If you plan to rent a car and explore Iwate Prefecture‘s nature, consider putting Hachimantai (八幡平) on your itinerary. The mountainous area in Towada-Hachimantai National Park (十和田八幡平国立公園) offers breathtaking scenery and is a perfect destination for hiking and trekking. One of the ways to get to the summit is Hachimantai Aspite Line (八幡平アスピーテライン). In fact, the toll-free 27 km winding driveway is the best route to drive through because of the attractions along the motorway.
About Hachimantai Aspite Line
Hachimantai Aspite Line is closed in winter from early November due to heavy snow and opens back up around mid-April the next year. When it becomes accessible in early spring, visitors can enjoy the magnificent snow corridor. The unintended product of preparation before the road is opened for traffic usually lasts until mid-May!
If you think the road is just another highway you can sleep through as a passenger, that is definitely NOT the case! From the fresh green in spring to the vivid color in autumn, the driver will have a hard time keeping their attention on the road with surroundings this beautiful (´▽｀*).
Below are some popular spots for you to mark on Google Maps (^_-)-☆.
The Attractions Along Hachimantai Aspite Line
- Gozaisho Wetland (御在所湿原)
- Hachimantai Aspite Line Observation Deck (八幡平アスピーテライン展望所)
- Genta-Iwa Observation Deck (源太岩展望台)
- Kuroyachi Marsh (黒谷地湿原)
- Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass (見返峠)
- Hachimantai Mountaintop Rest House (八幡平山頂レストハウス)
- Ōbukazawa Observation Deck (大深沢展望台)
Gozaisho Wetland (御在所湿原)
Close to the entrance of the Hachimantai Aspite Line is the Gozaisho Wetland, a treasure trove of alpine plants.
If you go in spring, a 15-minute walk from the car park at the trailhead of the promenade, you will see various types of flowers blooming at the sides of the track!
The 90 minutes trekking course around the Gozaisho-Numa Pond (御在所沼) and the Goshiki-Numa Pond (五色沼) is most scenic when the grass turns red from late September to early October!
If you visit the Goshiki-Numa Pond regularly, you will notice that the color of the pond changes throughout the year (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ. In summer, it is a pond with a beautiful cobalt blue color, but when autumn comes, the pond will instead put on more of a golden hue!
To get to Gozaisho Wetland by public transport, you can catch either the regular bus services or the Hachimantai Shizen Sansaku Bus (八幡平自然散策バス) from JR Morioka Station’s (盛岡駅) east exit’s bus stop no. 3.
For more information, please refer to the Access Information to Hachimantai in our Hachimantai article.
Hachimantai Aspite Line Observation Deck (八幡平アスピーテライン展望所)
Hachimantai Aspite Line Observation Deck is a scenic location in the middle of the Aspite Line. It has a lookout that provides a view of the ridgeline of mountains such as Mt. Iwate (岩手山) and Mt. Akita-Komagatake (秋田駒ケ岳). Depending on the weather, you might even be able to see the sea of clouds!
Click HERE to return to a list of attractions at Hachimantai.
Genta-Iwa Observation Deck (源太岩展望台)
Driving a bit further southwest, you will see this gigantic rock at the side of the road. Park your car in the parking space directly opposite the rock to find the amazing view in the second photo of the Instagram post!
Kuroyachi Marsh (黒谷地湿原)
Driving further up to the summit of Mt. Hachimantai, you will pass through the Kuroyachi Marsh.
If you have the time to spare, leave your car at the car park and take a 10-minute walk to the observation area. The wooden tracks are again surrounded by alpine plants that you won’t be able to see in your daily life!
Somewhere along the promenade, there is a spot called “Kuma-no-Izumi (熊の泉)” where fresh spring water flows out. This spring water is a result of the winter snow melting and is not only safe to drink but quite delicious!
For those who love hiking, follow the wooden tracks and pass the observation area. You can hike all the way up to the summit of Mt. Hachimantain in around 2 hours.
To get to Kuroyachi Marsh by public transport, you can catch either the regular bus services or the Hachimantai Shizen Sansaku Bus (八幡平自然散策バス) from JR Morioka Station (盛岡駅)’s east exit’s bus stop no. 3.
For more information, please refer to the Access Information to Hachimantai in our Hachimantai article.
Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass (見返峠)
At an altitude of 1,560 meters, Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass boasts more than just a breathtaking view. As it is also where the Hachimantai Mountaintop Rest House (八幡平山頂レストハウス) is located, it is also a convenient place to grab some food and get handy information about Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
Here, you can also catch a glimpse of a beautiful sunrise such as the one shown in the Instagram post.
Click HERE to return to a list of attractions at Hachimantai.
Hachimantai Mountaintop Rest House (八幡平山頂レストハウス)
- Opening Hours: 9 am to 5 pm between mid-April to early November
- Facilities: Hachimantai information corner, toilet, resting space, souvenir shops, and restaurant (please note their broth and most sauce contains fish meat extracts. To confirm with the restaurant staff, please utilize the phrases in our Essential Japanese Phrases for Vegetarian article
Tip: The car park at the Rest House isn’t free of charge. If you want to save some money, there is a free car park not too far from the Rest House.
Ōbukazawa Observation Deck (大深沢展望台)
A few-minute drive towards the west from Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass, the Ōbukazawa Observation Deck offers another panorama view of the surrounding mountains.
And how about getting some ice cream from this old lady (´▽｀*)?
Discover the Attractions in Other Parts of Hachimantai
Now you know the best route to get to the summit, it is time to discover the sightseeing spots at the top of the mountain. You will find one of the most fascinating natural wonders at Hachimantai is the scenery called Dragon Eye (ドラゴンアイ) if you visit the national park from late May to early June each year (*’▽’).
Refer to our Hachimantai article for more details!
Combine Your Visit to Hachimantai with Appi Kogen Nearby
The Appi Kogen (安比高原) is an idyllic plateau located in the western part of the Iwate prefecture. It is great for a relaxing walk from spring to autumn. When the region is transformed into a winter wonderland, many come to Appi Kogen to ski or snowboard on its high-quality snow (Appi Ski Resort is said to be comparable to the resorts in Hokkaido!)!
If you enjoy spending time in nature and love outdoor activities, Appi Kogen is definitely the spot in the Iwate prefecture that you won’t want to miss out on (^_-)-☆.
To know more about where to go at Hachimantai, please refer to our Appi Kōgen article!
