A nice reception and everything seemed nice to start with. After checking in and being pleasantly escorted throughout the accommodations, we got in the room and noticed it was dated and not very clean. You wear sandals they provide, but you would not want to walk on the carpets as they are very dirty. They have two private onsen pools that you can reserve, which appeared to be a nice option, so we signed up for a private room at 10 pm, then went to the dinner buffet. We were pleasantly greeted, and it looked nice. The table was set with crab legs and shark fin soup that was individually heated at the table by Sterno fuel. A nice touch. The overall rest of the buffet items were low quality and not very fresh, as we found the crab legs and shark fin soup to be as well. We also noticed how filthy the carpets were, with many stains and dirt from constant wear. Not many items for dessert, and again, lower quality. All the serving trays and utensils were noticeably finger marked with signs of never being washed out. Next was the private onsen room, when we got into the room it looked inviting, but then also notice how dirty and unkept everything it was. Upon entering the pool, we noticed dirt and hair floating on the water and along the sides of the pool. It was filthy in there. The breakfast buffet was very limited to traditional Japanese breakfast items, with no eggs or western items available. The items on the buffet were of low quality and again all the serving containers were so old looking with many finger marks on them. The views from the outdoor front balcony provided some nice views. But overall, the facilities look nice, especially in the front entry area, but the rest of the facilities were old, outdated, worn and poorly maintained. The workout area has not been cleaned for weeks, the karaoke room smelled terrible and was visually not clean. Our room lacked clean windows, or clean countertops. Great location, although it is difficult to drive to, could have provided a very nice stay, but the poor state of cleanliness and maintenance, and low quality food...we would never want to return.

Friendly staff, funky place, but very old and tired facility. The pillows are like rubber blocks. That said- inexpensive for the area.

The hotel requires you to take off your shoes inside and walk in awkward slippers. Why? Also, what is it with some Japanese hotels that play a constant music in the lobby? I come here to avoid noise an relax. The breakfast is OK. The lobby has a shop, reading area and a lounge area. 2 good massage chairs are for free usage. The good news is that the hotel is close to train station. The bad news is that reaching a hotel by foot is a challenge due to a steep road, especially if you have a heavy luggage. No laundry machines.

The rooms are definitely dated, mine also had a really strange smell that really didn't help, not sure if it came from humidity or the air conditioning unit. The location is fine, make sure to ask the hotel to arrange a taxi pickup for you from the nearby train station because accessing the hotel by foot is inconvenient to say the least. The baths are also fairly dated, the individual baths that can be booked are a nice touch. The included dinner and breakfast are decent, not that there would be anything to compare them to in the neighborhood because the hotel seems pretty isolated. Also note that there are lots of families with kids, if you're looking for a peaceful and quiet retreat, this might not be it.

Bali style resort. Very cozy. Close to E45. Buffet breakfast and dinner available. Outdoor public bath. Indoor private bath. Snacks and drinks are available on arrival. Very friendly place. Old property, Japanese style. Love it. I will come back again

A very pleasant midweek stay. The Breeze Bay is on a hillside overlooking Matsushima Bay and has good rooms and facilities and really great food. Will almost certainly use again next time we bring guests to the area.

Overall a good hotel for a short stay in Matsushima. The staff was welcoming and accomodating, and the breakfast is good. The public bath is clean and warm enough, the private baths are a tad too hot for my taste. There are free welcome drinks and free pudding and oden available in the lobby. Unfortunately, the other guests were not very considerate of others.

This temple has a beautiful garden. We visited here on May. It was beautiful green, but in the Fall it shold be beautiful red. Here was established by DATE tribe. And graved relatives. Quiet and sacred place.

The Temple, Entsu-in Hondou, a Bodhisattva temple of Mitsumune, the grandson of Date Masamune, about 380 years old, is famous for its garden beauty and green moss which needs proper humidities and intensive labor for maintenance and weeding, while its Japanese dry garden (枯山水), karesansui, or Japanese rock garden, often called a Zen garden, is also popular with the visitors, especially for the worshippers. Two other gardens are seasonal for flowers, roses and cryptomeria [Japanese cedar]. The temple’s mausoleum is decorated with Namban [southern barbarian or west foreigner to be polite] art motifs inspired by late Sengoku period contact with the West around 16th and 17th centuries. The Temple is very quiet and peaceful, tranquil and, above all, it does not have many visitors in the first 2 hours after its opening [09AM], because most of its visitors are from Sendai City by JR train or by tour buses and, often, arrive around after 11AM. Thus, early-bird visitors can enjoy the Temple themselves for the views and for photo taking. The Temple is in short walking distance from Matsushima Kaigan JR Station. The entrance fee is 500 Yen as Summer 2025.

Entsūin Temple is one of Matsushima’s most enchanting and spiritually moving sites — a place where history, art, and nature blend into perfect harmony. Built in 1647 to enshrine the spirit of Date Mitsumune, the beloved grandson of the powerful lord Date Masamune, the temple stands as both a memorial and a masterpiece of Edo-period craftsmanship. From the moment you enter, the tranquility is palpable. The moss-covered pathways, wooden bridges, and carefully arranged stones create a meditative atmosphere. The temple’s gardens are among the finest in the region — a stunning combination of Japanese and Western influences, with rose bushes, rock gardens, and ponds reflecting the changing seasons. In autumn, the glowing maples turn the temple grounds into a painter’s dream.

