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The Nanataki Falls in Hachimantai are starting to freeze! This famous ice falls is glorious to see every year – and lots of people make the snowshoe hike through the forest to see it each winter.

Sakuramatsu Shrine in Hachimantai is one of my favorite places to go (besides the mountains) in the winter. This ancient shrine has a rare dragon/serpent shrine built into a cliff, and the atmosphere is really otherworldly.
But most people that come here visit for Fudo Falls – one of the 100 most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. In another month or so it will freeze into a magnificent ice falls, but for now it’s still flowing. This waterfall also has a rather mysterious history as a center for Shugendo training. Buddhist Mountain Ascetics would stand under the falls while chanting the Heart Sutra as part of their spiritual training hundreds of years ago.

Winter is nearly here! This is arguably the best season to enjoy Hachimantai, though of course there are all sorts of exciting activities throughout the year. That said- winter is particularly breathtaking up here!

The Hachimantai Rising Sun Hotel is proud of how spacious it is!
Relax and recharge your energy by stretching out in the large hot springs bath!
In the lounge, you can relax round the lovely fireplace while playing pool or the classic Japanese board games of Igo, Shogi, or even Mahjong. If you like to drink, there are specials plans that you’re going to love!

Lodge Tandem is actually a row of cottages along a creek.
The cottages are equipped with kitchens and a BBQ area, and are popular with both beginners and advanced outdoor enthusiasts, who can enjoy their stay in a variety of ways.
The owner, who is fluent in English, is of course an advanced outdoorsman. The incredibly cute dog that lives there will aso run out to greet you when you arrive. More information about Lodge Tandem available here.

Drive an ATV through a special course with ups, downs, bumps, slopes and more at Lodge Tandem.
The scenery that unfolds in front of you as you watch the owner’s skill at the wheel is breathtaking!
Put your seatbelt on tight and hold on, as you go for a wild ride!

In Hachimantai for lunch? What about dinner? (Both works as well…) If you don’t know about Restaurant Lamp- you’re welcome!
They offer a number of great local dishes including this perfection of a stake plate in the photo below. Some other popular menu items include their 200g Angus Steak (1,490 yen), Taco Rice (1,300 yen), and their Chicken Karaage Wasabi Set (1,000 yen).

Up in the Appi Highlands, an ancient beech forest was cut down, but then naturally grew back, becoming what is called a secondary beech forest. When you look up at these beautiful trees, you can really feel the life force that runs through them.
Take a deep breathe and smell the crisp clean fragrance of the forest as you feel the sunlight filtering through the gaps between the leaves high above.

Have you ever met an Alpaca? Maybe you have? But can you really ever meet *enough* alpaca. Probably not. So come out to the Salad Farm in Hachimantai, where in addition to a beautiful new garden with a pond and stunning view of Mt. Iwate, you can meet and feed alpaca!
The youngest one, momo, is around 100 days old and beyond cute. In fact, the Salad Farm is holding an event on November 14th for Momo-chan, the youngest Alpaca! The event will be held around 11AM on Saturday, November 14th.

At the end of October, Mt. Iwate began its transformation for the coming cold season! Snow now crowns the summit area. While this massive volcano is beautiful all year round, its majesty reaches a climax during the winter when it towers white over Hachimantai and Morioka.