I have finally found time to write more about my Tohoku trip last year!
With a JR East Tohoku Area Pass, I have managed to visit many places, from Tokyo to Nikko, Sendai and Matsushima, Iwate and Aomori. :)
I am also glad to be able to board two of JR East's Joyful trains: the Pokemon with YOU train and Resort Shirakami (Bune and Kumagera).
So here I would like to share about these trains with you!
I'll talk about:
- What is Resort Shirakami
- The train route
- Reservation of the train
- Boarding the train
What is Resort Shirakami
Resort Shirakami is one of the types of Joyful Train series by JR East, a Japanese railway operator.
There are three models of the Resort Shirakami, Aoike, Buna, and Kumagera.
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| Resort Shirakami - Buna |
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| Resorot Shirakami - Aoike |
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| Resort Shirakami - Kumagera |
All three designs of the Resort Shirakami are different, so you can enjoy the train along its route between Akita and Aomori. The train runs on a hybrid system - diesel engine (acceleration) + lithium ion batteries (start up) to operate the motor. When the train decelerates, the motor acts as a generator, while Shirakami's brake system uses the energy to convert to electricity that is restored in the batteries.
Internally, all of the Resort Shirakami has four cars that consists of the combination of the following: (1) Event space + Observation Room, (2) Ordinary Car reserved seats, (3) Box Seats, and (4) the ORAHO counter.
In the event space, you can enjoy performances. The performance will be from time to time and if you aren't seated at the event space, there are TVs that you can view from the ordinary car reserved seat space.
You can also order drinks and sweets, or purchase souvenirs from the ORAHO counter.
Through the scenic train, you can enjoy the seaside view from this train itself. They also offer multiple stops. If you are heading to Shirakami Sanchi, a beautiful place with great landscapes, you can stop at Juniko and make a transfer to a bus.
The Train Route of Resort Shirakami
The Resort Shirakami runs on the Gono Line, to and from Aomori an Akita, two wonderful prefectures of the Tohoku region of northern Japan.
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| Resort Shirakami route on Gono Line |
Through the scenic train, you can enjoy the seaside view from this train itself. They also offer multiple stops. If you are heading to Shirakami Sanchi, a beautiful place with great landscapes, you can stop at Juniko and make a transfer to a bus.
Otherwise, you can also use this train to Hirosaki during late spring (recommended late April~early May), which the Hirosaki Park is absolutely beautiful. Though the ride from Aomori is very short on the Resort Shirakami - you might not enjoy the train enough.
If you are heading to Akita during summer, especially around mid July, consider stopping at Noshiro Staiton and transfer to Takanosu Station, then take a bus to Suiun Park for the beautiful hydrangeas.
For Akita city itself? Visit the local shrines like Iyakata Shrine, or during late summer (usually August) you can check out the Akita Kanto Festival, or for the Akita dogs! You can also visit places like Lake Tazawa or Kakunodate from Akita Station.
If you are looking for places to chill with tasty apples, Aomori City has great sunset views in ASPAM, and you can learn more about Nebuta lanterns from the Warasse museum. If you would like some souvenirs, just head straight to A-Factory to drink and eat your heart out with the delicious pastries and apple-related food. If you understand Japanese, visit the Hakkodamaru to learn more about the history on how the people from Honshu travel to Hokkaido via ferries.
There are, of course, much more to do between these few places! :)
How to Reserve for Resort Shirakami
Whether you have a JR pass or not, you can reserve a seat for Resort Shirakami on JR East's ekinet website! You just needed a credit card for reservation. If you abandon your ticket without cancellation before the cancellation period, your card will be charged.
Reservations can be done 1 month prior boarding. Example, if you are boarding on 7 April, you will be able to reserve on 7 March. There is a limit to the number of trains you can reserve.
If you have a JR Pass (Nationwide, JR East, whichever applicable to Tohoku), you will need to let them know that you are using a JR Pass for the reservation. Otherwise, you need to select to pay upon collection.
Also, you will need to select a pickup point. Usually I pick things up at the place I exchange my JR Pass, and I recommend doing so since the airport staff are multilingual since they also hire people from Taiwan (the girl that I dealt with has a Taiwanese accent) so she can speak at least English, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.
Note: You cannot pick up an ekinet-reserved ticket that is departing on the same day. Example, if I arrived Narita on 10 April and wanted to pick up my Narita Express (N'EX) that departs at 11AM, that is not allowed at all. But you can just inform the staff at the airport counter if you wish to board the next N'EX. I have never seen them full. At all. This means, if you are planning to board the Resort Shirakami today, you cannot book via ekinet - just head to a JR Ticketing counter!
Boarding the Resort Shirakami
Boarding isn't difficult at all. Depending on your luck, you either get the normal paired seats, or you get yourself a box car.
After you receive your ticket, you'll get to see the details:
1. Departing station to Disembarking Station
2. Train number
3. Departure time and arrival time
4. Seat number
I wanted to try the trains with different designs, so honestly in order to save time I booked myself a round trip from Aomori and Hirosaki - Buna to Hirosaki, and Kumagera to Aomori.
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| Promotional Image of Buna |
Because the train is at the hub, so I got to see the train earlier! You can't enter until it's fully cleaned, though. So I witnessed how the Japanese staff effectively cleans the entire car.
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| Shirakami - Buna |
My time in Hirosaki was history.
Later of the day, I returned to Hirosaki Station to board the Kumagera version of Resort Shirakami.
Because it wasn't a hub station from where I boarded so I didn't have a good shot of Kumagera :(
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| My brain literally was so bad I only managed to record a video and making a screenshot out of it ugh |
Well at least, surprisingly, I got the box seat!
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| Oof I didn't notice my ticket was upside down until now lol |
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| The joy of not sharing seats while having my favorite convenience store muscat water all to myself |
I was lucky that I didn't have to share this space with anyone!
The introvert side of mine is very pleased.
The hand rests on the 'sofa' seat can be opened and you can sleep across it.
Oh also you can raise the leg part and legit making this place a bed!
Since there are two sides so you can make it a bedroom (?) for two. Haha!
Muscat water was from the convenience store outside Hirosaki Station.
Overall, the rides were pleasant and I am certain that I will be back to Tohoku area someday and ride the Aoike to further spots so I can enjoy the sea views too!
I'll end this post with Mt. Iwaki from Resort Shirakami.
It's literally also known as the Tsuruga-Fuji.
It's not the Mt. Fuji we know, though!
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| This is not Mt. Fuji, but Mt. Iwaki |
Please feel free to visit Tohoku for a different experience than the usual Japan! :)
Until next time~
