travelling allrite

Last day in Japan and I have much to do. I wake early, feeling very refreshed despite the interruption, and pack my belongings. There is no free breakfast in the hotel. I hope to find some small cafe outside selling a breakfast of thick Japanese toast, some salad and hot chocolate and tea. Unfortunately, everywhere seems to be still closed, so I am forced to grab some more bakery products for later consumption. The sky is bright blue and the mountain air feels very fresh. A perfect day to be out exploring. I have a choice of three terminating rural railway lines that I would like to take from Takasaki. The private Joshin line runs frequently but will cost extra, the Omae line is too irregular and slow. But the Shin'etsu main line is quick and frequent so I choose that. the train is leaving soon, so I hurry down to the two car electric train, white with pink and green stripes. Lots of schoolkids and other passengers are already aboard, so I hang around the door. Most pas...

I wake early, my body still on Sydney daylight savings time two hours earlier than Japan's. Struggle to get my photos downloaded and uploaded and go down for the free breakfast. It's a basic Japanese breakfast, miso soup, onigiri (flavoured rice cakes), fish, salad, but it does the trick. It is a pity that I don't have more time in Hirosaki as there are a number of sights that we missed out on our earlier trip. <!-- --> [aesop_content color="#ffffff" background="#808080" columns="3" position="none" imgrepeat="no-repeat" floaterposition="left" floaterdirection="up"]Most of the shops are still closed when I check out, though I get some more apple flavoured goods from the station convenience stores. Then I board my train, the Resort Shirakami named "Buna" to Akita. Most trains between Hirosaki to Akita, like last night's Tsugaru, follow the Ou main line, which runs all the way from F...