Official Website of "Atomu", Warabi-Za's New Play

Warabi-Za is the local theater company Semboku City is proud of. I wrote a post on their new play that's coming out in April 17th, "Atomu" based on the Japan's #1 Anime pioneer Astro Boy!

The company just released an official website of "Atomu".  It seems there will be photos and videos on the website. Too bad, it's only in Japanese at this moment; but, perhaps later the site might go international after a huge success domestically.  Let's cross our fingers, but I bet it will!

According to the website, Osamu Tezuka was an enthiastic supporter of the company. Since the founder's wife, Yuko Hara, had met Tezuka in a college performance group, Tezuka had been considerate as a supportive member of Warabi-Za community. (Wow! Who knew?)

There is tons of interesting facts you could learn from the website, so stay in tune!

Official Websie of "Atomu": http://www.warabi.jp/atom/special/

Camp Sites and Rent-A-Cycle in Tazawako (Map)

Spring through autumn is called Green Season in Japan, obviously named after the color in mountains. Although the calendar is April, which is supposed to be the beginning of Green season, Akita doesn't seem to be in the Green Season yet. But it is surely on its way!

During the Green Season, a dozens of campers visit Tazawako Area. It has been popular among backpackers from many other countries as well. It is relaxing and, you can do it in any way you like. No need to worry about custom differences when it comes to being in the nature! You don’t need to bring anything ---tents, lights, mats, and even some food in some cases--- it’s easier than you think!

 

Campsites in Tazawako Area:

Tazawako has more than a few camp sites near the lake and up on the plateau (Nyuto and Mizusawa Areas). Some areas are simply open  and easily accessed to clean water and toilets; other areas have cottages and bungalows equipped with a set of furniture and electrical goods (even shower rooms!). You can camp however you would like! If you are there to go wild and explore, you can set up a tent, cook and sleep outdoor! If you prefer sleeping indoors on a bed, you can choose cottages and bungalows!

You don’t even have to stay overnight to enjoy a variety of recreational activities. Tazawako Camground offers a variety of outdoor activities like canoeing, kayaking, and trekking in the mountains. You can also play tennis in a court, take a hike, and ride your bike around the lake!

Each camping area have its own fee and location. Here is a map!

Camp Sites and Rent-A-Cycle in Tazawako

より大きな地図で Camping/Rent-a-cycle in Tazawako を表示

A Landmark of Akita : Mt. Akita Komagatake

What is the landmark in your hometown? These are our landmarks in Akita Prefecture.

Photo courtesy of Kazuo Nanba. Our landmarks: Lake Tazawa, Statue of Tatsuko, and Mt. Komagatake.

Mt. Akita Komagatake is a  landmark to many people in Semboku Area of Akita Prefecture. It is part of the Ou Mountain Range and one of the most popular hiking mountains in Tohoku. The area is a part of Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

“Komagatake”　(駒ケ岳） is a common name for a mountain in Japan. Mountains have been worshipped as a spiritual site where the gods of Shinto,  the traditional animism of Japan, reside. Like many other Komagatake in Japan, women were prohibited to enter Akita Komagatake. It is because the mountain was considered as a place of inviolable sanctity and masculine beauty. That is how the people have admired it as a landmark in our lives.

The summit is made of three peaks, Odake (男岳“Mt. Man”), Medake (女岳“Mt. Woman”), and Onamedake (男女岳“Mt. Man-and-Woman”). Onamedake has its highest point above the sea level, 1,637m (5,370 ft), which is about the same altitude as City of Denver, Colorado in the United States. 

Akita Komagatake is home to a large variety of alpine plants of Japan! The mountain is abundant of many beautiful wild flowers throughout the Green Seasons (May through October), which is why it is dubbed as the Great Mountain of Flowers ("Hana-No-Meisan")

It is an active volcano whose most recent eruption occurred in 1970. It gathered spectators and geologists who want to catch a rare glimpse of magma eruptions! Many locals still remember it as if it was an once-in-a-lifetime festival!

Courtesy of Kazuo Nanba.  Komakusa is the symbolic flower of this Mountain of Flowers.

It co-exists with  another species, yellow Takane-sumire, which blooms right before this pink carpet.

A colony of Nikko-kisuge (Daylily)  Photo courtesy of Semboku City.

Amida-Ike Pond on the summit area (Photo courtesy of Semboku City)

Before hiking in Akita Komagatake, you are recommended to obtain permission at the local police department. (It is for your own safety and in case you are missing, for it does happen more often than you would think!)

The most popular routes are  from 8th station (“Hachigome”) to Amida Pond (“Amida-ike”) area. If you are taking a hike on one of the most popular routes, so you won’t need a permission. However, you are required to if you are taking other routes. Remember that you are not allowed to go off the trails.

