It didn't take us long before realizing most are tinyYamame trout only teasing the fly, but one out of five, we had a clean hit of decent sized Iwana char - enough to keep us going!

Mt. Fear really is not a mountain as such, but a chain of temples that flock in the rocky hills on the bank of lake Usoriyama.

The lake's unworldly blue color stems from the area's geothermal activities, so does the telltale sulfur smokes getting spewed out here and there.

Port of Ohma, on the northern tip of Honshu, has become famous for its tuna fishery recently.

After thousands miles of journey from the south, it is here off the coast of Ohma where the tuna reach full maturity - fetching big money..

Iwana is a humorous character, often holding still until our wading feet almost touches. Watch your step Sayuri!!

The main river Yagen is too big and too daunting for the #3 rod we brought along. We decided to try one of her dozen little tributaries.

The light rain that fell over the previous night made the river nicely high and turbid. And sure enough, there were plenty of actions as we cast our #14 elkhair caddis.

On the northern slope of Shimokita peninsula flows a river Yagen, in the deeply chiselled valleys of the same name.

Of all the many rivers in Aomori, this one Yagen is particularly noted as a river of giant char, while its aesthetic beauty is appreciated by non-fishing visitors too.

The catchment cannot be so big as this is after all a part of a skinny peninsula. But the rugged topography, rich precipitation and the healthy forests of beech all help to sustain this beautiful river and its fish.

Souls of the dead are said to gather here in Osorezan, and even in this modern age there still are handful of Itako Sherman, who work as an intermediately as the visitors speak with the deceased ones.

The toy windmills are to comfort the souls of those who passed away young.

In Shimokita peninsula, northern end of already quite northern Aomori, we visited Osorezan, literally translated, Mt. Fear.

This is one of the three most revered spiritual places in Japan and the cool damp mist that persisted well into the afternoon only enhanced its bizarre atmosphere.

Our 8the night we came back to Akita.

From the top of the lookout tower we could see the fine view of Akita city and Oga peninsula beyond.

The trip was perhaps too quick to do full justice to the big chunk of land, Tohoku. But surely we learned a thing or two about what's there in Michinoku, at the end of the road.

- Back

Warning the dangers in the mountains. Many hikers get lost after having ventured too far, especially while collecting herbs.

Nearby we found a run down chapel, dedicated to the god of the mountains.

Every December people gathered here to thank for the year's harvest and life in the mountains.

In the temple premise you find a couple of hot springs, though more for spiritual purification than for pure relaxation.

As I visited here a decade ago, the place was full of Sherman off duty, mostly very old women, and trust me, bathing with those ladies was more of a spiritual voyage indeed.