City Hall, Driver's Licensing Center, and the first Heavy Snow / 青森市役所、青森県運転免許センターと大雪の日

One of the first things we had to do after moving to Aomori was to register at City Hall. We had done all the preliminary requirements of moving from Setagaya Ward in Tokyo such as giving notice of our impending move, along with our address change. So on the first weekday, we took a bus to City Hall. We first went to the bank to make a payment for our new car. The only branch of our bank in Aomori was in Shinmachi. From there, we walked to City Hall.

青森に引っ越したから、やっぱり早めにやることは青森市役所に行って青森市民になる手続きしなきゃいけないのである。住所変更等は引っ越す前に済ましたので、次のステップです。まだ車がないためバスで青森駅まで行き、私たちの銀行に行った。この間注文した車の支払いして、新町という場所から青森市役所まで歩いた。

Dogu statue. Clay figurines such as the above were found at the Sannai-Maruyama Archeological Site near my mother-in-law's home and are believed to be from the Jomon period (14,000-4,000 BC). You can spot these statues near Aomori station and beyond.

青森駅の近くに土遇（人間(特に女性)を模して、あるいは精霊を表現して作られたと考えられる土製品）の像があります。 縄文時代のものである。

I love public art. You can find this in front of  City Hall.

個人的にパブリックアートが好き。これは青森市役所の前にあります。

Aomori City Hall / 青森市役所

We spent all morning filling out the necessary forms to register as an Aomori City resident. This includes a transference notification, seal registration (required for all legal documents), seal registration certificate (my wife needs this for our car purchase). When we were finished filling out the forms, it was time for lunch. We decided to eat at the City Hall Cafeteria. The price is very cheap and the food was surprisingly good.

朝から市役所で青森市民になるための資料がいっぱい。転入届き、印鑑登録、印鑑登録証明書、等）。終わったらもう昼食の時間になり、市役所の食堂で食べました。ここは安くて以外と美味しかった。

I ordered the yakisoba set which was served with miso soup and only cost 450 yen. After lunch we took a bus to where are car dealer is located to complete the paperwork there too. The only thing left to there is wait for them to call to let us know are car is ready. We then did a bit of shopping. My mother-in-law bought me a down jacket and a pair of gloves (more required items if living in Aomori during the winter season). We took a train back home from Shin-Aomori station.

僕が注文したのはやきそばセット。これで４５０円で安いと以外に美味しいです。食べたあとまたバスに乗って車屋のところに行きました。あとは新車が来る連絡を待つ。今日も買い物に行きました。義理の母が僕のためにダウンの上着と手袋を買ってくれた。これも冬の青森に必須のアイテムです。新青森駅から家に戻った。

At Shin-Aomori station, I couldn't help notice the post office box with a model of Sannai-Maruyama on top. The archaeological site where many items from the Jomon period was found.

新青森駅にあるポストの上に山内丸山のモデルがあった。

The following day, my wife and I decided to go to the Aomori Prefecture Driver's Licensing Center so she could change the address on her driver's license. We checked the bus and train schedule only to find that it would probably be quicker if we walked. My wife said it is located next to the Sannai-Maruyama Site. As we have walked from the house to there before, she thought it would be as simple as the last time. But that was wishful thinking! It was snowing and the center was located further away than we anticipated.

翌日青森県運転免許センター行くことにした。バスと電車の時刻表を見ましたが、妻がやっぱり歩いたほうが早いかもと言い出し、歩くことにした。場所は山内丸山の隣にあるということで、以前私たちは家からそこまで歩いたこともあったから楽勝と思いました。これが凶になるとは。第一天気は荒れて結構雪が降ってた。場所も思った以上遠かった。

Walking to the Aomori Prefecture Driver's Licensing Center.

青森県運転免許に目指す途中の景色。

I do love the sound of my footsteps on the snow. Those on the very right are my footsteps.

雪の上に歩く音が好き。上の写真なら一番右側が僕の足跡です。

No closer to reaching our goal.

目的地までまだまだ。

We stopped in at Sannai-Maruyama to ask for directions to the driver's licensing center. The lady there asked where we were parked and was quite surprised when we told her we were walking. My wife said we walked from Sannai Cemetery when the truth was, we walked from Midorigaoka (located even further away). We had to walk another two kilometers or so it seemed. Who knows how far it was.

山内丸山のビルに入って、運転免許センターの場所を訪ねてみた。車はどこに駐車しまたと聞かれ、私たちが歩いてると答えたら、びっくりして、どこから歩いたんですかと更に聞かれ、妻が山内霊園と答え、本当は緑が丘まで言いたくなかったみたい。それもまだ遠い場所ですからね。こういう天気に歩く馬鹿は居るでしょうかって感じで、はいこの天気で歩く馬鹿は私たち二人であった。ここからまだ遠いと言われましたが、仕方なく歩き続きました。

At last we made it! The Aomori Prefecture Driver's Licensing Center. Why it had to be located out here in the boonies is a mystery to me.