Very beautiful place, the time now is mid November, it's full of red leaves and if you are looking for some nice photo shooting places, it is the place. And the surrounding is worth visiting as well, if you go to Sendai, this is the place you don't wanna miss.

The day time entrance fee for each adult is 300 Yen while the light up night time entrance fee is 1,300 Yen. While the fall foliage views are good, there are too many people especially at night (even on a weekday). No tripods are allowed and it is difficult to take clear photos of the red leaves at night. Day visit is recommended.

Beautiful peaceful garden, a shady haven in the hot weather.

Its entrance fee felt a bit much... still thought they have preserved their garden and temple to excellency. Maybe this place will become much more appreciating if I ever get to have an opportunity to visit here during the summer or autumn.

Zuigaji Temple in Matsushima, a Zen temple, has about 400 years of history. The Temple inside main temple building or so-called hondo, in addition to kuri [living residence quarter], especially central room [shitchu], kujaku no ma, have many art collections of 16th and 17th centuries. Each room of the main temple building is decorated with paintings and sculptures that matches its theme and each has a different ceiling. Because no photo taking is allowed inside the main building, thus, no photo of it is here. While interior or buildings inside are not allowed for photo taking, visitors still can enjoy temple garden, renovated and rebuilt temple buildings, its Japanese dry garden (枯山水), karesansui, or Japanese rock garden [a Zen garden], mountain-rock caves with various resided Bodhisattva. When walking out the worship hall and garden, the passage to the rear entry which leads to main avenue of Matsushima Island is called Zuigaji Temple Caves, which is an area for memorial service and ash storage ground for the deceased, and it dated back to the 12th century until 18th century. The Caves played an important role for the Sendai and other local to pray for the safe passage to eternity and next Pure-land life. The statutes of various Buddha and Bodhisattva are NOT original, but probably a replica or contemporary designed of religious worship sacred. The temple entrance fee is $700 Yen for adult. It is about 10 minutes’ walking distance from JR Matsushima Kaigan Station and is neighboring to Entsu-in Hondou, another famous Matsushima temple.

Zuiganji Temple is the spiritual heart of Matsushima and one of the most magnificent Zen temples in northern Japan. Founded in the 9th century and rebuilt in 1609 by the powerful feudal lord Date Masamune, it beautifully reflects both the strength and sophistication of the Date clan. Walking through its grounds feels like stepping back in time — a quiet world of cedar trees, mossy stone paths, and wooden halls resonating with centuries of devotion. The main hall (hondō), a designated National Treasure, is breathtaking in its craftsmanship. Inside, the golden fusuma (sliding doors) and intricate wood carvings showcase the refined culture of the early Edo period. Every detail — from the soft tatami underfoot to the elegant painted screens — exudes a sense of calm power and understated beauty.

Here is designated as a National Treasure. So we couldn't take photo inside, but worth to see. Well mentained quiet mindful place.

the temple grounds are spacious and surrounded by tall trees and greens, the atmosphere is really calm and peaceful, perfect for a relaxing walk. entrance fee is required but you get to see so much - beautiful temple grounds, buildings, garden, old architecture and artifacts, recreation of lots of artwork and scenes, it's pretty interesting. i love how serene the place is and you can just take your time to explore.

A beautiful temple in pristine condition. Well taken care of with an interesting museum about Date Masamune. And the caves are fascinating.

Amazing setting for fall colors at their peak today. The temple has cultural significance but is more modest than some the opulent ones. But the fall colors!

We can highly recommend the night illuminations in fall - Truely majestic!

I have no idea what any of these manga are, but that is not their fault, I am a foreigner. I think if you knew the manga, especially if you grew up with it you would appreciate the museum. They even had a movie filmed at the museum that reminded me of power rangers, but probably preceded it.

It's a legendary Manga artist memorial mesium, you have to check if that's your childhood favourite, not all the Manga stuff is here, but if you like Maskman, it's the place.

Kamen Rider!! It’s a great place to see the characters of Manga which I like. You can see the drawings… some of the suits that it was wore too. They even have video games for Kamen Rider which you can hop on and drive.

A really well put together museum with lots of interactive parts. Would definitely recommend if you are in the area 😊 We visited on a Friday afternoon and had the place almost to ourselves. Reduced prices for elementary aged children and our 5 year old was free. Friendly staff and we would visit again!

This is just more than a museum, all the characters very funny and It was like it is actually alive, if you notice the road to the museum, the post box or any seat the anime status are been made, it was like they are welcoming you, It is worth visiting the museum, the museum has anime merchandise with action figures, if you are visiting ishinomaki don’t miss the museum, there are 3floors, 1st and 2nd is entry free whereas 2nd floor you have get a ticket which is worth visiting

From the station to the manga museum you can see many figures such as kamen rider and other tokusatsu characters. The museum itself has an special exhibition which covered by the entrance ticket. For tokusatsu fans such Kamen rider, this place is recommended. Although place is not too big, but definitely it puts a smile on every fans of this genre (at least to the people when I visitor there). There is a also some short films you can watch here. The souvenir shop was also pretty cool, and staff are very friendly. This place was one the place where the tsunami hits 8 years ago, and today the manga museum is still standing which by itself is pretty amazing.

I love the manga vibes here. Stunning. I was amazed with all the manga displays. No wonder why people from all ages really enjoy their visits. The entrance fee during golden week holiday is ¥900 for adult, bought directly from the machine. The staffs are very friendly and helpful.

