Thursday, September 29, 2011

Fields of Gold

We have recently moved houses in Misawa and our new house has a front row view of rice fields, elevated too. Its been a great summer watching the rice turn from green to greener, then to yellow and just before harvest it turns golden.  Quite a site really. Theses farmers work really hard and I have always wondered how much one field of rice yields as far and bags or pounds? If anyone knows please tell? Enjoy. Also did a little time-lapse with my Iphone. Most photos taken right on our back porch.













Saturday, September 17, 2011

Japow Tours 2010-2011 Season

I posted this on the main page of Japow Tours and it is a compilation of photos taken during the 2010-2011 winter season at Hakkoda, Japan. 213 photos in 4 minutes.  So keep your eyes on the screen as the seasons goes quick.  Thanks to Colin and Nate for the help with some of these photos to make it full story, on one of the best days of the year. Looking forward to another amazing winter in the Hakkoda Mountain range.
 




Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Hakkoda: Cycling, Camping, Hiking

Along with the Hakkoda Garage Event we squeezed in a little cycling and hiking the day of and after.  

Day 1: Saturday we got a late start a decided to cycle around the ring road of the Hakkodas, I have driven this road many times but you never really realized how much you climb until you do it on a bike.  We started from Sakayu Onsen and descended towards the ropeway and Aomori City, had a small climb up towards the Dozo tea house and then more descending until we reached the foot Onsen (which is still not running?). From here it is a constant climb for 10 miles to the 1040 meter summit.  Our descend into Sakayu was less than ideal as we had very low visibility, rain and wet roads. Got to love the Hakkodas, the mountains must know I was there because, I always have some sort of weather when in the Hakkodas. The world famous Sakayu Onsen never felt so good that night.

Day 2: Hiking. Meghan has yet to hike in the Hakkodas top to bottom in the summer so hey, lets do Odake and call it a weekend.  Yep we had some weather. Rain, then rain and some more rain.  After 4 hours of hiking in rain we called it quits.  It did manage to clear up just a little for me to take a few pictures though.  Only a couple more weeks and all that green will be changing to fall yellow, orange and reds. All pictures taken with Iphone via Intagram and Canon G10.


Meghan checking out the route.

None working foot onsen

Summit Snack

Cycling Route

Our hill climb on bikes

Morning Coffee

Odake Hut



Yeah, its Raining

Monday, September 12, 2011

Hakkoda Garage Event.

The 1st annual Hakkoda Garage Event was this last weekend 10th and 11th of September.  We showed up a little late on Saturday night but just in time to watch Hiroshi Fujiwara play some music and see the World Premier of Car Danchi 5.  Good times with the Car Danchi crew and looking forward to seeing some of them this winter. For more check out Neil Hartmann's Blog at http://neilhartmannlife.wordpress.com/ on the weekend at Hakkoda.  Hakkuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuda




Hakkuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuda

Mukai, Myself, Neil and the Car Danchi Crew.  Cheers!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Takada-Odake, Hakkoda

Takada-Odake stands alone amongst the Hakkoda Mountain range.  I stare at this mountain from Misawa every time we have a clear day and wish I was standing on top of it.  It has a very Iconic cone shape and appears to be the the tallest in the northern Hakkdoa range but is edged out by Odake-san by 30 meters or so. Our day started from Yachi-onsen, where the trail disappears into the forrest. Yes Disappears. I wouldn't even call this a trail, but more of a route, or rain run off, or an animal trail. We where straight bushwhacking for the 2.5 hour accent.  But once you can get a glimpse of the top or peak your head out of the tree canopy it makes it all worth the effort. Again, we had great weather while climbing and at the Summit but once we started to descend the skies closed in and it rained on us all the way home.

This trail is not for the average hiker. If you do venture into this tail/route/animal trail, be prepared for the worst: boots,gators, pants, long sleeves, gloves, hiking poles, etc.  I would bring a machete or a chain saw really. Yes, it was that bad.  I knew the trail was going to be rough, but once again the Hakkoda mountains far exceeded my expectations.

"Hakkoda never disappoints."  Those words should be on a T-shirt somewhere.

All pictures with Cannon G10 and Iphone using Instagram.


Enter here



Muddy trail.

Takada-Odake in the background

trail mushrooms

Mukai-san poking his head out.

Can you see the trail?

Takada-odake shrine


Mukai-san giving thanks for safe passage up the mountain.

Hinadake




Summit mini beers.

Cheers! Its a tradition now.

the way down is through there.