Towada-Hachimantai National Park
Spring
March - May
Cherry blossoms give way to a vast snow-covered expanse. Enter another world…
Hachimantai Snow Corridor
In mid-April every year the road that leads up to the summit of Hachimantai is cleared of snow creating walls of snow on either side. This snow corridor is several meters deep and goes for more than 25 kilometers! Leave the spring behind and explore the snowy landscape near the summit! Visit in early May and watch the world transform as blooming cherry trees give way to walls of snow on the same road in just a few minutes. Discover another world in Hachimantai.
Uwabo-bokuya Solitary Cherry Tree
The Uwabo-bokuya Solitary Cherry Tree stands out beautifully against the backdrop of massive Mt. Iwate, still covered in snow. If you’re here in early to mid-May, this is a must see!
Hachimantai Dragon Eye
From late May through mid-June, the snow melting on Kagami-numa Pond near the summit of Mt. Hachimantai is not only strikingly beautiful for the deep clear blue color of the water accented against the white snow- it has also become famous in recent years for its resemblance to the eye of a dragon. Come gaze into the waters and perhaps they will gaze back at you…
Summer
June - August
Hike! Camp! Cycle! Trail run! Explore! Breathtaking surprises await!
Hiking
The landscape of Hachimantai is rich and varied, offering multiple great hiking routes through parts of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Climb Mt. Iwate via 3 varied routes. Enjoy waterfalls, rare alpine flora, and volcanic landscapes along the way. Camp overnight in a lodge in the mountains. Stroll around the top of Mt. Hachimantai and enjoy the flowers blooming in a rare alpine marshland. The diversity and possibilities you’ll find here are world-class.
Cycling
Whether you’re a beginner or a veteran, looking to go mountain biking on a trail or cycle on the road through the pastoral landscape, Hachimantai has something for everyone! Guided bicycle tours and rental cycles are available at certain lodges. Feel the wind on your face as you explore the Appi and Mt. Hachimantai area!
Autumn
September - November
See an entire mountain vista carpeted in red at Mt. Mitsuishi
Every season may be beautiful in Hachimantai, but entire mountainsides become riots of color in the autumn, calling you to the hiking trails.
Come see the mountains turn red as early as September on Mt. Mitsuishi. The view from the summit in September is unforgettable! The low trees blanket the slopes in deep reds in all directions. This pleasant trail begins at Matsukawa Onsen, so after the 3 – 4-hour hike you can enjoy a relaxing outdoor bath.
A golden carpet surrounds Hachiman-numa Pond
Driving up the Aspite Line to the top of Hachimantai always feels like entering another world. The hiking trails through the alpine marshland around the summit are great for people of all ages and abilities. While beautiful throughout all the seasons, the autumn transforms the landscape creating a golden carpet of the alpine grasses and giving this area an otherworldly feel.
Genbu-iwa Rock, Mori-no-ohashi Bridge, the Hachimantai Jukai Line, and the Aspite Line
Hachimantai has so many places with stunningly gorgeous views of autumn colors that describing all of them would fill pages! From the amazing rock formations of Genbu-iwa Rock rising out of a river, to arresting views from the Mori-no-ohashi Bridge and the Jukai and Aspite line routes up the mountain in all their glory.
Winter
December - February
Ski and Snowboard
Discover Hachipow! World-class powder snow for great experiences at ski resorts and back country. If hiking is your passion, put on snowshoes and visit enormous frozen waterfalls hidden in the mountains.
Hachimantai is home to both the largest and most popular ski resort in Tohoku, APPI, and a hidden gem that boats delicious tree runs and excellent powder – Hachimantai Resort Shimokura Ski Area. With great areas for families and snow parks for boarders, everyone will end the day too tired to do anything but smile.
CAT and Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding
Experience the best of backcountry without having to hike for hours by getting a ride in a snowcat grooming machine with the excellent service offered by Hachimantai Cat Tours. Those who want to earn their turns can of course put skins on their skis and access the same powder gem on Mt. Chausu.
Snowshoeing
The Towada-Hachimantai National Park has seemingly limitless areas to discover and explore on foot. Enormous frozen waterfalls, majestic mountain vistas, expansive snow-covered pastures – discover it all!
