Some train lines really emanate nostalgia when you board them. JR’s Hanawa Line is one perfect example of such. It began operation in October of 1931 and has thus been operating for over 90 years, connecting Iwate and Akita across highlands and gorges. For nearly a century, passengers have been able to see incredible scenery unraveling around them from its windows.

Nestled along the Ura-Iwate trekking course next to Mt. Kurikoma, Mt. Mitsuishi is often said to be one of the most beautiful places on Honshu for viewing autumn leaves. The best time for viewing is typically mid to late-September.
In Japanese, Mitsuishi means “three rocks.” It’s said that this name has to do with the three boulder-like formations of lava jutting out near the mountain’s summit.
The ridgeline stretching south connects Mt. Mokkodake, Mt. Morobidake, and Kensomori, collectively forming the Ura-Iwate trekking course, which goes around the “back” of Mt. Iwate. It’s a long course, but there are two rest cottages along the way where you can rest, allowing you to go at your own pace.

Try Renting a Mountain Bike
Used for sports, fitness, travel, and simple everyday commutes, mountain bikes are quite versatile. In addition to their general health benefits, in this world of COVID, bikes are a good alternative to public transport where people often need to squeeze together to go places.
In Japan, mountain bikes are sometimes seen as bikes that are made especially rugged for high-speed road travel, but they’re actually meant for off-road use. This is especially true in the US, where off-roading culture thrives.
Mountain bikes specialize in navigating uneven dirt and gravel roads, and the difficult winding slopes of mountain trails. They’re made with a rugged construction to withstand strong shocks and impacts while also remaining as lightweight as possible. We think that anyone can find a biking experience that fits their needs and abilities, so if you’re interested, stop by Hachimantai!

Summer in Iwate’s Hachimantai City is typically defined as beginning during the rainy season in early July and ending during Obon in mid-August. It’s a late start that even allows one to see sakura blossoms in June.
Here we’d like to introduce the secluded region of Towada-Hachimantai National Park. It is reachable from Tokyo by riding the Shinkansen for 2hrs to Morioka Station, followed by another 1hr train to Obuke Station, and finally a 1hr bus to your final destination. Only in Iwate, the largest prefecture in Japan, would one expect traversing the areas within the prefecture to take as long as travel all the way from Tokyo.
However, that’s exactly what allows this place to be so special. And besides, isn’t a leisurely journey by train and bus charming in its own way?

The Hachimantai “Dragon Eye” is a moniker for Kagami-numa (or Kagami Pond), a pond located in Hachimantai National Park, near Mt. Hachimantai’s summit. It can be reached in just 15-20 minutes on foot from the Summit Rest House parking lot. Its name comes from the way its snow and ice melts coming out of spring, naturally forming a small island in the center that causes the whole pond to resemble the eye of a dragon. This mysterious natural phenomenon can only be seen from mid-May to mid-June, and no one version of it looks quite like the last.

Forecast calls for lots more snow tomorrow! It’s been a bit too warm the last couple days, but all that will change for the next week or so.
What better way to enjoy a snow day then relaxing in an open-air bath! Kyounso, one of the three inns of Matsukawa Onsen, has a breathtakingly beautiful outdoor bath with milky white water that and views of the surrounding mountains that will silence your mind and bring you into the present moment.

The Hachimantai-Appi Snow Festival is being held in Hachimantai until the 28th of February! There was a fireworks display celebrating the beginning of the festivities, and about 1,000 fireworks were set off at the Hachimantai Resort Panorama Ski Area!
During the Snow Festival, if you stay at a lodging facility in Hachimantai, you can get a discount on lift tickets for Hachimantai Resort and APPI!

Washinoo (pronounced washi-no-oh), the local sake brewery of Hachimantai, released a new limited edition sake yesterday!
All of the sake made at Washinoo uses spring water that filters down from the glorious volcano that towers above the city, Mt. Iwate. Using a combination of the skill of the brewmaster and the modern scientific knowledge of the owner- who graduated from the Engineering Department of the best university in Japan, Tokyo University, Washinoo continues to create uniquely pleasing sake.

On some beautiful days in January, it is still possible to hike up Mt. Iwate – assuming you leave before dawn and have all the proper gear that you need.
But when you go to the trouble – you can see aspects of the mountain that few people are able to. For example the shape of the snow on the summit forms an interesting feathered pattern that is called a “shrimp tail” in Japanese.