SPICA-TRAVEL, a cute cafe in Akita City

Hi there!! Akita has been rainy and humid these days, and I think it's changing from summer into fall. This means the year 2012 is going to end! Time goes so fast...

Well, I feel like many cafe and restaurants are hiding around Akita city. Car is necessary for people living in Akita because we do not have so convenient urban transportation system like Tokyo. I often drive a car whenever I go for a shopping or anywhere, so I cannot take time in looking for a good cafe even if I want to. But, I can discover many of them behind the street when I walk around there... "SPICA-TRAVEL" is one of the cute cafe in the city, I guess! :-)

I tried a rare menu... This is mackerel sandwich originated in Turkey!! It was surprising for me because I had never thought of making sandwich with mackerel like this. It was very good! 

You can also enjoy cute drinks like this. (For your information, the left one is not for a drink but a vase! ;P) Frozen fruits were put in the glass already, and then, we pour the soda to drink by taking our time. By the way, this cafe changes to bar at night. We went there at lunch time, but try its bar next time, too. :D

Yummy! Soba-noodle at KAFUKUTEI

Today's Akita was extremely hot... XP  I had lots of water and ate Ice Cream to get over the heat. I miss winter already!!

Anyway, I want to introduce you one of my favorite Japanese Soba-noodle stores, KAFUKUTEI, which is located in front of Hirosaki Park in Aomori prefecture, a top cherry-blossoms viewing spot of Japan. So, here is the yummy and healthy Soba-noodle (i.e. noodles made from buckwheat) of KAFUKUTEI!

The above photo is "Tenzaru" which comes as a set of Soba-noodle and Tempura (fritter-like dish of shrimp, vegetables, etc.). The black ones on the noodle is called "Nori", or dried laver seaweed. It's not a paper, so you can eat them all. Don't worry! :)

Also, there is a unique dessert... It's a bean cake made of Soba-noodle, "Soba Ohagi".

Normal bean cake includes rice inside, but this is very unique in that the inside is not rice but Soba-noodle!!

This was really surprising to me!! I believe many Japanese people may be surprised at such unusual sweets! haha! Well, all of them are very good, so let's try sometime!! ;D

Blue sky & ocean in Aomori pref.

Although summer must be ending by now, Akita has been really hot these days. I cannot stand staying anywhere at around 35 degrees Celsius! XP
Well, on the last weekend, my hometown Akita had annual national fireworks competition called "Omagari-no-Hanabi". I could not come to the site this time, but you may refer to my past post about this event: "Summer is coming! ~Omagari National Fireworks Competition~ " (June 9, 2012).

While people enjoyed the fireworks competition in Omagari, the southern town of Akita, me and my boyfriend were driving up to Aomori prefecture to eat Ikayaki (broiled squid)!!
*Please see my older post titled "My favorite view and Ikayaki!" dated June 11, 2012. :-)

We drove along the Japan Sea, which was very beautiful!!! So, let me share the good view...

We drove and drove for about 12hrs on that day. During the trip, we enjoyed the ocean view, specialty foods like Ikayaki (broiled squid) and Shijimi (corbicula) Ramen, Onsen (spa), etc...
The photo below is the evening sun against Mt. Iwaki.

It's good to live closer to the nature. And I hope to keep sharing the beauty of our Akita and the neighboring prefectures with you all... Thank you.

Nishimonai Bon Odori, the summer festival in Ugo!

My hometown, Ugo-machi, is well known for the traditional summer festival, "Nishimonai Bon Odori (Dance)", which is a significant, intangible folk cultural asset of Japan. It attracts many people every summer (16-18 August)!!

