We took a trip on a train to Akita prefecture so that we could take another trip on a train; a one-man train. Last weekend we took the Shinkansen train to Akita so that we could ride this scenic viewing train through the prefecture at a nice leisurely pace and enjoy the sights.
Here's the train.
One-man, one car, very cozy.
This is the one-man at the helm. And, if one looks at the window one can see that it ahas started to rain.
Off we go! Because of the rain I couldn't open the window, hence the title of this post. Because it was so dark outside the lights inside the car were on so that
Not only is it dark out, it's foggy too!
When we crossed this river the train conductor stopped on the bridge to give people time to take pictures from both sides of the train. Look to the left...
...now look to the right.
There are a lot of rice fields out here in the middle of nowhere.
We got off the train at this station to spend the night at a hot spring hotel.
Next morning we're back on the platform waiting for the train to take us to our next destination. By-the-way, it's still rainy and foggy.
Here comes the train!
We're riding the rails and I'm still shooting pictures through the window.
It's very peaceful out here.
Fields of autumn gold.
A glimpse of civilization.
My friend the window.
End of the line. Time to get our rental car and drive to the next hot spring inn.
I was hoping that the rain would stop and I could do a little walk about with my camera and quite taking pictures through a window. No such luck. Overnight we had a snow storm.
A lot of snow isn't going to stop us. So, now I'm in the back seat of the rental car still taking pictures through a window.
This isn't so bad (because I'm not the one driving) I could do this all day.
Actually, I did do it all day.
This is what it's all about - a hot spring bath. We stopped in a small village in the mountains to take a bath. It's a bit steamy in here.
The view from the hot bath window. Actually it was to steamy to take a picture through the bath window so I went around the building to a place in front of the window for this shot.
On the road again.
We decided to visit another hot spring location.
We drove for a couple hours to get there.
It was a nice drive (again, because I wasn't driving).
Unfortunately when we got there we found that they were snowed in and the road was closed to all visitors.
As we headed back to our inn the sky turned grey.
Was it really safe to be on the road in these conditions?
Would we make it back to our inn alive?
Would we get stuck in the snow and get attacked by bears? Or worse, freeze to death? I don't know why freezing would be worse than being eaten by a bear, but it doesn't matter we made it back to the Inn thanks to the driver's good driving skills.
Last day: Time to check out and head home.
It's such a lovely day, I really wish we could stay longer.
Alas, we must go home because my wife said so.
The closer we get to the Shinkansen train station the better conditions get.
Good by snow, good by icy slippery roads, good by beautiful mountains and rivers.
Hello bullet train. It's time to say good by Akita and we'll see you again - in the summertime of course; no more of this snow for us!
Mike
Bonus shots from Yokohama!
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