animation – Norms & Weirdos

‘Princess Mononoke (もののけ姫)’, a masterpiece that Miyazaki Hayao spent 16 years developing the concept and 3 entire years making it. Miyazaki urged Ghibli studio to create this piece before he’s too old, as there are lots of action scenes and the theme is very serious comparing to others.

Shirakami Sanchi (白神山地)

Located across Aomori and Akita Prefecture in the Northeast of Japan, this is the reference for the village that Ashitaka, the main role lives. The forest is around 170 sq. km big with natural habitats, no wonder it becomes UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Twelve Lakes ‘Jyuni-ko’ (十二湖)

As the forest is not easily accessible and tbh it is quite a normal forest… Jyuni-ko, meaning ’12 lakes’, is the most worthy place to visit. The area has got more than 12 lakes, and is close to a train station.

Aoi Pond (青池) is very famous for its beautiful sapphire blue color. The clear water shimmering under sunlight, the space, the voice of nature (birds, waterfalls, waves…) and the weather of Aomori summer (around 16-20 degrees) provide a revitalizing experience.

Good thing of not many tourists is, there are free stuff. At the tearoom next to Ochiguchino Pond (落口の池), you can receive a free cup of green tea with Japanese traditional snacks.

A few steps from the tea room, you can collect water from Wakitsubo Pond (沸壷の池), being nominated as one of the ‘Heisei era best 100 water’ (平成の名水百選). The water was sweet (in a natural way) and cold. All good coz I didn’t have tummy trouble.

Unlike Tokyo or Osaka, it’s a rare choice of traveling, but also a good choice to enjoy interactions with the locals. People in Aomori are really nice and helpful. Just make sure don’t go there in winter, freezing cold and all paths to the mountains are closed.

Special Express ‘Resort Shirakami’

Take a break from car rental, coz the special train ‘Resort Shirakami’ can’t be missed! It travels between Aomori and Akita. It is not only for commute, it’s a tour itself!

Remember to grab a free postcard and stamp the train model pattern on it. Also don’t forget to buy apple ice-cream from the bar (Aomori is famous for apple)! And yes, this train has a bar, with alcohol and snacks 🙂

The whole journey makes a few stops, each has ~15mins for you to get off and take pictures. Like tour couch, there are announcements explaining all the spots outside the window, and sometimes there is performance of the traditional music instrument ‘Tsugaru-jamisen’ on 1 of the cabins.

Access & station info

Just get off at Jyuniko station and interchange for the bus to Aoi Pond. But you may have to wait for around an hour.

To kill time, go have lunch ‘Omakase set’ at Seikanso Tsunamoto Restaurant (静観荘網元), right across the station. The seafood are super fresh and delicious! And surprisingly, the set above only cost me 1000 yen!!!

If you don’t have enough time, try the Aoi Pond ice-cream at station shop. It said yoghurt flavor, which is weird but not bad.

Do not take the last bus/train.
There are basically nothing around the area.

Miyazaki Hayao (宮崎駿) creates mesmerizing worlds for each of his animation. He maybe the God of creativity, but still he gets inspired from the real world. In fact, there are a list of possible inspirations, or at least a related motif resembling his works.

Valley of the Winds, Northern Territory

Mount Olga, or Kata Tjuta (meaning ‘many heads’ in aboriginal language) is a domed rock formation, sharing the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with the famous Ayers Rock.

Rumor claims that ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind’ takes reference from the landscape. Actually from some shots of the opening song, you can see some graphics mimicking the aboriginals’ cave drawings.

The area is considered as sacred among the aboriginals, do not take away any sand/stones and follow the assigned route. And it’s recommended to stay >1 m away from the edge as natural erosions occur any sec.

Being called ‘Valley of the Winds’, the temperature varies at different parts. The shade with wind is quite chilly, while others can give you heat stroke. Someone died from heart attack as he jumped from deep heat into a freezing pond. I put my legs inside a small pond in the park, ended up screaming as it was FULL OF LEECHES!

Flinders Street Station/Tram, Melbourne

Flinders Street Station is the biggest railway station of Melbourne, located right at the city center along Yarra River. The building in art nouveau style is more than 100 years old and is registered as a heritage of the state.

Rumor claims that ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ takes reference from the metropolitan area of Melbourne, including the mixing of old and new buildings, clock towers and tram systems.

Being the most livable city for years, Melbourne perfectly balances the city and the green, the heritage and the moderns. Right opposite the station, you can find Federation Square and St. Paul’s Cathedral in Gothic style; just a few steps forward, there are Arts Centre and the National Gallery of Victoria. A few streets parallel to that, you can reach the famous Crown Casino. All within walking distance along the dockside.

The Melbourne General Post Office has a historical clock tower as well, and surprisingly this heritage is currently rented by H&M. Shouldn’t miss the chance of putting on the cheapest fast-fashion nowadays, with a taste of 18th century.

And yeah, the tram. Many cities have trams, but the City Circle trams really look exactly like the ones in Kiki’s. And the best thing is, it’s FREE!

Loch Ard Gorge, Great Ocean Road

Some says it looks like one of the beach in ‘Porco Rosso’. I think other nominations look way more similar, but the Great Ocean Road is still a must-go if you are not suffering from carsick.

Cityscape, Tasmania

I’m not so sure about these two, as there are no landmarks or exact evidence. Rumor claims that the city of ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ has similarities to Hobart and Launceston in Tasmania. Let’s see.

I didn’t take photo of Launceston Clock Tower, but the cityscape does kinda look like the one in Kiki’s, I mean the whole atmosphere?

It looks like the scene where Kiki wakes up on the train and looks at the city far away.

For Hobart… ummm… yes it’s a nice cozy town by the sea, but I couldn’t see anything reminding me of Kiki’s…

Maybe only the witchery ceremony that I witnessed, at Salamanca (Hobart centre)?

Tag: animation

[Japan] where Ghibli becomes real – ‘Princess Mononoke’ pt 1