Travelled on 17.05.2016 (Tue) and 18.05.2016 (Wed)
in Japanese: https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/shirakami.html
in English: https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/joyful/shirakami.html
Best so far. Resort Shirakami リゾートしらかみ is a limited express train which commutes between Aomori 青森駅 and Akita 秋田駅 via Ou main line 奥羽本線 and Gono line 五能線. Resort Shirakami was introduced in 1997 to promote Gono line which runs alongside the coastline of Sea of Japan and passes by Shirakami Sanchi 白神山地, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 147.2 km railway line connects Higashi Noshiro Station 東能代駅 in Akita Prefecture to Kawabe Station 川部駅 in Aomori Prefecture. Have utilised Gono line several times on both trips to Tohoku region (Oct 2015 and May 2016) and I feel that this is one of the most scenic railway lines I have rode on so far in Japan. I will highly recommend a journey on board this train during the sunset as the coastline and sea view is especially picturesque at that time. On my second trip to Tohoku region, I had the opportunity to admire the mesmerising sunset view twice, on consecutive days, and the captivating scenery was just beyond words to describe. Apart from the breathtaking scenery, there are numerous places of interest dotted along this railway line to explore and uncover.
For example,
- come up close with a mysterious blue coloured pond named Aoike 青い池, part of a cluster of lakes known as Juniko 十二湖 (nearest train station - Juniko Station 十二湖駅);
- experience a sensational hot spring soak just beside the sea of Japan at Furofushi Onsen 不老ふ死温泉 (nearest train station - WeSPA Tsubakiyama Station ウェスパ椿山駅);
- be blown away by the gigantic, colourful lantern floats displayed at Tachineputa Museum 立佞武多の館, an important cultural heritage of Goshogawara city (nearest train station - Goshogawara Station 五所川原駅).
This is definitely one of the railway lines which I want to visit again.
Trains. Resort Shirakami is operated by a fleet of three hybrid driven trains, named Buna 橅, Aoike 青池 and Kumagera くまげら. By pure coincidence, I have only sat on Aoike on all occasions. There are usually three round trips made per day, but it is advisable to check out the train schedule on its website first. The trains are made up of four carriages and all seats require reserved seat tickets. There are ample legroom with comfortable cushioned, high back seats and the train is designed to have large windows to enhance viewing experience. One of the carriages (Car 2) has box seats with tables which can accommodate groups of four people and the seats can even be adjusted for the legs to lie straight (such thoughtful design)! There are observation lounges in Car 1 and 4, located at opposite ends of the train and the seats are oriented for passengers to experience the driver's view (front viewing seats) and to admire the Sea of Japan through the wide viewing windows (side viewing seats facing the windows).
Northbound trains:
Train 1, 3: Akita >> Hirosaki > Shin Aomori > Aomori
Train 5: Akita >> Hirosaki (train does not end at Aomori)
Southbound trains:
Train 2, 4: Aomori > Shin Aomori > Hirosaki >> Akita
Train 6: Hirosaki >> Akita (train does not start from Aomori)
Programs. In addition to the beautiful train scenery that Resort Shirakami offers, there are other events held on board the train. On Train 1, 2 and 3, between Ajigasawa Station 鯵ヶ沢駅 and Goshogawara Station 五所川原駅, there is a live performance of Tsugaru Shamisen 津軽三味線, a traditional musical instrument originated from Tsugaru Peninsula of Aomori Prefecture, held in the observation lounge or the event space of the train. Had the chance to enjoy the intriguing performance by two musicians while I was on board Train 3 heading for Goshogawara Station. Prior to its commencement, an announcement was made over the PA system and we made our way to the event space where the performance was held. On stipulated dates and train, passengers can also enjoy story telling performance (folk tales from Tsugaru) which is spoken in the local Tsugaru dialect, on the railway stretch between Mutsu-tsuruda Station 陸奥鶴田駅 and Kawabe Station 川部駅. There is also a pushcart selling light snacks, local souvenirs and merchanidise related to Resort Shirakami on board the train. Bought a handphone strap with three miniature trains depicting Buna, Aoike and Kumagera hanging on it.
