A man stands in front of an array of massive traditional Japanese drums in a large indoor hall. The drums, each taller than a person and adorned with decorative elements, are positioned in a row. Two other people are seen sitting in the background. The image is in black and white.
Gail Schulz

Day 18 - Noshiro to Odate

Today we leave the Sea of Japan coast behind us, heading inland and commencing the run in towards our final destination.  From Odate, we are just a couple of days out from Aomori.

Route

By and large we're following the Yoneshiro River up the valley to Odate. With less than 300m of climb spread over more than 50kms, it's a very pleasant meander up the valley, effectively dodging most elevation except for a handful of gentle efforts.

The choice to slide around the bottom of Odate and approach from the South was a nice option. It's nice to swap busy roads for quiet farm roads. The gentle rain pattering down creating ripples on the surface of the rice paddies was atmospheric.

Map of the mornings route from Noshiro as far as Takanosu
Map of the afternoon's route from Takanosu to Odate
Elevation profile of the route from Noshiro to Odate

Stay and Eat

Our plan to stop at the Takanosu roadside station (michi no eki) for lunch and to check out the adjacent drum museum, worked out well for both time and distance.  The restaurant at the michi no eki was better than expected based on appearances and the raspberry soft serve at the adjacent souvenir store was a first for both of us.

The Annex Royal Hotel is pretty tired.  I don't think there's a single wall, door or window in our room without some sort of damage to it.  But for $120 including breakfast, you can argue it's decent enough value.  It was clearly a pretty flash hotel at some stage but I suspect it is just too far out of town and from the station.  The location and the continued drizzle limited our evening meal options to reheats from the nearby Family Mart.  The top floor onsen provides panoramic views while you soak.

See and Do

I think the primary function of the Odaiko-no-Yakata drum museum is somewhere to store the massive drums used in the annual matsuri festivities.  Nevertheless the sheer scale of these instruments is worth checking out.  There are some drums you are invited to try out yourself and there is a small but interesting collection of percussion instruments from around the world.  The short theatrette presentation on the local matsuri and its ongoing relevance to the community is worth a watch.

A serene landscape featuring a calm river winding through lush green hills and forests under a partly cloudy sky. The riverbank is dotted with small rocky patches and greenery, offering a picturesque view of nature's tranquility.
A small tunnel, partially covered in greenery, cuts through a rocky hillside. Above the tunnel, lush vegetation clings to the steep rock face. A streetlamp stands next to the path leading to the tunnel entrance. Trees can be seen at the top of the hill.
A serene landscape featuring a calm river bending around a lush, green hill. The riverbank is sandy and surrounded by dense greenery. The sky is cloudy, reflecting calmingly on the river's surface.
A brown building with large yellow Japanese characters on its facade. To the right of the text, there's a colorful mural depicting animated figures playing large drums. The sky is cloudy, adding a moody atmosphere to the scene.
Black and white image of large traditional Japanese drums (taiko) lined up in a row. The drums are secured with ropes and placed on wooden stands. The background shows high ceilings and part of a building interior.
A Japanese meal served on a tray comprises a hot plate with beef and onions, a sunny-side-up egg, a small bowl of pickled vegetables, a side salad with lettuce, cucumber, and cherry tomato, and a bowl of white radish sticks.
A close-up of a swirled pink soft-serve ice cream in a cone. The setting is indoors in a souvenir shop, with various items and wooden barrels blurred in the background. A hand is holding the cone over a white table.
A cyclist wearing a blue rain jacket and helmet waits at a railroad crossing with a red signal. The crossing has a striped barrier and nearby train tracks. Overcast skies suggest a rainy day, and buildings are visible in the background.

You should also read: