Category: Press Releases

The Hachimantai Aspite and Jukai Lines are closing for the winter from 5pm on Tuesday, November 5th. The Hachimantai Aspite Line will reopen at 10 a.m. on April 15th and the Hachimantai Jukai Line will reopen at 10 a.m. on April 24th.

In April when it reopens we’ll again be able to enjoy the Hachimantai Snow Corridor at the same time as the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, all along the same road!

But first, winter is coming! It’s almost time for us to start enjoying the dreamy powder snow that some have started calling, Hachipow!

The Hachimantai Aspite and Jukai Lines have begun their fall schedule. They will now be closed from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. Additionally, on days with poor weather they may be closed all day. Please check back here for any announcements of closings!

The fall is a beautiful time to hike around the summit of Hachimantai. The mountainsides are alive with color, and the crisp cool air is invigorating!

Winter is coming!

Ryoyu Kobayashi, a Japanese ski jumper of international fame, has won thirteen World Cup events and won all six possible titles in the World Cup season, including the overall title, the Four Hills Tournament, the ski flying title, Raw Air, Planica7, and Willingen Five. In the 2018 Winter Olympics he placed 7^th in men’s normal hill, and 10^th in men’s large hill. He’s still just 22 years old with a long athletic career ahead of him.

And he’s also from Hachimantai, Iwate! He returned to his hometown for a visit and visited a local elementary school on May 9^th, 2019.  He fielded a number of questions from the children, from simple ones such as his favorite fruit (strawberries), and anime, to explaining how he first began jumping at the age of 5 years old, when he built a small jump in the yard of his house and used it while wearing cross-country skis. He also disclosed that he does summer training on Miyako Island in Okinawa.

Though he travels throughout the world, he stated that he holds Hachimantai close to his heart, and always cherishes the vast rich natural environment there. He loves the way the landscape erupts in color in the fall, and of course can’t get enough of the great powder snow that covers the slopes come winter.

The first Hachimantai Hill Climb Race was held in 2018 on the Hachimantai Aspite Line and met with rave reviews. Now is your chance to sign up for the 2nd annual Hachimantai Hill Climb Race! It is scheduled to be held on August 25, 2019, and of course features spectacular views and an excellent course through the Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

Watch interviews of the first race, highlights of the area, and a full course POV video with all the details here on our Hachimantai Hill Climb Race page.

Bus access to the Hachimantai Aspite Line Snow Corridor!
(We know you want it…!)

The Sansaku bus that will take you round trip with time to hike starts up on April 26th this year. Until then, you need to take a normal Iwate Kenpoku Bus. There are three options for getting there and three return options. (Each way one is direct and the others require a transfer.)

From Morioka Station East Exit Bus stop #3

9:42 a.m. departure – arrives 10:32 a.m. at the summit area.
10:42 a.m. departure – arrives at last stop (Kozan Shiryokan) at 12:04.. get off and wait for the next bus at 12:10, then arrive at the summit at 12:50 p.m.
12:12 a.m. departure – arrives at last stop (Kozan Shiryokan) at 1:30 p.m… get off and wait for the next bus at 1:40 p.m. – then arrive at the summit area at 2:20 p.m.

Returning from the summit bus stop to Morioka Station:

12:50 p.m. – transfer at the Kozan Shiryokan 1:30 arrival, 1:40 p.m. departure, arriving at Morioka Station at 2:58 p.m.
2:30 p.m. – transfer at the Kozan Shiryokan 3:10 p.m. arrival, 3:15 p.m. departure, arriving at Morioka Station at 4:29 p.m.
3:35 p.m. direct to Morioka Station arriving at 5:28 p.m.

The fare is 1,360 yen each way.

DO IT!