Takayama Inari Shrine / 高山稲荷神社

When we first moved to Aomori, it was November and the start of winter. I had to build up my stamina for snow-shoveling and buying suitable clothes for snow country. We also bought our car in December but we didn't really get to enjoy it until spring came and the snow melted....around the end of April!! As the weather got better, we started exploring Aomori Prefecture on the weekend going to different places every weekend. Today, we were going to the Takayama Inari Shrine which is also known as the Fushimi Shrine of Tohoku. The Fushimi Shrine being the famous shrine in Kyoto for its thousand red gates. Takayama Shrine is located in the town of Tsugaru near the coast of the Sea of Japan.

私たちが青森に引っ越したのは１１月の下旬。冬の始まりでした。雪国なので、雪かきや冬用の服と冬用の靴もいろいろ買えなきゃいけなかった。青森県にはやっぱり車も必要で、新車を購入。車が届いたのあ１２月の下旬。冬の同真ん中なので、当然ドライブなんか行けない。車を楽しめるのは春になって雪が溶けたあとだ。それが大体４月の下旬くらいだ！春になって段々天気も良くなて、私たちは休日にドライブに出かけて、青森県を探索始めた。今日は東北の伏見神社と言われてる高山稲荷神社に行くことにした。高山稲荷神社は青森県つがる市鷲野沢牛潟町にある。日本海に近い。

There is only one road to Takayama Inari Shrine and it's the end of the line.

高山稲荷神社に行くのは一本の道しかありません。神社が道の終点となります。

We can see a large building coming into view. This is the Otorii in front of us.

大きな建物が見えてきた。大鳥居をくぐったら境内に入ります。

This is the Sanshuden.

この建物は境内にある参集殿。

The path to the main shrine. 

本堂に行く参道。

This is the part of the shrine that we really came to see. This is why this shrine is called the Fushimi Shrine of Tohoku.

これが一番の目的。この全本の鳥居があるから東北の伏見神社と言わてる。

A map guide of the shrine grounds. 

境内案内図。

My wife climbing up the stairs. 

妻が先階段を上ってる。

Climbing up the stairs. 

階段上ってる最中。

Ａ small shrine to pray for a harmonious marriage or to find love. 

夫婦円満の縁結びの場所。

Getting close to the haiden.

拝殿に近づいた。

I see my wife and mother-in-law walking up the stairs.

妻と義理の母の姿が階段に見える。

Sakubun-ichi Inari Shrine / 作文一稲荷神社

Yonko Inari Shrine / よんこ稲荷神社

Sanno Shrine / 山王神社

Kumagoro Inari Shrine / 熊五郎稲荷神社

Sign for the Yokon Inari Shrine.

Now we have to walk down a separate stairway. 

別の階段に下りる。

Ryushingu Shrine / 龍神宮

My beautiful wife. 

僕の素敵な妻。

Our main destination. The Thousand Gates of Takayama Inari Shrine.

ここがメインの目的。高山稲荷神社の千本鳥居。

Looking back at the gates we passed through. 

くぐった鳥居を眺める。

This is such an awesome place.

感動的な場所だ。

No, I didn't count how many fox statues total there were. 

いえ、何匹のきつねがいるのを数えてません。

Now, we had to walk back through the gates. 

戻りにも鳥居をくぐらなきゃ。

We spotted a big turtle. 

大きな亀発見。

Hanging out with the turtle. 

亀と遊んでる。

Chiyoho Inari Shrine / 千代稲荷神社

Daikokuten, one of the Seven Lucky Gods of Fortune. Daikokuten is the God of Commerce and Prosperity. 

七福神の大黒天。

Takayama Inari Shrine votive tablets.

高山稲荷神社の絵馬。

And I got my shrine seal from Takayama Inari Shrine. 

高山稲荷神社の御朱印を貰いました。

This concludes are adventure at the Takayama Inari Shrine but doesn't conclude our day trip to Tsugaru and the Lake Jusanko Roadside Station. 

