The road to Tamagawa onsen

Leaving Tazawa ko with obligatory souvenirs, we made our way north. Dams were a feature of the trip at the beginning, notably  the Tamagawa dam.   Traveling along mountain roads, with piled by the side of the road almost three metresin places, we made our way towards Tamagawa onsen.  (No photos of this as it would have been dangerous to stop, even on a motorbike).

A dam just south of Tamagawa Dam

The dam that everyone seems to call the Tamagawa dam, as it dams the Tama gawa (river)  though that seems not to be the official name.

Tamagawa dam:    I wonder if this is the clearest dam in Japan? Stunningly so.

Tamagawa dam - kind of reminds me of Halong bay - only about 20 degrees difference in water temperature.  And actually the fact that there is clear water probably ends the similarity if I think about it...

Tamagawa dam with a research centre and library in the distance.... I don't think it cynical to suggest pork barrelling on that one.  I don't imagine many people travelling to a remote dam in the Akita countryside to study dams....

A "carrillion" with one functioning bell...

what a pity only the bears will hear it being rung...

Pork barrelling..... why oh why don't they spend govt. money on projects that will facilitate growth of long term, sustainable jobs instead of short term public works... the economy of  much of Akita is in a dire state...

A perfect river for trout fishing - except the natural acid levels are probably too high

The beginning of May and snow is still to melt

Melting snow, ice cold water, and spring flowers emerging

Spring flowers