We visited the temple on Monday, just 30 minutes before closing. The ticket fee was 700 JPY per person, which felt a bit pricey for the experience. However, walking around the garden was peaceful and offered a calming atmosphere.

A famous World Heritage garden representing the Pure Land of the late Heian period Motsuji Temple is said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi in the early Heian period. Its garan (temple buildings) were constructed in the later years of Fujiwara no Motohira, a powerful clan leader in the late Heian period, and during the reigns of the second and third lords, Motohira and Hidehira, it boasted such scale and splendor that it was described as "unparalleled in our country." According to the Kamakura period history book "Azuma Zei," at the end of the 12th century, Motsuji Temple had as many as 40 halls and pagodas and 500 monks' quarters. However, it suffered repeated disasters from the Kamakura period through the Muromachi period, and all of the buildings were burned down. The Pure Land garden and the remains of the temple complex from the Heian period have been preserved in almost perfect condition, retaining the beauty of the former garden. The world that unfolds around Ohara Pond, which covers an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, is the Pure Land itself. The area around the pond and the island in the middle are paved with pebbles, and the sandbar creates a beautiful coastline with its soft curves, the hills made of large and small stones create a cliffscape, and the remains of the pond are used to draw water. Enjoy this precious and famous garden that conveys the ideas and techniques of Sakuki, Japan's oldest garden design manual, to the present day. Among them, Dejima, which looks like a rough shore, is on the southeastern shore of the pond and is considered one of the most beautiful sights. You will be captivated by the mystical appearance of the two-meter-tall standing stones rising out of the water. The bush clover flowers in the temple grounds are usually at their best from late September, and the autumn leaves are at their best from late October to mid-November. Motsuji Temple (Hiraizumi Town, Nishii District, Iwate Prefecture) Opening hours: 8:30~17:00 (November 5, 2025 - March 4, 2026: 8:30 - 16:30) No closed days for worship Admission fee: 700 yen, high school students 400 yen, elementary and junior high school students 200 yen [Hagi Festival] Thursday, September 25th to Monday, October 20th, 2025 A dance performance of Ennen no Mai and a special viewing of the main hall will be held. Autumn Leaves Festival: October 26th (Sun) - November 15th (Sat), 2025 Performances of Ennen no Mai and other events are planned.

Beautiful garden and temples. Borrowed scenery from the mountains makes for a breathtaking sight. Fall colors are currently on display. Some historical information signs are also in English.

Beautiful scenery and not crowded. Can enjoy the calm environment and relax. I visited twice here in summer and winter.

This was really beautiful because we had just visited Chuson-Ji temple and it was only a short walk over to this Motsuji temple. Again remarkable simplicity and beautiful especially with the snow all around. It is a Buddhist temple and is known for its beautiful Phoenix Hall which did not disappoint. The Phoenix Hall is a wooden structure built in the Amida style, which is characterized by its simple and elegant design. The hall is decorated with intricate carvings and paintings, and its interior is home to a large statue of Amida Buddha.The temple was founded in 998 by Fujiwara no Michinaga, a powerful courtier and politician during the Heian period (794-1185).

A very beautiful and scenic Buddhist temple that is designated as an UNESCO cultural/heritage site. There is a also a very large garden with a footpath that accompanies the temple and its buildings, which are placed around a scenic lake. The walk around the lake offers very different views depending on where you are on the path. You can see sites of where temples used to stand (some were burnt down in wars, etc.) as well as the ones that still remain to this day. During the walk around the lake on the footpath, there is a large bell in a belfry, a gentle stream that empties into the lake, as well as a set of strategically-placed rocks and stones made to resemble a landscape. Most definitely worth the entrance fee. Very highly recommended!

A gorgeous temple with a sprawling garden with various temples surrounding the pond. I got the chance to go on a beautiful day with blue skies, and even mid-August, you could already see the changing colors of the momiji to a fiery maroonish color and a warm, pleasant ochre. From the garden, you could peek through and see views of the town and mountains. Overall, a beautiful temple with a rich history.

A miniature, less crowded version of Kyoto when there there used to be significant trade between the two. The grounds are great to walk around - the big temple is free as are the shrines and the Noh stage (check schedule for performances). The golden hall and new museum require a ticket- well worth it!

Chūson-ji Temple, a registered World Heritage site, is truly a must-visit location for anyone traveling through Iwate Prefecture. The temple grounds boast a beautiful, greenery-filled atmosphere. I recommend parking in the upper lot (closest to the Golden Hall); this allows you to skip the long uphill walk and still fully enjoy the area. While the famous Golden Hall is beautiful, it was slightly less gorgeous than my high expectations. Nonetheless, the overall vibe is excellent and makes for a very worthwhile visit.

Nice preservation and restoration of the golden temple, which is housed inside and behind glasses. One can imagine its full of light and hope when it was first established. No photo inside the building and take the time to observe all the fine details.

Beautiful and historical place by Fujiwara family. It’s well-maintained. You can go around with a stroller from the parking lot, and enjoy the refreshing atmosphere with greenery. Konjikido is also excellent.

Beautiful autumn foliage, huge premise, steep slope up if your using the road, the other path beside is less steep. Tickets for the museum and temple are the same.

Beautiful nature walking to see the shrines. Calm and peaceful feeling. Walking up and round the area is free. Only go in to see the golden ji needs the ticket ¥1000 per person.

