The emerald-green Hachiman Marsh surrounded by alpine plants. Hot springs with views of Mt. Iwate.
Hachimantai is a plateau-like volcanic terrace, 1,400-1,600 meters above sea level, extending over Iwate Prefecture and Akita Prefecture in the west, and is a part of the Towada-Hachimantai National Park. A swamp near the top of Hachimantai is a treasure trove of over 160 kinds of alpine and swamp plants, and visitors can enjoy the mizubasho (Japanese skunk cabbage) and nikko-kisuge (yellow alpine lilies) in full bloom from spring through autumn. The beech forest also contains the radiant emerald green Hachiman Marsh as well as Gama Marsh and Kagami Marsh.
Hachimantai Onsen is a scenic hot spring with views of the Ou Mountain Range, which run across the Akita Prefecture border, and the magnificent Mt. Iwate-san. Nearby are the Gozaisho Garden, filled with the flowers of alpine plants, and Goshiki (five-color) Marsh, where the water changes color according to the sunlight. Together they offer an ideal route for walking. Visitors can also enjoy skiing at Hachimantai Ski Resort in winter that operates up to May.
Spectacular views of Hachimantai, such as marshes in the forests and the virgin beech forests, can be enjoyed from the window of the bus that travels along the Asupite-Line connecting the Hachimantai Onsen and the Toroko Onsen in Akita Prefecture that crosses Hachimantai.
- Directions
- From Tokyo:
[Rail] 2hrs 30 min to Morioka Station from Tokyo Station by the JR Tohoku Shinkansen Line, and 5hrs from Shin-Osaka Station with a change at Tokyo Station by the JR Tokaido and Tohoku Shinkansen Line, then around 1h 50 min by bus to the top of Hachimantai from Morioka Station.