Day Trip to Mount Hachimantai

📅 Itinerary
Day 1: Relax and settle in
Day 2: Hike Mount Hachimantai
Day 3: Hanamaki - Visit Mount Mansho (For those who don't enjoy hiking, you can opt for a relaxing soak at Hanamaki Onsen, explore the Kenji Miyazawa Museum, or shop around Hanamaki city.)
Day 4: Morioka Castle - Shopping and enjoy Jajamen noodles
🏨 Accommodation Recommendation: Richmond Hotel Morioka Ekimae
🍴 Food Recommendation: Morioka's three famous noodle dishes - cold soba noodles and tempura
📌 Useful Tips
The weather on the mountain is partly cloudy and cool, making it perfect for hiking. The drive takes about 2 hours one way, with a 10-minute restroom break halfway through.
Most hikers here are elderly, equipped with trekking poles, taking steady steps along shorter routes. They usually don't hike up to Mount Genta.
Light gear is sufficient—just sneakers and a backpack. The visitor center on Mount Hachimantai offers simple meals like curry rice and udon. If you prefer packed food, bring rice balls and remember to carry a plastic bag for your trash, as there are no garbage bins on the mountain.
Buses operate from June 23 to the end of October, with one round trip per day. During the autumn foliage season, additional buses are scheduled!
The mountain usually closes in November.
Currently, the area is lush and green, making it hard to imagine the vibrant autumn colors or the snow-covered silver world that follows. In winter, the area is known for its "snow monsters" (frozen trees), but the mountain is closed, so you can't visit to see them!

Post by Viean | Aug 29, 2025