Beautiful location and the grounds are massive. The gold pavilion is a neat site to see (though photography is not allowed).

There have been lots of criticism on spending much budget on preserving the miracle pine tree. Due to the tree was dead in result, and budgets are always insufficient, the town might want to put much effort on rebuilding their life-based places, not constructing "showing" monument. I am still not sure if the tree really gives the people in Rikuzentakata power and hope. Nonetheless, the park is well constructed, and the exhibition of the memorial museum tells the appropriateness of the way Japanese government tries to prepare for the Tsunami - closing all the beaches by constructing high bank and not allowing people living close to coastlines of Tohoku area which is long as several hundred kilometers -, and you can think what you would decide as a directly involved person. Coming back to the tree, you can regard it as a part of the museum.

The miracle pine is the only tree that survived the March 11 2011 tsunami.There were about 60000 before. It later died due to salinazation of the ground. It was taken down and preserved as s memorial. A very good reminder of the power of the sea.

Aside from the symbolism of the miracle pine, the view there is absolutely incredible!

It’s not really the real pine since it died, and they didn’t really do anything so that it looks interesting or anything. It lacks of something, and that wasn’t the point of it.

Memorial Place, the miracle pine was the only survivor of the tsunami and earthquake.

A wonderful monument of hope. Looks very similar to the original, I am glad this is here now. I saw the tree when it was still alive in Dec 2011 and returned in 2015 when it had been replaced by a near-identical synthetic copy. It was surrounded by rubble when I first saw it but now is in a very nice park. It is a wonderful symbol of Rikuzentakata’s recovery.

It is absolutely worth it to come to the pine and pay your respects to the 1800 people who were lost in this city in 2011 and the pine forest that was reduced from 70,000 to just this one. I am glad that this will be preserved and that their is English signage explaining it. While you're in the area, see the old junior high school where the students evacuated safely, the old and new water gates to keep the sea out, and take a rest at the cute little cafe which serves delicious soy sauce (yes, really) ice cream.

Serene Sakura Spot in Kitakami - Worth the Unexpected Journey! Determined to experience Japan's cherry blossom peak, we took a bit of a gamble with our JR Pass, knowing Hokkaido might not offer the best blooms. Our pursuit led us to the small city of Kitakami, and it turned out to be a delightful surprise! We discovered a truly beautiful street lined with Sakura trees within a park, stretching for about 200 meters. What made this experience particularly special was the lack of crowds. Arriving around 11am, there were only approximately 20 other people in the entire park. This tranquility allowed us to fully admire the scenery and capture photos without anyone else in the frame – a rare treat during peak Sakura season! While the cherry blossoms weren't at their absolute fullest bloom (perhaps 70-80% open), they were still incredibly pretty and created a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. If you're looking for a less crowded place to enjoy the cherry blossoms in Japan over the next couple of days, I'd definitely recommend giving Kitakami a try. It might be an unexpected stop, but it offered a peaceful and beautiful Sakura viewing experience.

25 April 2025: we went at around 830pm and the lit up sakura was beautiful. Some petals have already started to fall, but viewing is still good. The lights were switched off at 9pm, so make sure you get there before 9.

🌸🌸If you are visiting Japan in late April , you can find cherry blossom here🌸 it’s very refreshing ☘️🌱& picturesque place . You will love 🧡 going here . As it’s far 🌲 from City’s hustle bustle . This area is very clean , quiet & peaceful . They have some food stall area , vegetarian’s can get American long potatoes to eat & cola to drink 🥤 One have to take bullet train 🚅 from Tokyo which has to be booked in advance .

16/4/2025. Although the Sakura is not yet full bloom, I just pass by and would still like to have a walk. The weather is cold and rainy…. That is why the cherry blossom is delayed 🙂‍↔️😭still, it is a cosy place !

Biggest number of sakura trees in Kitakami. Very easy to walk, there's plenty of toilet facilities.

8/Apr/2025; Sakura still not blooming... only one small tree bloomed. And the other one was the plum tree that bloomed.

The bridge to get across the river from the train station is far. Otherwise, it should be a good place for hanami viewing.

Almost no English captions or information , luckily I could read the Japanese displays. Miyazaki Kenji was extremely productive in just 37years, here you can see the breadth of his writing and a small shop selling picture books and related things too.

More user friendly than some museums, but every panel must be accessed through a QR code for English translations, making the experience slightly clunky and longer than it should be. Good to visit if familiar with Miyazawa's work, but otherwise not a must see attraction

Kenji Miyazawa is quite the well-rounded writer. He delved into Archeology, Agriculture, and a bit of Astronomy and Cosmology. If you watched the anime movie entitled The Life if Guskou Boduri, the original story is Kenji's work. He is known for his children'e stories and fairy tales. If you are wondering about the presence of cat imagery in the place, read The Restaurant of A Many Orders.

The museum is a great place to visit, its a little out of the way so worth driving to - if you do decide to walk though there is a fairly lengthy stairway up the side of the hill that taunts you by telling you how many steps there are at the bottom haha - its a small museum so doesnt take long to walk around

From the balcony you can look down the city of Hanamaki over Kitakami river. The exhibition is also interesting as it gathers info by different aspects such as science or religion.

