Summer in Aomori

Northward at 100mph
By Sol March in Travelogue

After 5 eye-opening days in Tokyo, the world’s largest city, we head north to one of Japan’s most remote towns– Aomori.

We say goodbye to our apartment in Otsuka. Even after only 5 days, it was starting to feel like home.

Goodbye Otsuka

Sunrise at Ueno Station

Aomori is over 350 miles north of Tokyo, so we’ll be taking the Shinkansen— more commonly known as the “bullet train”– to get there.

If there’s one thing that we’ve learned about Japan during our short time here in Tokyo, it’s that trains are never late. We don’t want to miss our first ride on the Shinkansen, so we make sure to arrive at Ueno Station good and early.

Early Morning in Ueno Station Commute Waiting Train Time

Ueno Station is a large train station that serves Tokyo’s metropolitan trains as well as long-distance trains that connect to Japan’s other regions.

We’ve passed through this station several times as we bounced around Tokyo over the past few days so we know our way around well enough to reach our train’s platform with ample time to spare.

Hayate

Two minutes before our scheduled departure time, Hayate silently glides up to the platform.

Shinkansen Window Seat

Hayate is long and sleek, seemingly without end. This train will be carrying us hundreds of miles north to Aomori, but we should arrive in less than 3 hours.

The boarding process is smooth and orderly. Despite the lines of passengers waiting to board and the fact that the train is scheduled to leave in mere minutes, no one rushes or pushes through to get to their seat.

Two minutes later, everyone is on board and Hayate glides out of Ueno Station, right on time.

Off we go.

A Tour of Japan’s Countryside at Breakneck Speed

As Tokyo’s urban sprawl shrinks into the distance, our view transforms from concrete monoliths into wide verdant plains that extend as far as the eye can see.

Now beyond Tokyo’s city limits, Hayate begins to pick up speed at an astonishing pace. Still, the ride is surprisingly smooth, as if we are gliding on ice. This sensation is a bit jarring after spending nearly a week on Tokyo’s local trains, where you feel every bump and turn.

Hayate’s speed continues to increase until the Japanese countryside beyond our window becomes a blur of rice paddies and electric towers.

Monoliths on the Horizon Tower in the Field

The Land of Rice

It’s no surprise that much of Japan’s countryside is covered in rice paddies as rice is this country’s staple crop. Virtually every unused space no occupied by a building or a house is used to grow rice, no matter how small the space.

Fields of rice paddies blanket much of the land outside our window as we glide through the countryside, though we do see the lone car driving along narrow roads between rice paddies from time to time.

Paddy Wagon

Arrival

In less than 3 hours Hayate has carried us nearly 400 miles as we soundlessly coast into Aomori Station. Time sure flies, but I think Hayate flies faster.

Arrival in Aomori Aomori Station

As we leave the train station and take our first steps on the streets of Aomori, a brisk breeze passes over us. Aomori rests on Japan’s northern tip, and though summer is in full swing, it’s a cool 65°F at noon here in Aomori.

Welcome to Aomori

In other words, the weather is perfect.

We don’t know how long we’ll be in Aomori, but I’m liking it already.

Gear

Summer in Aomori

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