やっとたどり着いた！青森県運転免許センター。なんでこんな遠い場所で建てられたんだろうと思う自分の疑問。

We are certainly not walking back home. Here we are waiting for the bus.

家まで歩いて帰るのもとんでもない。ここで一旦バス待ち。

We had quite a bit of snow afterwords as well but were not fool enough to go out walking anywhere in it.

その後も結構雪が降ったが、どっか歩いて行くことは避けました。

The sun was trying its hardest to shine through but lost in the end.

太陽は頑張って出ようとしたが、無理でした。

The road in front of my mother-in-law's house.

家の前の道路。

Tsugaru Shinjo Station / 津軽新城駅

Railway bridge over the Shinjo River.

新城川を渡る電車の橋。

I am loving this winter view from my den though.

自分の書斎からの眺めが僕の一番の気に入り。

Our neighborhood park.

近所の小さな公園。

I don't think anybody can slide down the slide right now.

今なら滑り台に滑るのは無理ぽいだな。

Back home to get my exercise by doing some snow shoveling.

帰って雪かきするしかない。これが結構の労働で運動になりますよ。

Front door / 玄関前

Yes, I also did my share of snow shoveling.

はい、自分もちゃんと雪かきしましたよ。

However, according to my mother-in-law, this is still the mild part of winter. As one who has never lived in snow country I am not sure what to expect in the coming months.

義理の母によるとこれはまだたいした雪ではないと言う。自分は雪国に生活したことないので、これからの冬はどうなるんだろう。

Raman Shop [Sapporo Kan] / 札幌館

One of the first places I wanted to eat when moving to Aomori was to go to the Aji no Sapporo ramen shop. Little did I know that the Sapporo Kan is the same company and is located much closer to home than than the other two locations. This ramen shop spawned Aomori Prefecture's B-gourmet Miso Curry Milk Ramen. I prefer the atmosphere of the other two locations but I still, I was able to eat my Miso Curry Milk Ramen here.

青森に引っ越したら行きたいラーメン屋がありました。店の名前は「味の札幌」。この札幌館が同じ系列とは知らず、それにしても家からこっちの店が近い。ここでも青森県が生み出したB級グルメの味噌カレー牛乳ラーメンはここでも食べられる。駅の近くの味の札幌と雰囲気がちょっと違うと思うけどそれはそれで良いっか。

Miso Curry Milk Ramen / 味噌カレー牛乳ラーメン

Being the same company as Aji no Sapporo, the taste is no different from the locations near Aomori station. The next ramen shop on our list to go to is Asari to enjoy their negi ramen. For lovers of spicy ramen, that is the place to go!

味の札幌と同じ系列なのでもちろん味も一緒。さ、次行きたいラーメン屋は「あさ利」だ。そこのネギラーメンが辛くって美味しい！

Bon Appetit!

いただきます！

New Surroundings / 新しい環境

My wife and mother-in-law said I would need two things to survive the winters of Aomori. A couple of winter shoes and a down jacket. I would also have to learn or get used to shoveling snow. So our first day, my mother-in-law took us shopping. This also gives me a chance to share the picture of my new home in daylight.

僕の妻と義理の母が青森に生活するには二つの必要品がある。冬用の靴と冬用のダウンジャケット。そういうことで青森の初日は買い物の為に出かけました。

Our new home in the daylight.

ここで青森生活が始まるのだ。

The view is beautiful.

僕はこの眺めが結構好き。

My mother-in-law's garden. As its winter, of course there are no flowers in bloom.

義理の母の庭。今は冬で花は咲いてるわけがない。

The Ou Line / 奥羽本線

Tsugaru Shino station, the closest train station to our new home.

家から一番近い駅がここ、奥羽本線の津軽新城駅。

Unlike Tokyo's Yamanote Line which comes by every two minutes, out here in snow country, the trains are fewer and don't come quite as often.

東京の山手線と違って地方はやっぱり電車の回数が少ないと時間も結構空いてる感じがしますね。

First purchase - first pair of winter shoes. This is the one I will be wearing when snow shoveling.

最初の買い物。一足はこれ。雪かきの時に履くやつ。

My other pair of winter shoes for casual wearing. This may appear to look like regular shoes but comes equipped with a little spiky thing to use when the roads freeze over.

もう一足はこれ。いつも履くやつ。普通に見えますが、靴の裏にあるものが付いて、道路が凍ったときに使用する。

靴の裏に付いてるものを紹介してます。

The following day our belongings were scheduled to come around 6pm. But fortunately for us, the movers arrived around 4pm and unloaded everything in less than 30 minutes. Its a good thing we started preparing our rooms the in the evening the previous day after coming from shopping. We would start by setting up our bedroom. I would take time setting up my own den.