A very interesting place. It would be very helpful for non Japanese speaking tourists if an English translation was available as Miyagawa Kenji is read in translation around the world.

good museum to know Miyazawa Kenji also could take a lot of cool picture

Totally disappointed. We had a long drive to see this place and while the nearby exhibition is worthy a visit this stream is a total letdown

Dial down your expectations and focus on the Kawaii (cute). You access the pool passing through the temple grounds - keep an eye out for kappa adorning the railings. 🥒 everywhere ! Denshoen and here will keep you occupied for 90 mins and both worth a look. If you have rented a bicycle this is one end of the path.

It was not the place to drive to visit and to see the site to be honest. I understand that the Kappa is a monster in the folklore story, but the presentation of Kappa story was poor for me. In the Tōno city itself was not attractive for me.

That was just a creek but I am glad that we went there since Kappa is childhood imaginary creature and interesting to see the place where that fairytale started. Azuki ice cream we had was amazing.

Went to Kappa Pool - not much signage for where you can park your bikes, but a nice, cool, relaxing place to visit that also highlights Tono's folklore.

It closes at 4pm with a gate at the entrance saying no access. We had travelled quite far and were interested to see this place so it was a disappointment to find that it closed so early. It just looked like a regular inaka temple so I wonder why they choose to prevent people from entering. Anyway, I suppose we should have checked more thoroughly before going but lesson learnt. I wonder if the kappa was there that day?

Kappabuchi is a must on the Tono tourist trail. It is a remarkably creepy little grove, and easy to get to following signs out of Tono town centre. However, it should be said that there is not alot to actually DO here. It's more about soaking up the atmosphere. "Yokai" hunters will enjoy it, but maybe it's a bit boring for children.

Very unique cherry blossom tree which is huge, and has the rock split into half. As it is by the main road, many people do stop by to take photos on this amazing view and it is definitely worth checking it out as it is one of its kind.

Interesting tree. In the middle of the city. You can park near by and walk to the castle ground and pass this tree. The parking lots have different rates. Be sure to drive around some parking space cost half the price but only few steps away. There are lots and lots of tourists walking in and out to take photo ‘with’ the tree. I can manage to take some photo of the trees without people.

This tree grows between the stones, which is cool, but honestly, it’s not exactly breaking any records for uniqueness.

Date of enjoyment: 15/4/25 What a weirdly grown Sakura, truly a site to behold. Not 100% full bloom as yet when we visited, seems to be a day or two early. Worthy of a visit if you’re in the area, wouldn’t stay for more than 10mins as it is I. Front of a government building and heaps of tourist will make a quick photo stop.

I watched Morioka Festival in front of me. It was so hot that I felt like I was going to faint, but it was a good experience.

If there is an exception to every rule, then the parable of the sower has met its match in this cherry tree, that improbably flourished in the middle of a boulder. Worth a quick visit to see, and the tree’s age alone is impressive on its own as well. No tickets necessary - just next to a street.

In winter season they cover the tree to protect it. But it was magical anyway🥺🌸

The mountain scenery seen from the train station and the rural village is lovely.

My Japanese sister brought me and my colleagues to see the remains of the Lava Flow from Mount Iwate. For the first time my colleagues and I see stretch of formation of solids lavas and you can see small pines trees growing from the solidy Lava... an amazing sight with the snow starting to melt at this time late April 2019...

Very pretty

Good chop

Iwate san is one of the most popular hiking areas in Tohoku. It is steep and quite challenging. Good hiking shoes and walking sticks are highly recommended as it gets very slippery because of the small rocks. There are 7 different trails. I used Yanagisawa trail which starts at Umagaeshi camp ground. There are three big parking lots where you can park hour car and get ready. There is cold tasty water fountain and bathrooms here. Yanagisawa is the most popular trail among the others. Approx. 5.5 km in total and 4hrs 25 min suggested ascending time. Descending is also very challenging and suggested time is 3hrs 15 min. I made it less then 6 hrs including the Ohachi meguri round walk at the top. Umagaeshi is 633 m high and the peak is 2038 m. So the altitude change is about 1400 m. The steepness start right away and continues all the way up. There are lots of places you can enjoy the view if the weather is nice. On the 8th station there is a big hut and natural water fountain. Very relaxing place and best place for taking break. It is around 2000 yen per night including sheets etc. The guy was very friendly. After a short break I decided to make the peak first and come back here for a longer break. From the point it is not very challenging except a short distance to climb the hill. Use the right to climb the hill and left to round the loop at the top. This will be easier. After the 2.5 station the route is split into two. The right one is the new road which is a bit longer but goes through the forest. It is more shady. The old road is open, there is not much trees and very rocky. You can enjoy the view but I found this one more challenging since it was slippery. I went up from the new road and down from the old one. There were beautiful flowers on the way. I posted here. It was totally fun and great hiking. Hope this comment is helpful.

The crown jewel in the long string of magnificent mountain experiences available in Iwate! On a nice day the views are simply epic!

Picturesque views all around the mountains and volcanoes, well worth a visit if it's a sunny day.

Located in Iwate Prefecture, Appi Kogen Ski Resort, is one of the country’s top ski destinations, often compared to resorts in Hokkaido due to its high-quality, dry powder snow. It features 21 runs with a good mix of beginner, intermediate, and advanced slopes, as well as long runs up to 5.5 km. Pros: • Excellent Snow Quality – Light and dry powder similar to Hokkaido. • Long, Well-Groomed Runs – Great for cruising and ideal for intermediate skiers. • Fewer Crowds – Compared to popular resorts like Niseko or Hakuba. • Modern Facilities – Good accommodation options, onsen, and dining. Cons: • Limited Après-Ski Scene – Quiet nightlife, more family-friendly. • Weather Can Be Harsh – Occasionally strong winds and cold temperatures. • Less Off-Piste Terrain – Not the best for extreme backcountry riders. Overall Verdict: We had a great time and the resort is a fantastic choice for those who prioritise high-quality snow, well-maintained slopes, and a quieter, more relaxed ski experience. Best suited for those looking for a less commercial resort compared to Niseko.

