Hachimantai Travel: Access, Orientation and Transportation

How to travel between Hachimantai and Tokyo

By train

Tokyo and Tazawako Station are connected by hourly Komachi trains along the JR Akita Shinkansen. The one way trip takes just under three hours, costs about 16,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass. Seat reservations are mandatory for the Akita Shinkansen.

By bus

Ugo Kotsu operates one overnight bus per day between Tokyo (Hamamatsucho) and Tazawako Station. The one way journey takes about 10.5 hours and costs 9,640 yen one way or 17,290 round trip. Passengers can also board or disembark the bus at Yokohama or Kakunodate.

The discount bus operator Willer Express operates an overnight bus between Tokyo and Morioka. Discount one way fares start around 5000 yen. And if used effectively, the Japan Bus Pass can reduce the cost for the bus trip to around 3000 yen. Online reservations can be made through Willer.

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How to travel between Hachimantai and Lake Towada

Direct public transportation between Lake Towada and Hachimantai does not exist. Instead, a detour via Morioka is required. A rental car makes a combined visit to Hachimantai and Lake Towada much easier, but note that many roads in the higher elevations get closed during winter.

By train and bus (outside of winter)

Take the JR bus from Lake Towada to Hachinohe (135 minutes, 2670 yen, 3-4 buses per day from mid April to early November, no service in winter) and then shinkansen trains via Morioka to Tazawako Station (90 minutes, about 6000 yen, one connection per hour). The trip is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and JR East Tohoku Area Pass, but the JR East South Hokkaido Pass and JR Tohoku South Hokkaido Rail Pass are not valid on the JR bus between Lake Towada and Hachinohe. From Tazawako Station there are bus connections to Lake Tazawa, Nyuto Onsen and Tamagawa Onsen.

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How to travel between Hachimantai and Hirosaki

By train and bus via Kazuno-Hanawa Station

Take the JR Ou Line from Hirosaki to Odate (40 minutes, one train every 1-2 hours) and transfer to the JR Hanawa Line to Kazuno-Hanawa Station (50 minutes, one train every 1-3 hours). The entire one way trip costs 1490 yen, takes around two hours with a good transfer at Odate and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass.

From Kazuno-Hanawa Station there are two buses per day to Tamagawa Onsen (70 minutes, 1250 yen). The buses do not run in winter from late October to mid April. Infrequent bus connections between Kazuno-Hanawa Station and Mount Hachimantai are available only on weekends and during holidays outside of winter and require a transfer at the Asupite Iriguchi bus stop along the way.

By train via Tazawako Station

Take a local train from Hirosaki to Shin-Aomori Station (30-40 minutes) and then shinkansen trains via Morioka to Tazawako Station (2 hours). The entire one way trip takes about three hours, costs about 8500 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass. From Tazawako Station there are bus connections to Lake Tazawa, Nyuto Onsen and Tamagawa Onsen.

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How to travel between Hachimantai and Aomori

By train and bus via Kazuno-Hanawa Station

Take the JR Ou Line from Aomori via Hirosaki to Odate (2 hours, one train every 1-2 hours) and transfer to the JR Hanawa Line to Kazuno-Hanawa Station (50 minutes, one train every 1-3 hours). The entire one way trip costs 2270 yen, takes around three hours with good transfers at Hirosaki and Odate and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass.

From Kazuno-Hanawa Station there are two buses per day to Tamagawa Onsen (70 minutes, 1250 yen). The buses do not run in winter from late October to mid April. Infrequent bus connections between Kazuno-Hanawa Station and Mount Hachimantai are available only on weekends and during holidays outside of winter and require a transfer at the Asupite Iriguchi bus stop along the way.

By train via Tazawako Station

Take shinkansen trains from Aomori (Shin-Aomori Station) via Morioka to Tazawako Station (2.5 hours, about 8000 yen, one connection per hour). The ride is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass. From Tazawako Station there are bus connections to Lake Tazawa, Nyuto Onsen and Tamagawa Onsen.

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How to travel between Hachimantai and Tokyo

By train

Tokyo and Tazawako Station are connected by hourly Komachi trains along the JR Akita Shinkansen. The one way trip takes just under three hours, costs about 16,000 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass, JR East Tohoku Area Pass and JR East South Hokkaido Pass. Seat reservations are mandatory for the Akita Shinkansen.

By bus

Ugo Kotsu operates one overnight bus per day between Tokyo (Hamamatsucho) and Tazawako Station. The one way journey takes about 10.5 hours and costs 9,640 yen one way or 17,290 round trip. Passengers can also board or disembark the bus at Yokohama or Kakunodate.

The discount bus operator Willer Express operates an overnight bus between Tokyo and Morioka. Discount one way fares start around 5000 yen. And if used effectively, the Japan Bus Pass can reduce the cost for the bus trip to around 3000 yen. Online reservations can be made through Willer.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current yen exchange rate, click here.

Orientation

Tazawako Station on the Akita Shinkansen in the south, Morioka Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen in the east and Kazuno-Hanawa Station on the JR Hanawa Line in the north are the main entry points into the Hachimantai area. A bus network, operated by Ugo Kotsu, Shuhoku Bus and Iwate Kenpoku, connects these three stations with the various sights in the area.

Because bus service is infrequent on some of the routes, a rental car is the most convenient way to travel around Hachimantai. Rental car outlets can be found at Morioka and Tazawako Stations and many other major railway stations, cities and airports in the northern Tohoku Region.

Note that traveling in the area during winter differs greatly from traveling during the rest of the year. From late November to mid April some of the roads in the mountainous interior are closed to traffic, making some sites impossible to access or only accessible from a certain direction (see map above).