Because there is no written material about this festival, we can't tell exactly when it was started. But, a legend tells us that its origin dates back to 1280s when an old priest started this Bon Dance with villagers to pray for a good harvest. Then, it came to have another meaning as to mourn the lord's passing after being defeated in a battle. And today's Nishimonai Bon Odori was born at last.
You can learn more from here! -> http://www.town.ugo.lg.jp/sightseeing/detail.html?id=340

Last weekend, I went to see this old dance with my family and my boyfriend. It has been almost a decade since I saw it last time, so I was really excited to experience the atmosphere again! :)

As you can find, there are two different types of clothes and hats of the dancers. One is a set of colorful Kimono (traditional clothes) and woven hat. This colorful Kimono is called "Hanui" that is made of pieces of different clothes to make it colorful. I heard villagers in the old days were not rich, so they made such nicer clothes by collecting pieces of fabrics and created a new beautiful one by themselves. By the way, my mother is Hanui-maker and sews them by her hand before the festival. I can see the real Hanui from up close at home!

Different from Hanui, the other dancers wear darker clothes and black hood, or "Hikosa Zukin". They represent the dead people as far as I know... The origin is unknown yet.

Once you experience this event, I think you'll feel something different. And also, you can enjoy more if you understand Akita-accent of the lyrics because the classic songs during the dance includes local joke. :D That's funny!
I hope you will enjoy such a unique festival in my hometown next year! Welcome!

Akita Kanto Festival!!

On 3-6 of August 2012, we enjoyed Akita Kanto Festival which is one of the major three summer festivals in the Northern Japan.
"Kanto" is a bamboo pole mounted with lanterns to represent a rice ear. Well-trained men lift it up higher in the air to brighten the night sky of Akita city. Only men are allowed to lift the "Kanto", while women play the traditional music during their performance. It's the very Japanese summer festival!!

This festival can be found in an old document written in 1789 according to its official website (http://www.kantou.gr.jp/english/index.htm). This has been held to wash away evil spirits and to pray for the good harvest of that year.
Today, children and adults participate in the performance and entertain not only people in the city but visitors from all over Japan! I heard about 1.3 million visitors gathered here this year!! Amazing!!

I love to come to such traditional summer festivals because I can make sure that I am Japanese and enjoy the atmosphere from my heart. :-)

Ryusendo Caves in Iwate pref.

On a hot summer day, it is nice to enjoy the sun but is also good to look for a cool place. I'm the latter, so now, let me introduce you Ryusendo Caves in Iwaizumi town, Iwate prefecture (next to our hometown, Akita). 

See?? It's beautiful, isn't it!? This is one of the 3 major limestone caves of Japan. In the cave, visitors can find 3 underground lakes as above photos at the moment. (The 4th one seems to be under investigation.) The total length of the cave is more than 3 kilometers at present, but is estimated to be over 5 kilometers long! 

Even in the middle of summer, inside of the cave is very cold at about 10 degrees Celsius and you will need to wear a jacket. Also, the floor is slippy! Watch your step not to fall into the water! =D

Outside the Ryusendo Caves has beautiful nature!! Look at these greens and streams!

Whenever I come there, I never get tired of such lovely scenery. Let's feel close to the nature in Ryusendo Caves this summer! 

Driving to the north, Shirakami Mountain Range

On the last weekend, I enjoyed a small trip from my hometown, Akita prefecture, to the north, or Aomori pref. It was a sunny day and perfect for driving. Me and my boyfriend woke up at 7:30a.m. on Saturday and had been driving for about 8 hours!

I took the above photo at a parking area of highway on the way to our destination. Skies were sunny without a cloud! 

We fully enjoyed the nature of Shirakami Mountain Range, the world heritage located between Akita and Aomori pref. It was so green!! (The photo was taken in my car, so it's not clear very much... sorry!)

This is Anmon-no-Taki (waterfall) in the Shirakami Mountain Range. You can get a special apple ice cream nearby the fall in summer. 

Actually, this photo was taken about 2 years ago. When we went there on the last Saturday, the road was unfortunately closed due to damage by the earthquake on March 11, 2011. Though we could not get closer to the waterfall, we still enjoyed the nature and ice cream around there. =)

After that, we kept driving to Hachinohe City, Aomori, that is a port town with fresh seafood. We had tasty Sushi and relaxed in Onsen (hot spring) at night. Well, it was a great trip... Guys! Why not taking a long drive sometimes? ;)