Insomnia / Akita

Insomnia is said to be the root of all evil.

My insomnia came back around the end of February. It is said that exposure to strong lights from electronic devices late at night adversely affects falling asleep, but lying down in the dark makes me irritated. As a result, I end up browsing the web late into the night.

While I was surfing the web, I came across an information about an electric locomotive (EL) photo shooting event on the JR East website. Previously, I joined JR East event to see steam locomotive (SL) assembly process at their maintenance facility in Omiya, but this time was held at the maintenance facility in Akita. I like factory tours in general, and I also like old Japan National Railway-era ELs. Having said, I wonder if I have enough passion to go all the way to Akita.

I thought about major conditions. The event was scheduled for a three-day weekend when I had no other plans. Considering I had taken day off from work to go to the SL event in Omiya, the event date was far more favorable. However, while the distance from Tokyo to Omiya is an extension of my everyday life, Akita is clearly far away. It would cause a financial problem.

After thinking further, I realized there was something Akita had but Omiya did not – an airport.

I found that there were award tickets available on an early morning Japan Airlines (JAL) flight from Tokyo Haneda to Akita. Besides, if I took a Tokyo Haneda flight leaving Akita Airport by 5 p.m., I could make it in time for my favorite soba (Japanese noodle) restaurant in Tokyo, where was usually difficult to make a reservation. Award tickets were also available for this flight. Since I was able to reserve award tickets for both flights, major financial problem was solved.

Although I was able to book flights, a challenge was getting back from the JR East facility to Akita Airport in time for the return flight. After searching around, I found a scheduled shared taxi that went to the airport at relatively lower price. I made an online reservation for the taxi and finalized a plan that would allow me to make a day trip to Akita with the visit to my favorite soba restaurant. All of this happened very late at night.

On the following day, I made a reservation for the soba restaurant. Even though it was a popular restaurant, I was able to get a reservation if it was about a month ahead. I happened to recall that on the way back from the SL assembly viewing event in Omiya, I went to the same soba restaurant. JR East maintenance facilities and the soba restaurants may be the ultimate combination for me. There was no doubt making for a fulfilling day.

Insomnia may not be the root of all evil.

COLO’s Traveler Guide: Akita

The times listed are based on the schedule at the time of the visit.

Haneda 06:55 (JAL161) > Akita 08:00

・Akita City Folk Performing Arts Heritage Center
・Akita City Akarenga (Red Brick) Folk Museum
・JR East Akita General Rolling Stock Center

Akita 16:45 (JAL166) > Haneda 18:00