Museum, which displays artifacts excavated from ruins in Tsugaru City, such as the Kamegaoka Stone Age ruins

INFORMATION

• Name: Jomon Dwellings Exhibition Museum Karuko
• Address: 59-1 Kizukuri Wakamidori, Tsugaru City, Aomori Prefecture
• Inquiry number: 0173-42-6490
• Business hours: 9:00-16:00
• Closed on Mondays, the day after a public holiday (if that day is also a public holiday, the museum will be open and closed the following weekday), and New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
• URL Jomon Dwellings Museum Karuko

Google Maps

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Basketball on the platform at Noshiro Station

is known as a basketball town, with
Noshiro Technical High School (now Akita Prefectural Noshiro Science and Technology High School) a prestigious high school basketball school that achieved the first ever "nine titles." When the "Resort Shirakami" stops at Noshiro Station, try shooting at the basketball hoop on the platform (only available on some trains).

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twelve lakes

"Juniko" is the collective name for several lakes and marshes in a corner of the Shirakami Mountains.
The lakes have good water quality, and being surrounded by beech forests makes for beautiful scenery.
The relaxing effects of forest bathing are also well-known.
Buses that take you to Juniko Lakes operate at times when some "Resort Shirakami" trains stop at Juniko Station.

INFORMATION

• Name: Juniko Visitor Center
• Location: Matsukamiyama National Forest, 82nd Forest Section, Matsukami-aza, Fukaura-machi, Nishitsugaru-gun, Aomori Prefecture
• Inquiry number: 0173-77-2138
• Opening hours: 8:30-16:00 (closed in winter)
• Opening days: April 1st to November 30th (closed from December to the end of March)
• URLJuniko Forest

Google Maps

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The train itself is fun to ride

The Resort Shirakami offers more than just the sights and scenery along the line.
The train has also been designed to make your time on board enjoyable.
Local people board the train to sell local specialties, and there are held
while the train is in operation live Tsugaru shamisen performances , Tsugaru dialect storytelling demonstrations, and traditional Tsugaru puppet shows . Please note that sales and other events are only available on certain days and trains, so please check the JR East website in advance.

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summary

The Gono Line, known as a local line that everyone should ride at least once, is home to many attractive spots.
The Resort Shirakami is the perfect tourist train
for touring these attractive spots, or for enjoying the spectacular views of the Sea of ​​Japan and interacting with local people on board If you're planning a trip to the Tohoku region, we highly recommend considering touring the attractive tourist spots along the Sea of ​​Japan coast on the Resort Shirakami.

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