Prefecture #2 – AomoriThe northernmost prefecture on Honshu (Japan’s main island), with the Sea of Japan to its west and the Pacific Ocean to its east.
Started with a visit to the Sannai Maruyama Archaeological Site – recreation of some structures from the early (13,000 to 300 BC) Jomon Period. This is a photo I think of an early condominium complex in the background and in the foreground, apparently the world’s largest yet sparsest tree fort.
Then a quick pitstop at the Hirosaki Castle.
Toward the end of this pretend day, it was time for a bath at the Aoni Onsen (“onsen” being a hot springs bathing opportunity) and a pretend overnight at the Lamp no Yado inn - no electricity and no cell service, so kinda like living in the Joman period. Imaginary dinner by gaslight – it probably would have been tasty. Could stay only one imaginary night, 'cause of TV withdrawal symptoms.
I have read that onsen baths often will not allow in bathers who have visible tattoos. Not an issue for me, because either
(a) I have no tattoos
(b) I have one tattoo – a tiny Winnie-the-Pooh tattoo – but it is entirely covered by my bathing suit, or
(c) I am replete with neck-to-ankle tattoos which detail the troubling history of my extensive involvement with the yakuza, but since I am in reality sitting on my couch in Vancouver, no one but the cats can see the artwork (and they tend to be indifferent rather than judgmental about non-mouse things).
I regret that I pretended to be in Aomori prefecture in March rather than imaginary visiting in August, as I missed the summer Nebuta Matsuri festival. There is a depiction of some of the floats in that festival starting at 4:40 of the attached Youtube clip from the Abroad in Japan guy, forcing the usually fairly sardonic fellow behind that youtube series to exclaim that they were “pretty bloody impressive.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUtxQs_fsIAAlso in that clip toward the latter half is a visit to a different onsen in the Aomori prefecture in an outdoor setting. Very lovely, but honestly I have been spoiled forever by my visit years ago to the Bláa Lónið (Blue Lagoon) in Iceland, truly one of the most remarkable outdoor soaks I have ever had).
All in all, a reasonably successful fabricated trip to the Aomori prefecture.