After the fruit farm visit, we decided to hop on the Resort Shirakami train; Buna that was leaving just a few minutes prior to our reservation. Talk about doing things last minute!
The trip from Akita to Aomori is 5 hours and 10 minutes; along scenic routes. Debuting in 1997 at the same time as the Akita Shinkansen, the Resort Shirakami is a train operating with three configurations, named the Aoike, the Buna and the Kumagera. The Resort Shirakami runs from Akita along the Gono Line to Hirosaki, then turns around before continuing northward along the Ou Line to Aomori. Most of the Resort Shirakami route is along the Gono Line, which is 147.2 kilometers of coastline track.
We got these seats and the seats can be pulled down for a more comfortable ride while enjoying the scenery outside. Feel free to make yourself at home!
The train conductor, a jovial man mistook us as tourists from Taiwan. When I said no and told him we were from Malaysia, he mentioned that plenty of Singaporean tourists rode this scenic train.
Photo of the view outside :
The train slowed down at a particularly scenic spot to allow passengers to view the beauty of the coastline better and take photos. And taking photos was easy in this train because of the huge window! On one side you can view Japan's coastline and on the other side, you have mountainous scenery.
More lovely views from the train will up later, once this trip report until Day 13 is over. Stay tuned!
Wow! I love to ride on this train!!
ReplyDeleteSo you just rode for 5 hours to nowhere, but just to enjoy the journey? I never do such a thing before! haha!
ReplyDeleteEh, you all looked Chinese meh? How come the train conductor mistook you all as tourists from Taiwan?
ReplyDelete@foong,
ReplyDeleteStar Cruise also got cruise to nowhere at Port Klang mah!
The first inclination that we are foreigners were the fact we were using JR East Pass to ride on Japan Railways trains.
Then. I guess he just made a guess based on the nationality of foreign tourists that used this train more. :D
But I bet Japanese will be more familiar with Malaysians once AirAsia starts its operation to Japan come Dec 9!
I think you do look oriental..hehe. I was mistaken for a Japanese one time even though I don't look like one...but then again, people can't really tell the difference between Asians (Japanese, Chinese, Koreans) so we tend to be mistaken for either Japanese or Chinese from mainland China.
ReplyDeletethe seats look absolutely comfy. i enjoy best scenic train rides as it's one of the excellent ways to enjoy the beauty of the countryside!
ReplyDelete@Mei Teng,
ReplyDeleteI think its the hat - you know your floopy hat? Japanese do love to wear those hat, going out and about! :D
floppy not floopy. XD
ReplyDelete@LR,
ReplyDeleteIt was comfy. The best part was that you can actually lie down, sip a drink while the train past by a beautiful countryside. :)
Waaaa....cool one. Love the train with the huge window.. love the view also... :)
ReplyDeleteI see that you are enjoying the trip! Is it only me or did you notice that it has gotten cooler these days? If it's really the weather, wear more and stay warm! Enjoy yourselves!
ReplyDeleteLooks like so much fun. You can enjoy the scenery without having to do much walking. It must be a very tourist-friendly train to slow down and let people take pictures from clean windows.
ReplyDeleteOh my! The train ride must have been a blast! Envy! Envy! And you were at Day 4 only? Wow! More envy! LOL!
ReplyDeleteMorning lina.
ReplyDeleteStill busy with your vacation?
That looks like a very comfortable ride.
ReplyDelete@zezebel,
ReplyDeletethe view on the Akita-Aomori route on Resort Shirakami is indeed amazing. :)
@Cindy,
ReplyDeleteWe are back to KL already but yes, the last few days in Tokyo were cold. A sharp decrease from 33C to 16C!
@AVCr8teur,
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for clean windows I say. Spotless photos of the view outside were possible. :D
@HappySurfer,
ReplyDeleteA bit slow in updating my trip reports. :D
We are back from our vacation already. ;)
@Poetic Shutterbug,
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed. :) And we are free to move around too.
I just enjoy being on a train where we, the passengers, are gifted with the stunning sceneries. How much did it cost then via train? Im planning my trip for 2011 and want to prove to my husband regardless of how expensive Japan is, its worth the money spent :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way I found your site through my google of Ultraman Kids, mind me asking where you got the Ultraman Kids dvd? Im so tempted to get that for my nephew's 4th birthday :)
@cuteandcurls,
ReplyDeleteWe got ourselves a 3-day flexible JR East Special Pass for a mere 10,000yen per adult (5,000yen for children) for an unlimited 3-day train rides on JR trains and selected companies such as Shinano electric train. You can also opt for a JR pass if you have more travelling time on bullet trains. :)
The Ultraman Kids DVD I got it from Hiroo shop in Kotaraya. :)
Agree with you. The windows are spacious! My hands itch to take pictures!
ReplyDelete@VanillaSeven,
ReplyDeleteI bet your hands would not stray far from your camera if you are in this train. :)
That's an interesting view, I miss the beach =(
ReplyDeleteThis train trip reminds me of the Orient Express =)
@Ayie,
ReplyDeleteI wish one day I can afford to board the Orient Express. :D