Brevalonia

First, let me say that they’re EVERYWHERE! Whether you’re driving on a deserted road on the outskirts of town or in a major city, in Japan, vending machines a huge part of life!

Inside you’ll find anything from fresh cigarettes, eggs, hot coffee, cold coffee, and tea, to ramen, clothing, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. While we didn’t make it to Tokyo (the best machines are there, in my opinion), Misawa had quite a few interesting ones to offer.

The thing I love most in the machines is the coffee! Always hot (or cold if you prefer), and super delicious! Although there are many to choose from, our favorite brand is Georgia. We love it so much we divided a case, and shipped some to both our sons, and kept a few for ourselves to send home! YUM!

So whether you’re making a road trip, or just looking for a snack, Japanese vending machines are definitely worth a try!

During our visit to Misawa, we were fortunate enough to visit Hirosaki Castle and see the beauty of the cherry blossoms during the 130th Anniversary of the festival which is held there. Located in present-day Aomori Prefecture at the northernmost end of Japan’s largest island, Honshū, Hirosaki was a flourishing castle town during the Edo period (1603–1868). Today, the former site of Hirosaki Castle (built in 1611) has become Hirosaki Park, home to around 2,600 sakura trees of 52 different varieties. The trees in the park flower from late April to early May, and the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival held during that period is famed across Japan. Visitors from all over the country and even overseas gather to admire the views of the surviving castle tower—designated a national important cultural property—rising above the riot of cherry blossoms, with Mount Iwaki still snow-capped in the distance.

During peak sakura season, virtually every view within the park is picturesque, but the hana-ikada (flower rafts) created by sakura petals falling into the moat surrounding the park are particularly popular social media shares. Also known as hana-jūtan (flower carpets), these waterborne formations shift with the winds into an ever-changing array of patterns. They’re truly awesome to behold!

Each year the festival sees hundreds of stalls go up in the park, selling yakisoba (fried noodles), takoyaki (octopus fried in balls of batter), and other festival foods for visitors to enjoy as they stroll below the blooming trees. There are also traditional Japanese attractions like kingyo-sukui (goldfish scooping), yo-yo balloons, haunted houses, and even a motorcycle circus—something for everyone, young or old.

Locals are particularly fond of the 360-meter “sakura tunnel” along the western moat, where the boughs are carefully trimmed to dip just low enough for the flowers to bloom at eye level.

I highly recommend making a visit during the evening. Seeing the sakura reflected in the water’s surface is a beautiful experience, and at night, when the park is illuminated, it has a dreamy atmosphere that is very different from the day.

We had such a great time visiting the park and castle grounds, but we missed a few of the most beautiful areas that are tucked away. When you’re there seek out the “Sakura Heart”. When viewed from a certain spot when the blossoms are in full bloom, two boughs arching together overhead create a heart-shaped patch of sky above. The exact location is not made public, but the heart-shaped plate on a nearby stump reveals the secret to observant explorers.

If you can, try to check out Hirosaki during the cherry blossom blooming periods. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It’s a true example of nature’s beauty on display. Happy travels!

Location: Hirosaki Park, 1 Shimo-shirogane, Hirosaki, Aomori
Access: 30 minutes’ walk from JR Hirosaki Station
Tel.: 0172-33-8739 (Hirosaki Parks Division)
Festival period: April 21–May 6 (may differ depending on blooming schedule)Hirosaki

Park website: http://www.hirosakipark.jp/en/

Recently, we visited Misawa, Japan. We stayed with our good friends, Rob & Athena Vina for this trip. Since we were there to relax, we kept our sightseeing to a minimum, but we managed to see some pretty awesome things!

A little bit about Misawa

Misawa (三沢市 Misawa-shi) is a city located in Aomori Prefecture, and is the location of a large military base, named Misawa Air Base. Misawa is located in the flatlands on the southern shore of Lake Ogawara on the east coast of Aomori Prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The nearest large city is Hachinohe which is 30 to 40 minutes away by car. The surrounding area is mostly rural and scenic. There is some limited nightlife, mostly concentrated around the American air base. Tokyo is an hour away by air, about 3 and a half hours by train, and about 10–12 hours by car. Misawa has well-defined seasons. Though short, autumn is beautiful with pleasant temperatures, late-blooming flowers, and the changing colors of the trees. Winter gets serious in early December, peaks in January and February, and starts fading near the end of March. Strong winds often intensify the cold temperatures. Snowfall is erratic, however even the heaviest snowfalls can melt quickly. In early spring, the winds switch and come from the eastern coast off of the ocean. May is usually quite pleasant with warm temperatures. The onset of summer usually brings the rainy season. This normally begins in mid-June and continues for an unpredictable period of time. However, it normally clears out around mid to late July. The end of July through August can get quite hot.^[1]D