Towada-Hachimantai National Park

Towada-Hachimantai National Park (十和田八幡平国立公園) is a large national park in the Tohoku region of Japan, straddling the prefectures of Akita, Aomori and Iwate.

Understand
Famously beautiful, the park encompasses many scenic spots in two separate areas:
 * Towada-Hakkoda area (north)
 * Lake Towada (十和田湖 Towada-ko), Japan's third deepest
 * The Hakkōda (八甲田) mountain range
 * Oirase Rapids (奥入瀬渓流 Oirase-keiryu), famous for its fall colors


 * Hachimantai area (south)
 * The plateau of Hachimantai (八幡平)

Climate
The winter in the northern mountains is harsh, and virtually all transport and accommodation is shut down between November and April.

Information Site
Ministry of Environment has an official bilingual webpage for the park.

Get in
Towada-Hachimantai National Park covers a very large area, and can be tackled from a number of different directions.

For access to the northern side of the park (Lake Towada, the Oirase Valley, Hakkoda Mountains, Sukayu Onsen), JR bus lines are available from Aomori and Hachinohe—see bus section below.

For access to the central areas of the park, the JR Hanawa Line (花輪線) crosses the northern side of the Hachimantai Plateau, traveling from Odate in the west to Koma in the east, with through services on the private Iwate Ginga Railway (IGRいわて銀河鉄道) to Morioka. Note that the IGR is not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

For the southernmost parts of the park, the JR Tazawako Line (田沢湖線) travels along the south edge of the Hachimantai Plateau, from Morioka to Daisen.

By bus
From north of the park, JR Bus Tohoku runs the Lake Towada Sightseeing Bus on two routes: the "Mizuumi" from Aomori to Towadako, running the full route in about 3 hours; the "Oirase" from Hachinohe to Towadako, in about 2 hours. Time and fare tables are available from the JR site, linked. This bus is free for holders of the Japan Rail Pass, but not the JR East Pass. The sightseeing bus routes require reservation from a JR Travel Service Center.

This is a picturesque trip in a 45-person-capacity bus with a recorded tour commentary in Japanese and English, spanning from mountain passes through the Hakkodas on the Aomori route, alongside the Oirase Stream and falls on both routes, and ending at Towada lakeside. It is particularly stunning when leaves are turning in autumn, visible earlier on the route from Aomori passing through higher elevations.

Note that the hours of JR Travel Service Centers are typically from 10:00 to 17:30, including Aomori and Hachinohe. Thus they open later than many of the daily departures for these routes—to take one of the earlier busses, be certain to make a reservation at least the day before (from any JR Travel Service Center). There is a service center at Aomori Station (in the city), not only at Shin-Aomori.

By bike
Bicycle rentals are available at Yakeyama (焼山) and Nenokuchi (子の口) for about ¥600 per 2 hours.

People who rent a bike at one place can leave it at another place for an extra fee.

In Towadako, bikes can be rented from Towadako Backpackers guesthouse for ¥500 daily.

Do
There are countless hot springs in the park, especially on Hachimantai Plateau. The best known include Sukayu Onsen (酸ヶ湯温泉), Goshogake Onsen (後生掛温泉) and Toshichi Onsen (藤七温泉).

Yasumiya offers a 45-minute lake boat tour that lets you enjoy the picturesque scenery of the rugged coast formed by the two main peninsulas of Towada Lake. Or you can take the ferry between Yasumiya and Nenokuchi, which also passes by the two peninsulas and has a recorded guide.

There are also a number of smallish ski resorts, which have banded together as Hakkoda Ski. The powder dumps in these parts can be epic, but the blizzard conditions can also be brutal.

Eat
Himemasu trout is served grilled and skewered at food stands near the lake. Towada barayaki, sauteed pork and onions, is another area specialty. Local ryokan inns may serve dishes made from well-known regional ingredients such as Akitakomachi rice and Aomori blackcurrants (すぐり, suguri).

Drink
Look for local brew Tazawako Beer (田沢湖ビール).

Lodging

 * People can stop at the Oirase Youth Hostel for ¥3,360 per night.

Go next
There is a JR Tohoku Bus connecting Aomori with Hachinohe, connecting numerous onsens north of Towada Lake, Towada town, the Oirase gorge, Nenokuchi and Yasumiya.