Enjoy the summer nature in the Shirakami Sanchi (World Heritage Site)! Shirakami Tofu] [Cafe Tasuki

  • Aomori
  • Experience Gifu
Spring water from Shirakami Sanchi
Summer is finally here! This time, we would like to introduce you to the World Heritage Site Shirakami Sanchi, which straddles Akita and Aomori Prefectures! We will introduce a stroll in the Shirakami Mountains filled with negative ions, as well as recommended cafes, restaurants, sweets, and more...♪ Please enjoy this summer in Aomori!

Take a rental car to Shirakami Sanchi and Nishimeya Village!

First, head to "Aqua Green Village ANMON" in Nishimeya Village by rental car♪ It takes about 1.5 hours by car from Aomori Station. It is located through Hirosaki City and a short walk up a mountain road. There is a pedal rest where you can leave your bicycle, so you can stop by with your road bike!
Aqua Green Village ANMON Center House

Lunch at Cafe "Shirakami Tofu

When we arrived, we were hungry and went to lunch...Cafe "Shirakami Tofu" is located in the center house. This is a place where you can enjoy a lunch of handmade healthy tofu. ♪ In Nishimeya Village, there is a tradition of making "Meya Tofu" which is so hard that it does not fall apart even when tied with a rope, and "Shirakami Tofu" offers an adaptation of this tradition ♪ The interior is spacious and liberating. After all, the view from the window is great! You can enjoy your lunch or café time with a view full of greenery. There is also terrace seating at the back of the restaurant, so you can enjoy your lunch outside on a cool day.
Cafe "Shirakami Tofu
Inside the store with a view full of greenery
Tofu lunch is available with a choice of "oboto-fu" or "shikaku-fu" (square tofu). In addition to coffee, there are various drinks such as "apple Juusu", "coffee soy milk", "Macha soy milk", "Kuromoji tea", etc.♪ You may also enjoy coming here during cafe time♪
Coffee Soy Milk and Macha Soy Milk
Shaved ice is also available depending on the season.
Lunch arrived shortly after...rice, miso soup, two small bowls of cooked food, and the main dish of tofu and condiments. The beautiful arrangement of the dish is pleasing to the eye...and the tofu is healthy, making it the perfect meal before a stroll...
Tofu Lunch Oboro
This is the main dish of tofu. The "Oboto-fu" is served with soy sauce and dashi broth, and is easy to soak up the flavor of the soy sauce and dashi broth, making it a refreshing dish. The "Shikaku Tofu" is filled with the flavor of soybeans and is very satisfying. Both have a firm texture typical of "Meya Tofu" and are a must-try for tofu lovers! It's a great way to recharge your batteries before heading out for a stroll.
Oboro Tofu" is served in a colander!
Square tofu that will stick in the tofu lover's mouth

Finally, it's time to go for a walk in the Shirakami Sanchi!

After filling your stomach, head out for a walk. â™" After putting on sunscreen and a hat, head out to the walking trail! After exiting the center house, turn right and cross the "Anmon Ohashi" bridge. Shirakami Sanchi is a mountainous area that was registered as Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site (Natural Heritage) along with Yakushima and other islands. It is said to have one of the world's largest expanses of pristine natural beech forests that have been largely untouched by humans. There are various mountain trails and walking paths in the Shirakami Sanchi, and this time we will walk along the "Beech Forest Walking Path" where even beginners can easily enjoy walking in nature.
Crossing the "Anmon Ohashi" bridge.
The view from the bridge is already wonderful..!
After crossing the bridge and continuing on, you will see a sign for the Beech Forest Walking Path. Near the sign is a spring! It seems you can drink the spring water from the beech forest here!
A sign for the beech forest walking path. The greenery is beautiful...!
You can drink spring water!
It was a hot day, nearly 30 degrees Celsius, but the spring water was cool and tasty! If you bring a water bottle or PET bottle, it is perfect for rehydrating during your walk. We are very grateful for the spring water, as we do not usually have the opportunity to drink it...!
You can drink delicious spring water♪
The entrance to the path is on a slope, but it is paved with wooden planks, making it easy to walk on. After climbing the stairs for a while, the pavement disappears, and instead, you will see logs laid out for you to follow. There are signs at the fork in the road, so there seems to be no need to worry about getting lost.
Into the forest
As you continue walking, you will see a sign on the way. It seems that you can choose between a short "short circuit" and a long "long circuit. The short course is about 1 km, and the long course is about 2.2 km. It is advisable to wear non-slip shoes such as hiking boots for the walk.
There is a sign at the junction, so it is easy to understand.
Crossing the creek

You'll find yourself in the middle of the forest...