Despite early suspension of gondola and chair lifts up the hill top due to 4-5m/s strong wind on our last day of skiing, APPI is one of the best ski resorts in Tohoku region for intermediate and advanced skiers; especially, on sunny day, ones can enjoy those miles long non-stop scenic runs from hill top to bottom. However, catering wasn’t ideal comparing to resorts like Zao Onsen.

APPI Kogen Ski Resort is great, but the slopes are a bit too challenging. I nearly gave myself a heart attack — felt like I was racing to the bottom of the mountain!

Awesome resort! I rented my gear through appi and it was quick efficient and not too expensive. Pass is slightly more expensive than other ski spots nearby but this resort is awesome! There is a beginners area that’s a great place to learn and the gondola is really nice. Employees are nice. Food is good. They have decent gift shops and a spot to buy snowboards and skis and accessories.

The BIGGEST ski resort in north east region of Japan, how good is that? The only downside is that their lifts go pretty slow, with people falling when they get off you usually spend more time on the chairlifts than going downhill 😭some slopes are too flat in certain areas so you might stop in the middle.

It’s April and powder keeps coming. Tree run has powder up to my waist. I had so much fun riding here. The hotel is dated, somewhat clean. i ask to change room because mine smells like old carpet. But they are very hard to talk to and not willing to do anything about it. Instead, they brought in room refresher. :( What a miss opportunity. It could be a Top notch resort with such amazing snow and good views from each room. If they can only update the furnish a little bit. I am more than happy to offer them free design services to exchange family ski vacation. I have 20 years of architecture/ interior design practice in New York. Transform this place is so easy and inexpensive because the bone is good. Bar is in wrong location, no wonder there is no one there. Another miss opportunity to create business and provide social place. Restaurants are decent. Although they listed many options, lots of food are coming from the same place. So variety is not so great. Outdoor onsen is really nice and beautiful. You will have view of mountain in front of you. Water is good with no smell. Ski runs are supper nice. I love the black diamond that stretch to red and green in one straight shot-3km. You can go so fast, so fun. Tree runs are good, but trees are not so big like other resort. However, powder is so good that beats anything. Free shuttle from airport is also amazing. I can’t believe they sent a 20 person shuttle bus just for me. So overall, it’s excellent and I definitely coming back.

This review will include the slopes and the restaurants. Appi ski resort is the only one I know. For that it is hard for me to compare it with other ski resorts. I like it here. From what I have gathered the resort is smaller compared to European ones. But everyone I heard really thinks the snow there is some of the best they have tried. I would recommend to come after New Years Eve for a couple of reasons. During that time the slopes get quite busy, and you will have to wait to get in the lifts. Also at that time there are still many slopes closed. We are now in the third week of January and all of them are open. Including the snow park. This one is fun, with jumps and boxes, it is located at the bottom. During weekdays (at the moment), there is almost nobody on the slopes. Which gives you a lot of space to practice safely. You will find groomed slopes and a couple of ungroomed and tree runs. If you stay there for a longtime you might grow bored of the slopes. There are quite some possibilities for off-piste. There is a patrol which will actually take your pass away if caught. So it is probably better if you are using a day pass. That being said, my friend last year did a lot of off piste for weeks and never was bothered. Food wise there are 5 restaurants. Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian and Korean. All of them are Japanese style though. It doesn’t taste authentic. Italian one have edible pizza, but very tiny. Indian one was nothing special and rather expensive. Not much to say about the others beside the Japanese one selling ramen. That is probably the cheapest option. Taste good and the staff is nice. If you head out of the restaurant to get into the central area, you will find more food. Last year it was possible to get kebab, rather good. This year you will find Indian food. Proper Indian food. For 750Y you get a curry and a naan. Very tasty. This is the food you will also find in their restaurant located in Appikogen. Around this area you will also find stores that sell various products, food, gear,... I will attach some photos, bad quality but should give a wide sample of what you will find. The view from up there is not the prettiest I have ever seen but still, on a clear day, it’s beautiful. Enjoy and stay safe!

Maybe a little off-grid from what’s mainstream, but this museum is really cool. Quite a lot to learn here on the history of Amber. It is surrounded with pristine nature, which is very soothing and has a calming effect. I visited the museum with a friend, and really had no idea about amber or it’s significance. After visiting this museum, I really could appreciate. Many times we overlook our surrounding nature and things that might be of no importance, but this museum truly educates on creativity and how to add value to a product. I loved the concept and learnings here. You can also mine your amber and make jewellery or personalised artwork in their workshop.

It’s a small museum with a bunch of amber rocks for geologist nerds and normies alike. There is also some art pieces made from amber to view as well. Great for kids!

Very interesting and beautiful museum. A unique place where you can learn a lot about amber. Access is quite difficult, local bus is unreliable, so taxi is the best option. The staff was very kind and helped me to reach the nearest JR Bus station (about 2 km). There is also a nice shop, and if you are lucky, the museum's mascot cat will guide you !

