Discovery of traditional Japan - Kitakata

2009/09/22 - 2009/09/22

Kitakata is in Fukushima, the Touhoku (north-east) district in Japan.
Kitakata is famous for RAMEN and old warehouses which are called KURA in Japanese. It has many old kura & ramen restaurant in it.
I visited there for the first time.
I had not been in Japan for 1 year, so I wanted to visit countryside in Japan.
It was also big reason that the highway toll is cheaper (nowadays, if you drive only in countryside, the highway toll is only 1,000 yen on Saturdays, Sundays &public holidays.)
Furthermore, Fukushima has many place to meet histry of Japan. For example, Aizu Wakamatsu, near Kitakata, is known for a beautiful castle and symbolic civil war in the end of Edo era.

エリア 喜多方(福島)

A kura. It is made from bricks. It seems it has been there for a hundred years.

This is also made from bricks. A luxury one.

This is a standard traditional kura. Some houses still have traditional kura in its yard.

A temple, look like a kura. It is rare among many temples in Japan.

Japanese SAKE is made in this kura.

I walked around in Kitakata city. A scene of a street was just traditional one in Japan.

This is traditional bar street.

A scenery of countryside.

SL (Steam Locomotive) is available once in a day. You need reserved ticket to take it.

This is a view from SL. Yellow rice farms spread here and there. The harvest time is coming.

It is common scenery in autumn in Japan.

It arrived at Aizu Wakamatsu. Not only children but also adults love SL.

この旅行記へのコメント （6）

• tabinakanotaekoさん 2009/09/30 06:38:50

  I found an English report for the first time here.

  I happened to read your report about Hot Spring in Wakayama, because I had also written about Kawayu. Seeing a travel report written
  in English for the first time in this 4 Travel site, I got interested in your reports wondering what you are. And I read many other
  reports of yours.
  It is amazing that you use Japanese as well as English.
  I wonder whether two people are keeping this site together.
  
  tabinakanotaeko

  ikebonさん からの返信 2009/10/01 00:25:14

  RE: I found an English report for the first time here.

  
  Dear tabinakanotaeko san,
  
  Thanks for your coming to my blog, really appreciate it!
  Because I have just returned from overseas, I have different sense from previous one now.
  The biggest reason of writing it was a friend of mine in Singapore asked me to interprete it to English.
  Anyway, Kawayu are one of awesome spa in Japan.
  Maybe most of the people who visit there are surprised.
  I wish if it helps all traveller in Japan.
  
  come again,
  arigato,
  ikebon

  tabinakanotaekoさん からの返信 2009/10/02 16:54:51

  RE: I found an English report for the first time here.

  Thank you for your quick response to my question.I really enjoy the
  gap between your English and thick Osaka dialect. Will visit your blog from time to time.
  tabinakanotaeko

  ikebonさん からの返信 2009/10/03 00:08:39

  RE: RE: I found an English report for the first time here.

  Apparently there are some people who have English reports here.
  Once you search with some English words, I think you'll find them.
  Please visit again.
  
  ikebon,

• Backyさん 2009/09/30 02:46:29

  Country Explorer?

  It should be great experience you've got in Kitakata!
  
  英語の旅行記だったので、ちょっとビックリしました(笑)。
  近県(茨城)出身なのですが、喜多方って行ったことないですね〜。
  蔵の立ち並ぶ街並みが、レトロで素敵です。
  名物のラーメンは楽しまれましたか？？？
  次回の旅行記アップを楽しみにしてます！

  ikebonさん からの返信 2009/10/01 00:12:07

  RE: Country Explorer?

  こんにちは。毎度です。
  ちょっとマンネリになっていたので、発想を変えてみました。
  ていうか、Singaporeの友人に「まー写真見てみ」て送ったら、「訳してや」との返答。よく考えると、国内って日本に住む人はいつでも行けるし、いっちょ外国人に向けて情報を流したろか、という経緯でした。ベタなことしか言ってないのかもしれないですけど、一応まあ自分の言葉ではあるし。
  帰国早々感覚が違ううちに、意欲を持って継続して試みていこうと思いますので、またお越しやす♪
  ※和歌山の巻も書き換えました。