"Why don't you cycle in Akita?"In mid-October, when the autumn colors of the mountains were in full bloom, it was the women's trio in Tokyo who experienced Akita Satoyama cycling. This time, the bicycle is rented and comes with a support car, so even people who have never run a long distance can participate with confidence in a 2-night 3-day tour.
On the first day, when I arrived at Akita Airport, I boarded the support car that I was greeted with and headed for Yurihonjo City in the southern part of the prefecture. Yurihonjo, which overlooks the famous peak of Mt. Chokai, which represents the Tohoku region, and is blessed with nature with the sea, countryside, and plateau, has the Yurihonjo Railway about 23km between Ugohonjo near the sea and Yajima at the foot of Mt. Chokai. It's tied, and this time I'm cycling along the railroad. It goes inland from the sea, and it's about a plateau railroad, so are you just climbing? No, don't worry, the altitude will rise slowly in the rice fields. As I proceeded, Mt. Chokai also appeared, and I felt like "Look, it's already snowing at the top!"
Behind the roadside station I stopped by was a row of cherry blossom trees along the river. In spring, you can see Mt. Chokai with the remaining snow over the cherry blossoms in full bloom. And although I didn't use it this time, the Yurikogen Railway has a cycle train (only from April to October), and it is said that bicycles can be loaded as it is. looks fun.
Cycling is also a goal at Yashima Station, the end point of the Yurikogen Railway. Up to this point, there were only unmanned stations, but Yajima is a large station with a depot. When I entered the station building, a lovely lady in a kimono called out to me, "Lady, please." This person is Matsuko, the owner of Matsuko's room, a specialty shop at this station. The deliciousness of the cherry blossom tea that you said that you collected and pickled the cherry blossoms in the spring! Thank you for the aids.
Move by support car and cycle around Masuda district in Yokote city on the second day. In Masuda, where commerce once flourished, there is still a retro townscape that reminds us of the past, and a traditional house with a splendid built-in (a warehouse built inside the house) is also a must-see. It is said that it was built from the Meiji era to the early Showa era, but some of it has been reborn as a restaurant or cafe and is bringing the city to life again.
What I am looking forward to in Masuda this season is apple picking. In fact, Akita is also a production center for delicious fruits, and Masuda at the foot of the Ou Mountains is a production center for apples that represent Akita. On both sides of the road, I ran a bicycle while watching the crimson apples that had grown, and at the apple garden I visited, a variety called Shinano Sweet was about to be eaten. If you try it right away, it will be juicy and crispy, and it will be sweet! I would like to call this the "Aquita Sweet Test".
The morning of the third day starts from Nyuto Onsenkyo. In the eastern part of Akita Prefecture, in the mountain bosom of Mt. Then, when I heard that a popular activity for such overseas customers was "to go around the hot spring village with an electrically power assisted bicycle", I decided to experience the girls' trio as well.
When I went to Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo, the starting point, the guide prepared a bicycle and went to Shitanbai. First of all, expand the illustration map of the hot spring village and introduce the course. "It's about 30 minutes if you run quickly, but it takes about 2 hours to enjoy the scenery,"
When we started running, it was quite steep. But, thanks to the electric power assist, it's swiss. Too much fun! "Customers from overseas also enjoy running, and sometimes it's hard to stop," said the guide.
After climbing the zigzag, head down along the mountain stream to the vacation village where you departed for 6 of the 7 hot springs. All of them were quaint inns, and I was able to experience the charm of Akita here as well.
Before going down the mountain hot springs and heading to the airport, I ran a bicycle at Lake Tazawa and Kakunodate for a short distance, and the great women's trip was completed successfully.