You can see how diverse amber actually is. Especially in this museum you can see many stones, which is much older than the other famous places for amber production like Baltic countries.

Great little Amber museum! Fun and interactive for kids and adults. Lots of history to learn. Beautiful area as well!

It’s a cute little place, a couple of the side buildings were closed when I went.

Very cool exhibit for 500¥, I've cream available at the gift shop

Lovely spot, with really big waves on the day of my visit🌊🌊🌊

Really worth the trip. We’re glad we had a rental car to make quick pit stops along the meanders and parking points. Really a life saver and worth the trip. Just ensure you start with a full tank of petrol. Have enough water in hand. Some insect repellent might help if you choose to use it. And a good camera !

Beautiful lake and surroundings, a few hikes. Very natural and great. The one thing we didn't like is that it looked half abandoned and it was very inactive, all restaurants were closed and a lot of hotels/visitor centres were closed. That was in early July, we learnt afterwards that the high season there is autumn, but we would have liked to have more options for dinner close by.

A fairly large lake in Honshu. Boats are available to explore the lake, and the lakeshore is a suitable location for camping and outdoor activities.

Great visit. though Towada lake is famous for its depth in Japan, I don't know how beautiful its water and view is.you need to drive and get there before sunset.I also went there at night and shady darky lake was also great.you can also go fishing there although I don't know what you can get there.anyway,you have to get there!

drove and parked at lake towada 十和田湖 and strolled slong the lakeside promenade on 31.10.2023 the colours of the forest hill on both sides of the lake really fabulous

Thanks to my Japanese sister again for driving us from Hachinohe to Lake Towada each time my relatives and my colleagues visited Hachinohe. We were there April 2016, July 2017 and May 2019. Lake Towada is the biggest crater lake situated in Japan main island, Honshu. Along the way up to Lake Towada, we will pass the Oirase stream trail and Towada City. We will stopped at Oirase stream to take pictures of the waterfalls such as Kumoi waterfall, Choshi Otaki, Ashura Current, and Kujukushima, these are just a few of the many popular waterfalls and scenes in Oirase Gorge. Many visitors and photographers try their hand at taking the best picturesque shot. If you come in Autumn, you would see all the trees that lined the Oirase stream turn into golden colors which I miss so far. Will go there in Autumn, the next trip...

Visited mid April. Wonderful spectacular view with lots of water, probably from melting snow. The combination of moss, sunlight and waterfall is beautiful. The nearby car park seems to have reopened. If available, you can park for free and see the falls in a few minutes walk.

I visited in October 2025, and the waterfall was full and flowing strongly, which was absolutely beautiful. The path is easy to walk on, but you should still wear appropriate footwear. Seniors can manage the walk well, though caution is needed in certain spots.

Gorgeous spot for photo opportunities! If you drive, take care to park in a suitable spot as traffic will be heavy. When the sunlight hits at the right timing, you can even spot a rainbow.

You will feel very cool when you approach the waterfall. It is the the largest waterfall in the whole hiking route. There are many people watching in front of the waterfall. But I feel that it is a little not worthy of the word "大".

It’s awesome and sophisticated small fall. It takes 5mins on foot from the nearest carparking. I’ve visited at 7am on Friday. It’s not that crowded.

The grandest of the waterfalls around here. Standing beside it taking photo I cannot resist thinking about Galen Rowell taking the Nevada fall picture at Yosemite.

I visited Chosi Falls on Friday afternoon 31st October 2025. I accessed the falls by parking my car at Ouse parking area and catching the shuttle bus to the falls. During busy periods cars are not allowed to travel down the gorge road to Lake Towada. The shuttle bus ticket is 1500 yen per day for unlimited trips which is a good way to see the best areas without having to walk the entire gorge which is 14km. There were many people at the falls but there was still opportunity to get photos without people in them. The Autumn colours were at their peak as was the flow of the falls. Friday night it rained heavily, the shuttle bus was cancelled on Saturday 1st November and the gorge was closed at the top end. I decided to drive the road over the mountain to Lake Towada, which was spectacular in its own right, and hike the gorge track from the lake end. The weather had kept people away and I was completely by myself on the track for the 4 hour journey to Kumoi falls and back with ample time to stop with my camera and tripod to capture the beauty of the Autumn colours.

End Oct 2025. Nice surroundings and near the start of Oirase river where u can see two rivers merging. The shop itself is small and limited seats for in-house snacks. I walked to the bridge where I can see two rivers merging. Free parking and spacious.

This location conveniently serves as both a Tourist Information Center and a fascinating small museum. The museum section is excellent for curious minds, particularly children, offering detailed illustrations on nature—from basic microscope use to in-depth visuals of plants and animals. It's a highly educational and practical stop for visitors.

The staff is really nice and helpful to provide travel information in English. The exhibition in the center is also interesting. There’s a coffee shop to take a break and toilet to use.

Stopped by this cafe/souvenir shop on our way to Lake Towada. Our family and friends loved the souvenirs and must try apple ice cream!

When I drive to Lake Towada, I always stop here! There is a gift shop, limited menu snack bar. Soft serve ice cream with chocolate glaze and covered in Matcha green tea! Awesome! Please stop in. A local artist, wooden bowls, cups, utensils! Naturally I buy! Lol

I always love vising the museum! There are a lot of fun activities such as moss ball and terrarium making classes, information about local wildlife and history of the gorge. There is also an A La Ringo store to stock up on yummy apple goodies and treats!

