The continuation of [Grand Touring with the Boxster GTS Vol.3] From Mt. Bandai to Shinjo City was written by my husband. Please take a look if you like.

Rainy Boxster

The morning we woke up in Shinjo City greeted us with a dull, leaden sky. The rain drizzled steadily, and the roads were wet. We had a late breakfast and left the hotel around 8:30 a.m.

Heading east, we drove along the empty Route 47. Rain hammered the windshield, and the soft top stayed closed despite the nice weather we’d hoped for. Along the way, we turned onto Route 457, which runs north-south through Miyagi Prefecture, and headed north. Though we took a few wrong turns, we kept pushing forward on this top-class, enjoyable country road.

When we entered the Nishi-Iwai Wide-Area Farm Road, it was truly a road worthy of the name ‘Wide-Area Farm Road.’ Japan has many wonderful wide-area farm roads nationwide, led by the ones in Okayama Prefecture. I wish Shobunsha would create a touring mapbook collecting only wide-area farm roads across Japan—just for fun! (laughs)

Famous Road: Kurikoma-Yakeishi Hot Line

From here, even more famous roads awaited. Driving the Boxster onto the Kurikoma-Yakeishi Hot Line revealed a breathtaking scenic route that could easily be used in a car manufacturer’s commercial. As someone from Kansai, I envy the vast scale and stunning views here. The road is mostly straight, so it’s not suited for aggressive driving, but the balance between moderate medium-to-high speed corners and the lakeside of Lake Oshu is excellent.

The road was new and perfectly paved. Traffic was light, and the weather gradually improved. Cruising in the Boxster while savoring the scenery and the road was a perfect moment. I’ve said it many times on this blog, but I want to say it again:

“The Boxster is simply the best.”

Continuing north on Prefectural Route 37 at full throttle, then heading toward Nishikiko Lake on Route 107, we encountered a road closure sign. Apparently, recent storms had caused concerns about landslides on the road embankment.

We quickly changed our planned route and turned back. Noticing the Boxster was quite dirty from the rain and wind, we stopped at a car wash we happened to see and gave it a quick wash. After rinsing off the mud and dirt from the long trip, we wiped it clean and finished.

Feeling refreshed, we set our sights on Morioka City via Prefectural Route 13. This route flowed surprisingly well, allowing us to drive comfortably at a good pace.

Driving Around Mt. Iwate

As we headed north, the majestic Mt. Iwate gradually came into view. Tohoku is home to many famous peaks like Mt. Iwaki, Mt. Chokai, and Mt. Hakkoda, but personally, I love the silhouette of Mt. Iwate the most. Its broad, solid presence gives a strong sense of security and peace, almost like a guardian deity of the region.

Since it was still early to check into a hotel in Morioka City, we decided to explore around Prefectural Route 219 near the Koiwai Farm. After escaping city traffic and entering Route 219, the road stretched out mostly straight. It reminded me of the forest roads we drove on during our honeymoon trip through Germany in our Porsche.

We also explored some farm roads along the way. Driving the Boxster with Mt. Iwate to our side, whipping it like riding a horse and echoing the engine’s roar across the highlands was an incredible experience.

As the sun set, we returned to Morioka City and checked into our hotel. Tomorrow, we plan to conquer the full course of the legendary Hachinohe-Kawauchi Large-Scale Forest Road. Though tired from today’s driving, I couldn’t calm my excitement and had trouble falling asleep.

I don’t usually drink alcohol, but I had one of my favorite drinks, “Horoyoi,” and that alone made me dizzy enough to fall asleep. (laughs)

This Trip’s Course Map