Aomori to Oirase Gorge

After room breakfast we packed up and headed to collect the hire car an hour early. After some multi language discussions we changed the rental hours and drop off location and somehow managed to make it cheaper. I think. Except I seem to have paid twice. I’ll sort it tomorrow!

We left the rental office and drove 2 minutes to Lawson so we could sort the car without the audience. After getting supplies we set of to see the really tall giant lanterns. We drove for about an hour and eventually found the car park. We crossed to the museum but it was closed for renovation. Very disappointing.

Instead we drove to

Lawson and picked up lunch before heading off into the Japanese countryside. Once we left the expressway we headed up and up into the hills. The snow increased and road conditions decreased. We found a pull in and stopped for the view before continuing up. Next we stopped at a ski resort and then continued up through snow lined roads like you’ve never seen. The snow was 3 or 4 metres high along the road, making a kind of tunnel. Eventuality we reached the top of the pass and started to descend.

After a while we came to the Oirase gorge and drove along to the lake. The plan had been to walk along the river through the gorge but the path was disappeared under the snow! Everyone was walking on the road and, while it had good views, it wasn’t the trail.

We stopped at various points along the way back through the gorge and then pulled in to our ryokan for the night. Our bags were taken and we checked in. After settling in the room we went for welcome sake in the lounge.

We then went to the onsen for a while before relaxing in the room.

In the evening we went for the included buffet dinner. It was really delicious. I tried lots of different things including squid sashimi, grilled clams and octopus. The octopus in particular was very tasty.Read more