Blue Forest Chronicles: Don's Aomori Visit (Day 5 Part 1) / ドン青森紀行（五日目パート１）

Don's fifth day in Aomori is August 1st. The start of my one week holiday from work. As my wife had to work today, Don and I are going to head to Hirosaki by train. Our main goal being Hirosaki Castle in Hirosaki Park.

ドンの青森紀行五日目が８月１日。僕は今日から一週間の休みを頂いてます。というより、ねぶたの時期、うちの会社は閉まってます。妻は仕事なので、僕とドン、ヤロ二人の冒険になる。今日目指すのは弘前。ドンの目的はやっぱり弘前城です。

Don said this is something he doesn't see in the Pacific Northwest. A snowplow train. The track will need its services soon enough.

ドンがこういう電車はシアトルに見たことない。青森は雪国ですから、もうすぐ活動しますね。

Today is the start of the Neputa Festival in Hirosaki, not to be confused with the Nebuta Festival in Aomori City. We were greeted at Hirosaki station by a group of elementary school kids playing the taiko drums and cymbals. Unfortunately, the video I took was too large to upload onto this blog.

今日は弘前ねぷた祭りの初日。駅に着いたら小学生たちが歓迎してくれた。動画を撮りましたが、残念ながら、このブログでその動画が大きすぎるため、アップロードは出来ませんでした。

And it's really Hirosaki that is known for Aomori apples!

そして青森市より、弘前が林檎で有名！

This is a Neputa float.

これは弘前のねぷたです。

Even the mail box at the station has a large apple displayed on top of it.

弘前駅前のポストにも林檎のオブジェが飾られてる。

Even the title of this statue is [Ringo no Kaze] which translates to "Wind of the Apple" and the woman on the right is holding a basket of apples.

駅前の銅像も「りんごの風」と書いてある。右側の女性はりんごのバスケットを持ってる。

But the first order of business when reached Hirosaki was to have lunch. I suggested a soup curry shop called "Kandy Spice" which recently moved from the seventh floor of the Nakasan department store to the food court in the basement. The name of the shop is [Kandy Spice]. My wife and I had eaten at the restaurant when it was still on the seventh floor and really enjoyed it.

弘前に着いてから、最初にやることはどこかでランチを食べること。僕が提案したのは中三のフードコートにあるスープカレー専門店の「キャンディ・スパイス」。以前は７階にありましたが、前日７階から地下一階に移転した。僕と妻がまだ７階にあった時、食べに行って、凄い美味しいと思った。

I recommended to Don their kawapari chicken. Kawapari meaning crispy skinned chicken.

ドンにおすすめしたのは店の自慢の皮パリチキンカレー。

After lunch, we walked to Hirosaki Park. It's a good twenty to thirty minute walk from the station.

ランチを食べ終わったて、弘前公園に行きました。弘前駅から徒歩で２０分から３０分くらいかかります。

In case some of you didn't know, the castle wall is currently being repaired. The castle's original location is on the corner of this piece of land. But in order to repair the wall, first the city had to move the castle!

もし知らない人がいれば、現在白の岩壁が修理中のため、城はこの角から移動されました。凄い技術だね。

The tree is a type of pine tree. In Japanese, it is called an aiguro matsu and is over three hundred years old.

アイグロマツ。弘前市古木名木。３００年以上の木です。

Hirosaki Castle / 弘前城

Of course I didn't forget the touristy pictures. Here is Don in front of Hirosaki Castle.

観光用の写真は忘れていませんよ。弘前城に立つドン。

Exploring the inside of the castle.

城の中を探検してみる。

Don said he's tried a variety of ice creams and soft serves but has yet to eat an apple flavored one - until now!

ドンが青森に来ていろんなアイスやソフトを食べてたのに、まだりんご味のアイスは食べてない。そこで、今ドンが食べてるのはりんごアイスです！

This is the torii to Aomori-ken Gokoku Shrine.

この鳥居は青森県護国神社の入口。

More castle wall stones set aside for repairs.

城の岩がちゃんと管理して保管されてます。

Ninomaru East Gate Guardhouse.

二の丸与力番所。

Hirosaki Yuki Akari, a new species of cherry blossom that was discovered in Hirosaki.

弘前雪明かり。新品種の桜の木です。

The oldest Yoshino cherry tree.

日本最古のソメイヨシノ。

It's my wife that usually takes pictures of different manholes but as she was working today, I took this picture for her. A manhole with Hirosaki's mascot, Takamaru.

いつもなら妻が面白いマンホールの写真を撮りますが、今日は仕事だったので、妻の為に撮ってあげた。もちろん妻にこの写真送りましたよ。このマンホールになんと、弘前のマスコットのたか丸が描いてます。

It was quite hot again today, so we went in search of a craft beer house that's run by a foreigner. We found the neighborhood of drinking establishments but as it was late afternoon, the bars were not open.

今日も暑かったので、どっかビールでも飲みにいこうかという話になり、以前一人の生徒が教えてくれた店をさがしてみた。飲み街は見つかりましたけど、例の店が見つからす、それにまだ昼だったので、どこの飲み屋はまで開いてなかった。