Hiking with a mountain guide,Yama-no-Annainin, could give  you more fun experience!


Accessing Mt. Komagatake from the 8th station:

Driving to the 8th Station:

First, check your scheduled date in the calendar below.

If your dates shows in pink, that means you are not allowed to take your vehicle to the 8th station. This applies to all the private vehicles except for the regular bus service and taxies between 5:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. You can park your car at Arupa Komakusa, and take the local bus line, Komagatake-sen (駒ケ岳線).

Taking the Local Bus:

Take Komagatake-sen, which takes you directly to the 8th station. Fare between JR Tazawako Station to the 8th Station is 1,000yen.  You can also take a taxi.

You can download it as a PDF file. 

For more information and assistance in English, write to us (sasaki@tazawako.org).

Public Transportation Schedule in Tazawako

I love the fact that the transportation in Japan is as punctual as it could be: and that is why we are proud of it: They are punctual, accurate, and trustworthy.

...But perhaps you might wish it was a bit less punctual so you could catch’em on time. (Me, included.)


Ever happened to you, that you missed your train because you didn’t know how to decode the characters? Or, you waited for 2 hours at an isolated bus stop just to make sure that you wouldn’t miss the only bus available that day?
We don’t want that to happen to you!!!

So here this is: Public Transportation Schedule in Tazawako!

Have this at hand while you travel around in Tazawako. Even if you forget to, do not worry. Just drop by at Folake, Tazawako Tourist Information Center located at JR Tazawako Station. We can give it to you with maps and other available hand-outs. See you there!

Tazawako Heart Herb is Re-Opening!

It’s April. No matter how much the winter shogun clings on to stay bringing us the yet-frosty mornings and occasional frozen faucets, he has to go when he has to.

So, it looks like the Primavera is just around the corner! April is the time for many stores to re-open after the closure or the limited operation hours during the winter. Tazawako Heart Herb is one of the places long-awaited by many people. It is re-opening next weekend: Saturday April 10th.

Tazawako Heart Herb has been the most popular nature-themed facilities in Akita since its establishment in 1997. It is where hundreds of herbs and flowers are enjoyed from spring to the late autumn. Every April Heart Herb welcomes us with a large variety of flowers: rows and rows of tulips, field mustards, narcissuses, violas, and lilies. Christmas Roses, which usually blooms in winter, is one of the spring attractions Heart Herb Staffs are proud of.

Their greenhouse is what you could never miss while visiting Heart Herb. I promise, if you find flowers and plants relaxing and absorbing, you would certainly forget the time and want to stay there like forever. Instead, you’d probably walk out with a handful of new plants just like many of the locals do (including me).

Mexican Sage Bush in bloom last Autumn.

If you are lucky, you might catch some bunnies running around! Last year, they had a few of them jumping freely in the garden. I even caught one being targeted by a little snake! (Of course, I scared the predator away.) It just shows how peaceful and relaxing the garden is.

Walking into the building, you will feel the scent of herb teas and delicious foods. You might have already noticed that many Japanese love eating soft ice cream on cone! Yes, we do! Heart Herb’s specialty is Lemon Grass. You must try!

Last but not the least, Salato, the café and restaurant on the site is beautiful with a sparkling view of the lake. You can enjoy a delicious pastry and a cup of herbal tea blending your choices of herbs from 16 different kinds of herbs. The tea is refillable and you are allowed to try as many cups as you’d like! The space is turned into a buffet on weekends and satisfies us with almost 60 kinds of dishes in both fusion styles.


On your way out, don’t forget to pick up something for your special someone! They have many beautiful goods that many women would love! All sorts of aroma-related goods: soaps, incents, candles--- you name it!

They also offer activity courses for no more than 1,000 yen for those who are interested in arts and crafts. You can learn how to make herb soaps, lotions, and experience Washi, Japanese paper making.

We still have another week before they are opening. We can’t wait!

Tazawako Heart Herb
Business Hours:

10am- 4pm (Weekdays except for August)
9am-5pm (Weekends and August)

Omagari and Semboku Region on Youtube Channel

Did you know Tazawako is the northernmost of Mango producers?

                  .... I wish I could make up a better lie. :(


Yes, today is April 1st : The April Fool’s Day! Also, it is the first day of Japanese fiscal year. This year we are going to be working on  short videos on Tazawako and other Semboku City areas to suggest what you could enjoy while staying here.

To get a head start before us, Akita Prefectural Government Semboku Regional Office has just lauched a Youtube Channel with short videos of activities you can experience in Omagari and Semboku Area.

Like this one!




These informational videos are commissioned to a team of video makers and captioned in English as well. There are videos in no more than 15 sec. so you can take a real quick glimpse of what you could do in this region. There are activities that we hadn’t even discovered, so we are thrilled to see their updates in the future! Enjoy!