Hi everyone, I would like to get some advice on travelling in Aomori as I will be 30 weeks pregnant by then. My itinerary includes these places and it is meant to be light with less physical activities:
Day 1 (free and easy)
– Hirosaki Castle and Chrysanthemum festival
– Apple Park
Day 2 (8h private tour with driver)
– Hakkoda Ropeway
– Shirokura Bridge
– Tsutanuma
– Oirase Stream
– Towada Lake
Is anyone able to share how the roads are like in Aomori (especially for day 2 itinerary) as I am concerned about bumpy roads which may not be ideal for a pregnant woman.
Are amenities also well accessible in general?
Appreciate honest advice! Thank you 🥹
4 comments
Day 2 is going to be tricky because of the [traffic restrictions](https://www.eco-oirase.com/en/detail) and what looks like a mandatory detour around the actual stream for cars.
I’d done a self drive to Lake Towada before. It’s been 4 years since so my memories may be a little fuzzy, but the roads wind around quite a fair bit, so it may cause some carsickness, you can ask your driver to down a bit if you feel queasy. There aren’t many places for amenities like toilets and food around there, as far as I remember the only places I can think of are at Hakkoda Ropeway, Jogakura Bridge and Lake Towada; there may be some at Oirase Gorge but I’m not sure about that. Best to make all the preparations you need before leaving, especially for the journey between Hakkoda and Towada, as that is a very long drive.
Hirosaki will be much better, since you are in a city and not in the middle of the mountains such amenities will be more easily available
I’ve only been to Hirosaki Castle and it’s a massive park, lots of walking with some parts inclined. There are lots of benches around if you get tired though.
I went in October to the places on your day 2 back in 2020. Everywhere is accessible with light walking. At Oirase gorge I remember there been a lot of buses and it isn’t recommended to take your car. There aren’t any parking places so people were parking at the side of the road making the narrow road even narrower. But the roads are well maintained as they are all over the country. Pot holes are uncommon.
I hiked mount Hakkoda. It was during Corona so the ropeway was closed. One of the most beautiful hikes I’ve been on but the route didn’t take me to the ropeway station so I’m not sure about that.
There’s a nice boat tour on Lake Towada where they explain the geology and historical/cultural importance of the lake. Although no English, naturally.