Road trip to Senjojiki, Lake Juniko, and the Furofushi Hot Spring (Part 1) / 千畳、十二湖と不老不死温泉の旅 （パート１）

Spring has come to Aomori, the snow has melted and we have free time on the weekends. My wife suggest going to Lake Juniko so we could enjoy some Shijimi Ramen (ramen with clams). Lake Juniko is located near the town of Fukaura which is located along the coast on Sea of Japan side of Aomori Prefecture. It takes about two and a half to three hours to reach there by car. But our first stop would be to an area called Senjojiki. The name Senjojiki translates to 1000 tatami mats. It is a bedrock beach formed by the uplifting of land caused by an earthquake in 1792 according to APTINET, the Aomori Sight Seeing Guide site.

春が来て、雪が溶けて、僕と妻は週末に出かけるのが楽しみ。今回妻が十二湖に行ってしじみラーメンを食べに行こうと提案した。もちろん僕は賛成した。十二湖は青森県の日本海側にあり、一番近い街が深浦。車で２時間半か３時間位で着く。十二湖に行く途中に千畳敷という場所もあって、最初は千畳敷を目指す。アプティネット（青森県観光情報サイト）によると、千畳敷は１７９２年の地震により隆起して出来た岩床の海岸です。

Heading towards Fukaura, we can see Mount Iwaki.

深浦方面に行って、岩木山が見えます。

Mount Iwaki / 岩木山

We made a short stop at this building. It is called the "Kyu Masuda Ke Jutaku Omoya" which translates to the former Masuda Residence Main Building. It is currently used as soba shop called "Kakashi".

このビルが気になってちょっと寄ってみた。この建物は旧増田家住宅母屋。現在はそば処「案山子」という店で使用されてます。

And here we are at the Senjojiki Kaigan. The story goes that the long ago, the lord of the area set out 1000 tatami mats for a party here.

千畳敷に到着。昔、殿様が千畳の畳を敷き酒宴を催したといわれる岩棚が広大に続いています。これもアプティネットからの情報です。

The Senjojiki Coast covers about 12 kilometers (7 miles).

千畳敷海岸が１２キロ位あります。

Odose Kannon / 大戸瀬観音

That's the Sea of Japan in the background.

奥に見えるのは日本海だ。

Map of the different outcroppings of rocks / 千畳敷海岸の奇岩たちの地図

This is still the beginning of our journey. Our main goal is the Aoike in Lake Juniko and to eat shijimi ramen (ramen with freshwater clams). To be continued...

まだ旅の始まりです。メインの目的は十二湖にある青池としじみラーメンを食べること。旅はつづく。。。