A two-story wooden house with an ornate design features a small balcony above the entrance. The exterior is weathered with dark wood panels. The house is surrounded by greenery, and a tree with lush green leaves is seen in the foreground.
Gail Schulz

Day 15 - Jumonji to Kakunodate

Route

The plan today is to traverse the entire inland plain of Akita from South to North. It is about as flat a day as you can get.  In the morning the rivers and irrigation canals were running in the same direction we were riding, which made for light pedals and relatively quick progress.  In the afternoon the water was flowing against our direction of travel but not so as you'd notice.

The weather was rainy as forecast and we rode through a light rain most of the day.  The forecast suggested rain could get heavier in the afternoon so aside from a brief stop at the Old Nisshin Kan at Yokote, we set our sights on shelter and a warm shower and just rolled.

Map of the route from Jumonji to Kakunodate
Elevation profile of the route

Stay and Eat

Our bed for the night is at the idiosyncratically titled Yadoya Hiroshi Desu (It's Hiroshi the Inn).  It's a minshuku style of inn with the entryway separating the guest room, bath, toilet and dining from the rest of the house. There are two rooms, but as we are the only guests, they've kindly set up one room as a sitting room and the other as our bedroom.  

Our meal this evening was truly a feast. There was sashimi, a prawn salad, a prosciutto salad, pickles, a series of vegetable sides, not to mention the thinly sliced beef, mushrooms and asparagus cooked on the table in a clay pot.

Close-up photograph of light peach-pink iris flowers with ruffled petals in bloom, surrounded by slender green leaves. The flowers exhibit delicate texture and are enhanced by a few dew drops, creating a fresh and vibrant garden scene.
A cozy room with two futon beds on a tatami mat floor, dressed in white and blue striped bedding. A small table with a TV and a calendar sits to the left, and a mini fridge is placed against the wall near a window with blinds. A towel and remote are on the beds.
A living room with a man in a black shirt and purple shorts kneeling by the TV. Various items and clothes are scattered around, including a red pannier and folded garments. Two chairs and a small table with drink bottles, an ashtray, and a box are in the centre.
A dining table with a variety of Japanese dishes including a bowl of seafood and tofu, a plate of mixed sashimi, a glass of beer, and other small plates with vegetables and side dishes. The table has a warm, wooden surface with a few condiments and utensils scattered around.

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