When you stop to look around, you will see beech forests all around. The chirping of the buzzards and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind make you forget about your daily life. The fluffy leaf litter underfoot is said to be the result of beech leaves piled up over the years. It is said that the beech forests in the Shirakami Mountains were created around 8,000 years ago. It is truly a legacy of nature created over a long period of time...! Walking further, you will see a sign for a "water fountain" on the way. Walking up a side road, you will find a spring flowing in the forest! The water is even cooler and tastier than the spring water at the entrance!
Beech forest all around
Spring water in the forest
The beech forest walking path takes about 30 minutes in a small direction and about one hour in a large direction. Please note that the footing is slippery after rain.
Aqua Green Village ANMON Official HP is here

After the walk, we went to cafe "Tasuki".

After walking in the forest, take a break. We went to a cafe called "Tasuki" about 10 minutes by car from Aqua Green Village ANMON. This is a store where you can enjoy "oyaki" and Japanese sweets, both in the café and as take-out.
Wrappers. A nice Japanese style store.
Mr. Matsuhashi, the owner of Tasuki
Oyaki is a local dish of Nagano, but here you can enjoy "Tsugaru Oyaki" arranged with local ingredients. On this day, there were 7 kinds of oyaki! The first one you will see is the oyaki with Aomori's local dish, "Ke-no-jiru"! Next to it is the "Asparagus Curry" oyaki, which is only available for a limited time. The asparagus curry is made with fresh asparagus grown in their own farm! Other dishes include "Yakiniku Style" using Aomori's famous yakiniku sauce "Gen-tare" as a secret ingredient, and "Stir-fried Eggplant and Shiso with Tsugaru Miso Sauce". For sweet oyaki, there are "Tsubu-an", "Umeshiso Shiro-an", and "Apple pie style" using Aomori's apples! It is fun to choose which one to try!
Various kinds of baked goods♪
Various types of drinks are available...Amazake Soy Milk Latte, which is great for summer, is available in strawberry, honey, wild grape, and plain...Cafe latte, coffee, and apple juice are also available...(Menu is subject to change.) After ordering, go to the cafe space. There are sofa seats and table seats, and the atmosphere is a combination of Japanese and Scandinavian style, stylish and relaxing.
Cute cafe space♪
The oyaki arrived shortly after! We were served "ke-no soup" and "apple pie style" ♪ It was hot that day, so we also ordered "kuzumochi ice cream lollipop ♪
Oyaki and ice cream
We ordered "apple pie style" oyaki and "kejiru".
Koe no Shiru" is a traditional Aomori dish of wild vegetables and root vegetables seasoned with miso. I was surprised that Tadasushi's oyaki tasted like I was really eating kejiru! The "apple pie style" is made with home-grown apples! It is a perfect combination with a hint of cinnamon.
Keshiru" has a nostalgic taste.
Apple pie style" filled with homemade apples
The ice cream popsicles are made with kudzu powder and are a great treat for the body. The one I had was chestnut flavor. The chestnuts are also from their own farm. Amazing! The taste is refreshingly sweet with a hint of chestnut. The white bean paste is also included, so it keeps your stomach cooler than regular ice cream.
Chestnut Kuzumochi Popsicle
Clockwise from the front: strawberry, azuki, chestnut, and mango flavors♪
For a drink, we chose the Amazake Soy Milk Latte. The combination of the gentle sweetness of amazake and soy milk is delicious! It has a refreshing sweetness that makes your body happy. ♪ It is easy to drink without the smell of soy milk and looks good for summer nutrition. All of them were delicious, nostalgic, and energizing♪
Amazake soy milk latte
You can see more information about Tadashi on instagram♪ You can also check out their website here♪
Tasuki Official HP is here

Shirakami Sanchi is a very satisfying place to visit!

This time we introduced Shirakami Tofu in the Shirakami Mountains, a walk in the beech forests of the World Natural Heritage site, and special oyaki and popsicles♪ We enjoyed summer a lot, taking a walk in nature and eating healthy lunches and sweets! Summer in Aomori is full of charm with nature and delicious food. We invite you to spend a refreshing summer in Aomori's Shirakami Mountains!

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