Sightseeing bus from Lake Towada

Hi everyone!

I read about a sightseeing bus that departs Lake Towada to Tazawako station. The tour takes 7 hours and operates from April to October.

Does anyone have more information on this service?

Thank you!

http://www.shirakami.or.jp/~bus/kaiin_bus.html

Thank you for the info, William!

Can you please confirm the itinerary (google translate does not work on graphics)?

Actually, I am interested of going to Nyuto Onsen from Lake Towada. In case I dont take the sightseeing bus, is there a way to get to Tazawa station without going back to Hachinohe?

Thanks again!

here is the schedule for the regular bus between tazawako and nyuto onsen:
http://ugokotsu.co.jp/wp1/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/nyuto.pdf

the top is from tazawako-ekimae to nyuto, the bottom is for nyuto to tazawako

oops, you want to depart from Towadako, not Tazawako. It appears your only option the kaiin bus which leaves Towadako at 9.

Hi everyone!

Do they still have baggage service at the Towadako Onsen Hotel for those who want to walk up to the Oirase Stream? Does anyone know who much it costs?

Thank you!!

Thanks for the information, miju!!

I trust that this bus also drops by Goshogake Spa (and nature trail?) and Tamagawa spa?

The tour bus leaves Towada-ko at 9.00 am and reaches Tazawa-ko station at 4.00 pm. It does stop by Tamagawa Onsen for a couple of hours in the afternoon so that one can have lunch and go for an onsen dip plus walking around the atmospheric place. Before that it doesn't mention stopping by Goshogake Onsen but instead seems to stop by Hachimantai-numa where indeed there is a walking trail near the pond. Just that the bus only stays there for 30 min.
http://nippon-kichi.jp/article_list.do?ml_lang=en&p=2064
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/web/oki/tabi/hachimantai.html

Note that although the bus is scheduled to run daily, it seems to mention that it will not be operating if no advanced reservation is made on any particular date.

Thanks for the info, William!

I guess I need to make alternative plans then in case that sightseeing bus doesnt run on that day? So I am thinking of going to either Goshogake and Tamagawa Onsens after Lake Towada (from Oirase) so I can spend the night there. Does anyone know the bus schedule?

I found the site of Shuhoko from one of your posts in another site but it's in Japanese.
http://www.oodate.or.jp/shuhoku/bus/

BTW, I will be travelling at the end of Oct.

Thanks!!!

From what I gather from their webpage the tour bus WILL run provided there is an advanced reservation. In other words if you can book beforehand it will run as scheduled. If no reservation is received THEN the service will be suspended.

I can't find the bus schedule between Towada-ko and Hachimantai as I did in 2009, not sure if the service is now suspended or not!

Below is the bus between Tozawa-ko and Hachimantai that has enroute stops in both Goshogake Onsen and Tamagawa Onsen.
http://ugokotsu.co.jp/wp1/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/hachimantai.pdf

Below is the bus between Tozawa-ko and Tamagawa Onsen
http://ugokotsu.co.jp/wp1/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/tamagawa.pdf

We didn't stay the night but drove to Tamagawa Onsen for a short visit only. The atmospheric place is worth the extra time and effort to venture out for. Unfortunately when we were there it was raining a bit and could not experience the unique bedrock onsen. We also made a brief photo stop in Goshogake Onsen but if you have time for just one or plan on staying overnight, go for Tamagawa Onsen.

I'm planning to travel to Lake Towada and Oirase Stream in two weeks. Is it going to be too late for the autumn leaves? If I can still change my plans, is it better to go next week?

Thank you.

In average year mid to late Oct is the time for koyo in Oirase Stream and Towada-ko, but we read that this year the season is a bit early. Below are some latest forecast and it seems that colour is already in evident in Oirase Stream, if so going next week maybe a good idea. In any case unlike cherry blossom, autumn foliage has a longer span and by late Oct it should still be enjoyed.

http://kouyou.nihon-kankou.or.jp/en/list/result.php?m=2&c=02
http://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0202e12764/
http://www.mapple.net/sp_koyo/details.asp?NEWSID=104518
http://www.tenki.jp/kouyou/2/5/32157.html
http://weathernews.jp/koyo/cgi/search_result.fcgi?id=23107
http://www.rurubu.com/season/autumn/koyo/detail.aspx?SozaiNo=020013#Ch...