Mutsu, Oma and the Shimokita Peninsula (Aomori prefecture)
After leaving Lake Towada (chilly, raining), we drove through the Towada-Hachimantai national park. It was raining heavily and the road was poor, although we did pass through an impressive gorge. There were a lot of ill-kitted out people walking along the river path mostly on the road, so we think must be 'must do' tourist attraction of some sort... we powered on up through the axe handle of this far-flung peninsula in Aomori. We'd booked a nice hotel in Mutsu, but had time to stop at a tourist attraction before checking in. We chose to visit Osore-zan bodai-ji temple . It is one of Japan's most sacred sites and sits on the shores of a stinky sulphurous crater lake in the mountains. We found the place quite creepy, indeed it apparently has the atmosphere of the afterlife. After this detour, we checked into our rather lovely hotel (the Mutsu Grand Hotel ) and had a wonderful relaxing onsen and an early dinner in the French restaurant. We were up and on our way again b...