Japan Diaries 4: Day 505
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Day 505: March 21, 2023
Tuesday – Vernal Equinox Day Road Trip
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| It's a holiday today, so we're heading out for another road trip |
Spring has officially arrived in Japan, marked by the celebration of Vernal Equinox Day on March 21st. It is a public holiday in the country, and many people take advantage of the beautiful weather to go on road trips and explore the natural beauty of the countryside. This year, my wife and I decided to embark on a road trip to the picturesque towns of Biei, Kamifurano, and Furano City.
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| We drove along the Fukagawa - Rumoi Expressway towards Asahikawa City |
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| First stop: Moda Club Serufu Asahikawa to fill up our gas tank |
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| We then bought some food for breakfast at the nearby 711 |
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| Driving to Biei via Route 452 |
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| We found a scenic road near the Seven Stars Tree |
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| Seven Stars Tree |
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| Next stop: Parent and Child Tree |
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| We weren't allowed to go near the tree so I just used the maximum zoom of my phone to take a picture of it. |
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| Tree of Ken and Mary |
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| Biei manhole cover |
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| We saw this retired train displayed in a vacant lot in front of the Biei Shrine |
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| Biei Shrine's Torii gate |
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| Biei Shrine |
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| Nakamachi Park |
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| The restored SL 49600 is displayed in the park |
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| Four Seasons Tower |
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| The view from the observation platform of the Four Seasons Tower |
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| We went to get our eki stamp from Biei JR Station or simply Biei Station |
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| We were lucky as there was a train that arrived at the station during our visit |
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| The bus stop outside Biei Station |
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| This bus stop was a filming location in Episode 6 of the Netflix series "First Love" |
After exploring these beautiful locations, we made our way to the town center to visit the Biei Shrine to pay our respects and do our family tradition of offering prayer and making a wish. From there, we drove to the nearby Nakamachi Park, Four Seasons Tower, and Biei JR Station.
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| The Kamifurano Trick Art Museum, or simply Trick Art Museum |
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| We first had fun playing on the snow outside the Trick Art Museum... |
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| We first had fun playing in the snow outside the Trick Art Museum... |
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| Miyamatoge Art Park has a great view of Mt. Tokachi and Mt. Furano |
Next, we drove to the town of Kamifurano (上富良野町), where we visited several places. First on our list was the Trick Art Museum. It was a lot of fun, and we spent a good amount of time taking photos with the interactive paintings.
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| Driving through Route 237 going to Kamifurano town proper |
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| Kamifurano manhole cover |
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| Kamifurano Shrine's Torii gate |
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| Kamifurano Shrine |
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| Hinode Park |
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| Kamifurano Pokemon manhole cover |
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| Panorama Road |
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| We were lucky as there were only a few people when we got to Panorama Road |
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| Driving to our next destination: Furano City |
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| Looking for a parking space near Furano Shrine |
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| Furano City manhole cover 1 |
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| Furano City manhole cover 2 |
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| Furano City manhole cover 3 |
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| Furano Shrine's Torii gate |
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| Furano Shrine |
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| McDonald's Furano |
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| Here's what we ate for lunch |
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| Ningle Terrace |
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| This is our last destination for today |
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| Driving through Kitanominedori Street on the way back to Rumoi City |
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| We saw the Akabira Tokugawa Castle along the way |
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| 2nd Street Takikawa |
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| Driving back home via the Fukagawa - Rumoi Expressway |
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| I still have the energy to attend the Rumoi English Chat Club |
As the sun began to set, we decided to head back home. But before that, we made a quick stop at 2nd Street in Takikawa City to buy some baby clothes. When we finally reached home, I still had one more activity left for the day. I attended the Rumoi English Chat Club, held in Asuka. We discussed the topic of "surprise." I shared my experience of taking the driving test for my Japanese driver's license, which was a surprise in many ways.
Overall, it was a fantastic day with adventure, exploration, and surprises. Our Vernal Equinox Road Trip was an excellent way to celebrate the arrival of spring, and I can't wait to plan our next road trip. Suppose you ever find yourself in Hokkaido during the Vernal Equinox Day. In that case, I highly recommend taking a road trip to explore the beautiful countryside and experience the joys of spring in Japan.
Read more:
Japan Diaries 4: Week 73Japan Diaries 4: Weekend 73
Seven Stars Tree
Tree of Ken and Mary
Biei Shrine
Nakamachi Park
Four Seasons Tower
Seven Stars Tree
Tree of Ken and Mary
Biei Shrine
Nakamachi Park
Four Seasons Tower
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