Stopover. Certain trains will spend a longer duration (15 mins) at some stations and passengers are allowed to alight the trains to explore the stations during this period of time. At Senjojiki Station 千畳敷駅, passengers can walk onto a bedrock beach which is said to be created from an uplifting of land during a major earthquake that occurred in 1792. When Train 1 and 3 (heading for Akita) pulls into Noshiro Station 能代駅, many passengers alight to try shooting a basketball at the station platform. Reason being Noshiro city is known as a basketball town and Noshiro Technical High School, in particular, has set a prestigious record of winning the National Basketball Championship 58 times. Also keep a lookout for the markers situated at the platforms of Higashi Noshiro Station 東能代駅 and Kawabe Station 川部駅, indicating the starting (0 km mark) and ending point (147.137 km mark) of Gono line, respectively.
Sharing more highlights captured during my train rides along Gono line:
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Commemorative stamp:
in Japanese: https://www.jreast.co.jp/railway/joyful/shirakami.html
in English: https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/joyful/shirakami.html
Best so far. Resort Shirakami リゾートしらかみ is a limited express train which commutes between Aomori 青森駅 and Akita 秋田駅 via Ou main line 奥羽本線 and Gono line 五能線. Resort Shirakami was introduced in 1997 to promote Gono line which runs alongside the coastline of Sea of Japan and passes by Shirakami Sanchi 白神山地, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 147.2 km railway line connects Higashi Noshiro Station 東能代駅 in Akita Prefecture to Kawabe Station 川部駅 in Aomori Prefecture. Have utilised Gono line several times on both trips to Tohoku region (Oct 2015 and May 2016) and I feel that this is one of the most scenic railway lines I have rode on so far in Japan. I will highly recommend a journey on board this train during the sunset as the coastline and sea view is especially picturesque at that time. On my second trip to Tohoku region, I had the opportunity to admire the mesmerising sunset view twice, on consecutive days, and the captivating scenery was just beyond words to describe. Apart from the breathtaking scenery, there are numerous places of interest dotted along this railway line to explore and uncover.
For example,
- come up close with a mysterious blue coloured pond named Aoike 青い池, part of a cluster of lakes known as Juniko 十二湖 (nearest train station - Juniko Station 十二湖駅);
- experience a sensational hot spring soak just beside the sea of Japan at Furofushi Onsen 不老ふ死温泉 (nearest train station - WeSPA Tsubakiyama Station ウェスパ椿山駅);
- be blown away by the gigantic, colourful lantern floats displayed at Tachineputa Museum 立佞武多の館, an important cultural heritage of Goshogawara city (nearest train station - Goshogawara Station 五所川原駅).
This is definitely one of the railway lines which I want to visit again.
Trains. Resort Shirakami is operated by a fleet of three hybrid driven trains, named Buna 橅, Aoike 青池 and Kumagera くまげら. By pure coincidence, I have only sat on Aoike on all occasions. There are usually three round trips made per day, but it is advisable to check out the train schedule on its website first. The trains are made up of four carriages and all seats require reserved seat tickets. There are ample legroom with comfortable cushioned, high back seats and the train is designed to have large windows to enhance viewing experience. One of the carriages (Car 2) has box seats with tables which can accommodate groups of four people and the seats can even be adjusted for the legs to lie straight (such thoughtful design)! There are observation lounges in Car 1 and 4, located at opposite ends of the train and the seats are oriented for passengers to experience the driver's view (front viewing seats) and to admire the Sea of Japan through the wide viewing windows (side viewing seats facing the windows).
Northbound trains:
Train 1, 3: Akita >> Hirosaki > Shin Aomori > Aomori
Train 5: Akita >> Hirosaki (train does not end at Aomori)
Southbound trains:
Train 2, 4: Aomori > Shin Aomori > Hirosaki >> Akita
Train 6: Hirosaki >> Akita (train does not start from Aomori)
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| Spotted Kumagera, one of the three Resort Shirakami trains serving Gono line, at Juniko Station. |
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| Live performance of Tsugaru Shamisen. |
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| Pushcart moving along the aisle every now and then selling light snacks and local souvenirs. |
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| Admiring Mt Iwaki from the platform of Ajigasawa Station. |
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| Fancy a basketball shooting game at Noshiro Station? |
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| Starting point marker spotted at Higashi Noshiro Station. |
Sharing more highlights captured during my train rides along Gono line:
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Commemorative stamp:
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