高山稲荷神社の探索は終了しまたが、今日の冒険はまだ続く。

Ramen Shop [Zetton] / 麺や「ゼットン」（絶豚）

I think this was a ramen shop that either my friend Yukio or my brother-in-law Jun recommended. As I was still new to Aomori, checking out the different ramen shops is something that highly interests me. Today, we went to a ramen shop called [Zetton]. Their main style of ramen is the niboshi chuka (sardine-based broth Chinese noodles).

このラーメン屋は確か友達の幸男か義理の弟の淳がおすすめした店です。また青森に引っ越したばっかりなので、新しいラーメン屋行くのが凄い楽しい。今日は麺や「ゼットン」に行きました。店に絶豚でも書かれてるがメインのサインはカタカナ。青森市緑にある店です。メインは煮干し中華そば。

But I saw this menu for a belly noodle and it looks really good so I ordered this. It's made with a chicken broth and is roasted as well. 

でも僕の目にこのメニューが入りました。鳥だし炙り中華のバラそば。もちろんこれを注文しました。

Check it out. They weren't kidding about it being roasted.

見て見て。本当に炙ってる！

We've only gone here one time. I really liked it and I liked the atmosphere of the place but my wife wasn't of the same mind. I do want to check it out at least another time. 

この店は一回しか行ったことない。俺は結構気に入りましたが、妻はそうでもなかったみたい。でもやっぱりもう一度行ってみたい。

New Japanese Style Restaurant [Chikurinbo] / 新和食 本町 「竹林坊」

I started my current job at the beginning of March in 2017. I'm currently going on my fourth year teaching English at an English Language Conversation School located near Aomori Station. At the beginning of summer, the office staff and veteran teacher held a kangeikai, a welcoming party for me and the new teacher who would be teaching at Hirosaki University. Of course, many students were invited as well, even though there was a nominal fee to join us. The party was to be held in an area called Honmachi at a Japanese style restaurant called [Chikurinbo].

現在の職に就いたのは２０１７年３月１日から。今は四年目に入ってます。青森駅近くの英会話学校で英語の講師をやってます。夏の始まりに先輩講師と日本人スタッフが僕と弘前大学勤務の先生の歓迎会を開いてくれた。選んだ場所は本町にある新和食レストラン「竹林坊 （ちくりんぼう）」。何人の生徒たちも参加しました。

A very nice interior. It looks a bit luxurious. 

店内は凄い良い雰囲気でした。結構高級感がある感じ。

Tonight's course menu.

今夜のコースメニュー。

First, we were served an a grilled eggplant topped with tororo (grated yams).

最初の料理は焼き茄子とろろ。

Next, the otsukuri (assorted sashimi platter) which included maguro (tuna), amberjack, sweet shrimp, and octopus. 

次出たのがお造り。今夜のお造りおはまぐろ、かんぱち、甘海老とたこ。

We were then served a Chinese-sytle salad with Chinese dressing.

お造りの次は中華サラダ中華ドレッシング。

The main entree was a one-pot dish made with beef. Udon was added to broth when most of the meat was eaten.

メインはちりとり鍋、牛バラ。鍋〆は焼きうどん。

Before dessert, we served the daimono (an assortement of dishes) which included Japanese Spanish mackerel, ceviche, ikamenchi (squid croquette), meat-wrapped fishcake with cheese. 

デザートの前は台物。提供されたのはさごし新線焼き、セビチェ、いかメンチ、とチーズはんぺん肉巻き。

Dessert was a yogurt mousse with blueberry sauce. 

デザートはヨーグルトムースブルーベリーソース。

As I was still getting to know the students, I didn't take any pictures of the participants or the other teachers. Also, my mother-in-law told me that her husband had worked on part of the interior of this restaurant but she has never eaten here. 

まだ生徒たちが詳しく知らなかったので、生徒たちと他の先生たちの写真を撮れなかった。あとから聞いたはなしですが、義理の母の夫がこの店の中庭を手掛けたんだって。義理の母は店に食べに来たこともないので、その店内も見たことないと言ってた。