翌日の日曜日、私たちの荷物が夕方６時に届く予定だったが、良かったことに４時に着きました。３０分以内私たちの荷物は全て家の２階に運ばれた。昨日の夜部屋の準備して良かった。先に寝室を完成し、その後自分の書斎になる部屋自分がセットアップする。

Setting up the bedroom. We will buy a new bed a little further in the future. For now, its just two beds set side by side.

寝室作る準備。またあとから新しベッド買う予定。現在は二つのベッドを並べてるだけ。

We set up our television in this room as well but it seems like we can only get one or two channels. Reception is rather weak upstairs.

寝室にテレビも設置しましたが、現在のところ一つか二つのチャンネルしか映らない。何で２階と１階が違うんだろな？なんだか上の部屋の電波が弱いらしい。

A nice little shelf for our pictures.

窓側に結婚の写真等が置くスペースがあって良いね。

My wife's grandmother is looking over us.

妻のお祖母ちゃんが私たちを見守ってます。

I took a little time setting up my den - and no, it is not a mancave (stupidest word to hit the English lexicon). Eventually I will get a better office chair. This will have to suffice for now.

自分の書斎をセットアップするのは楽しかった。いずれはここは僕のオフィスにもなる可能性あり。椅子もちょっといずれは変えようと思ってる。

This is also my music room as you can see.

ここは自分の音楽部屋にもなってる。

Very roomy.

広くて快適。

My mother-in-law said I could use this cabinet to my liking.

義理の母がこのキャビネットは好きな様に使って良いと言われた。

I even have space for my mini car collection.

やっと自分のミニカーコレクションも展示することが出来た。

This is my little Tower Records corner. Well, I did work for them for over 20 years.

ここは２０以上努めた会社タワーレコードのコーナーだ。

My rock pins collection.

ロックに関するピンバッジのコレクションも。

Now if only I can have the rest of my CDs and records and sound system from the States sent over here, along with my collection of Warner Bros and Looney Tunes stuff, it would make my den complete, but that will have to wait.

さて、まだアメリカで残したCDやアナログレコードとコンポがあれば。そして僕のバッグズ・バニーのコレクションがあれば、この部屋は完全に完成する。

Greetings from Aomori / 青森からこんにちは

Greetings from Aomori! Welcome to the first installment of my new blog - Blue Forest Chronicles. Although I have moved to Aomori City from Tokyo last month on the 26th, it has taken nearly a month to get the internet set up at home in my new surroundings.

青森からこんにちは！僕の新しい生活のブログにようこそ！英語でブルー・フォレスト・クロニクルで名づけました。簡単にいうと青森を直訳しただけ。先日の２６日に青森に移住しまたが、約一ヶ月でやっと家のパソコンがやっと繋ぐことになった。

View from the shinkansen as we head north / 新幹線からの眺め

But first things first, a lot of people may not know where Aomori Prefecture is or Aomori City. To simplify matters, please check out the maps below.

でも始まる前に青森県って何処か青森県の青森市は何処にあるか、下記で簡単な地図で説明致します。

The area in red represents Tokyo Prefecture. The place I had been living for the past 21 years.

赤くなってるところは東京都。２１年間生活した地です。

Aomori Prefecture is the northernmost prefecture on Honshu island, the largest of the four islands that make up the majority of Japan.

青森県は本州と一番来たにある都道府県。

The map above is only of Aomori Prefecture. You can also see where Aomori City is. This is my new home.

上記の地図は青森県。青森市がすぐ分かると思います。ここが僕現在住んでる街です。

My mother-in-law lives two stops away from Aomori Station. Only one from Shin-Aomori station. However, Shin-Aomori is no longer the last stop on the shinkansen as the Hokkaido shinkansen opened this year. The last stop is now Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Station. The name of this station is Tsugaru Shinjo. It is another 10 to 15 minute walk up a hill to my mother-in-law's house. Yes, we haved moved to snow country!

義理の母の家は青森駅から二つ目の駅です。新青森駅と次です。駅名は津軽新城。今まで新幹線の終点は新青森駅だったが、今年から北海道新幹線も開通で現在の終点は新函館北斗駅です。津軽新城駅から家までは徒歩で１０分から１５分位の距離。はい、雪国に移住しました！

We will have to cross the Shinjo River and walk up a hill to the house.

新城川を渡って坂を登る。

Our new home! It is my mother-in-law's house.

私たちの新居！義理の母の家です。

Not much else we could do tonight but tomorrow the moving company will be bringing our stuff to our new place around 6pm.

今夜はもうやることはありません。明日の６時頃私たちの荷物が届く予定。

I hope you will enjoy my posts from the North. And I will continue to update my Tokyo blog as well because I still have a lot of stories to tell.

青森の生活と青森の冒険、体験、等をちょこちょこ更新致します。僕の新しいブログをどうぞ宜しくお願い致します。