Hachiman Pond
Waiting impatiently for the arrival of spring
Hachimantai spreads out between Iwate and Akita prefectures. Visitors can view untouched wilderness, virgin forests of Aomori white fir and beech trees, wetlands, and volcanic steam area.
In Hachimantai the year beings in mid-April, when the Aspite Line is opened. Both sides of the road are bordered with huge walls of snow, making it into a snow corridor that can only be experienced this time of year. Hachimantai is also distinguished as being a treasure trove of alpine plants. In the spring flowers bud everywhere, as if they had been waiting impatiently for the snow to melt. As summer arrives flowers of all sorts continue to bloom one after another. There are more than 500 different types, and on the walking path around the peak of Hachimantai you can see 150 different species of alpine plants.
The Hachimantai peak walking course takes about an hour to complete. It starts at a rest house, snakes around Hachiman lake and Mikaeri pass in a ciruit. The walking path is well made, and no special equipment is needed. You can walk the course casually, and during the green season it is popular among the elderly.
Iwakagami, an alpine flower
Snow corridor
Address: Hachimantai
Hours: Season/From the opening of Aspite Line until closing (late April to late October)
Phone: 0195-78-3500 (Hachimantai Tourism Association)
URL: http://www.hachimantai.or.jp/
JR Tohoku Shinkansen
Tokyo-Morioka 2h 26min
Expressway Bus
Dream Morioka Rakuchin-go (Tokyo-Morioka)
BEAM-1 (Tokyo-Morioka-Miyako)
Urban-go (Sendai-Morioka)
By bus from Morioka station
Route name: Morioka⇔Hachimantai (Stops operating in early November)
Get off at Hachimantai Chojo
Time required: about one hour and 50 minutes
Inquiries: Morioka Station bus information center 019-654-9360
Car
About 51min from Matsuo Hachimantai interchange
Tourist Information Center
Hachimantai Tourism Association 0195-78-3500
Kita Tohoku Tourism Center 019-625-2090
Iwate Tourism Assocation 019-651-0626
Morioka Station Taxi Information Center 019-622-5240
Morioka Station Bus Information Center 019-654-9360