Came here to start my Oirase gorge walk. Dropped my luggage in the coin locker (it was empty). The cafe sells apple pies, which is just okay for me because it’s very tart and the crust is very thin. Toilets are clean and modern with bidet. Ample parking. Took the JR bus from Aomori to get here and then back to Towada city. There’s some apple souvenirs sold inside as well.

After we checked into our rooms at Pansion Benkei Hotel, my sister drive us to Tanesashi Coast to see the coastline on the Pacific Ocean. I remember I was at Tanesashi Coast here in May 2016 with my younger sister and her husband. I remember that on the particular, the waves were raging and the wind very strong. We walk up to observation deck, called Ashigezaki Observatory, once was a military watchtower during the time of war. From atop this hill, you can see a large part of Tanesashi coastal, plus some great views of the Pacific. The watchtower itself is really nice to look at too. We took a leisurely walk enjoying seeing the waves and the tall trees. It is great place to go hiking here...

Comfortable walk, you can begin your journey from Okuki Station and walk back along the Michinoku trail towards Same Station. There are many buses from downtown Hachinohe to Same Station, and there is also a Umineko shuttle bus that goes between Same Station and Takesashi Station. Train timings are inconvenient, so please consider taking the bus instead.

Great place to take pictures and admire the scenery.

This place is big and has lots of things to explore! This place is perfect for a picnic but just make sure it isn't windy. You can go towards the water but you can't climb on the rocks, there is a path that goes through a small camping ground and stretches for quite a bit. Beautiful walk. Lots of people usually, very lively. Bathrooms and vending machines are here too.

Unfortunately we went when it was rainy and misty, but wished that I was there when it was a clear sky - really beautiful.

On the way from Ōkuki Station to the Shirahama Beach.

(Translated by Google) A coastline made up of grass and rocks overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It's pleasant on sunny days and perfect for a picnic. There's also a parking lot and restrooms, so you can relax all day here. (Original) 太平洋を臨む、芝生と岩場の織り成す海岸。 晴れた日は気持ちよく、ピクニックに最適です。駐車場やトイレも整備されていて、１日ゆっくりできます。

A local market that you can find a series of freshly sea food, nice Japanese sake, wine and souvenir stuff for tourist. Especially the experience for grilled seafood or beef over charcoal. Be well prepare to spend a half day here.

GREAT FOOD. VARIETIES TO TRY. A must visit if you are visiting Hachinohe. Only 100 yen, 15 min blue bus ride. You can buy seafood from the merchants and bring them to a BBQ restaurant to cook them yourself. Also many merchants selling japanese street food. Very tasty. I would highly recommend this to all visitors and foreigners.

Truly one of the most comprehensive fish market I have visited in Japan. Much bigger than Kushiro fish market with more variety. Prices are not too touristy as well. Definitely worth the detour into Hachinohae just for a meal here.

Extremely fresh seafood everywhere, with reasonable price (much cheaper and fresher than what you may get in Tokyo, except from the real high end restaurants). Highly recommended.

Good place to visit for good and reasonably priced seafood. We ate a beef Don bento set and some sashimi. Ample parking, but go early to park nearer to the entrance. I believe there is a Y100 bus that comes / goes from a train station as well.

Drove here weekday lunch hour. Not very crowded. Mostly locals around. We visited the BBQ place (shichirin mura) first to pay for a seat. We were given a green basket to put our purchased seafood around the market. 2 hour long eating/cooking period. Tongs, paper plates, salt&pepper shaker and chopsticks were provided. It was a little intimidating to buy the seafood because we had no idea what we were buying, except the obvious ones like shrimp and squid. We spent about 5000 yen for around 10 shrimps, a platter of squid, 2 oysters, 2 scallops, some sort of fish. You can also purchase beer, drinks and rice at the counter. Very fun experience. There are a few other japanese restaurants in the centre. As well as a dry market area selling general goods, souvenirs and toys. Toilets are extremely clean.

Large fish market that has a BBQ place where you can cook your own seafood once bought at the stalls. The BBQ cost 350yen per person and you get all the utensils you need . They use real charcoal as well. They also serve beer here. At the stalls you can find any seafood imaginable at reasonable prices. If you don't want to cook yourself there are about 6-7 restaurant's at the end of the market.

Reminder for everyone who’s planning to go to Jogakura: there’s a route on Maps that looks faster (a shortcut), but it’s very dangerous — do not take that road shown in the first photo! Overall, the bridge is beautiful, though the parking area is small. The view is absolutely breathtaking during autumn! 🍁

This is an absolute must-visit spot for viewing autumn leaves! The atmosphere is incredibly beautiful, perfectly combining the vibrant fall foliage with the stunning visuals of the bridge. I highly recommend making the trip here—it's truly a beautiful, recommended experience.

We were there on 28/10/2025. We were so lucky the night before it was snowing, so the whole surrounding area was covered with snow. Thank goodness, the road was cleared of snow. The beauty of the autumn contrasted with the white snow was beautiful. If we had planned to go late November, the road would have been covered with snow, making it more dangerous to drive. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some of the picture were taken on the way to the bridge.

Oct 31 2025: The view here is stunning. The drive to this place is also very beautiful as being surrounded by all those colored trees. Parking is free but not many. May have to park besides the road if full. It is really beautiful and a must to visit. It is free. I drove here and the road is equally breath-taking

Magnificent view of the fall colours. I'm here 31st October, 2025.

Well.. unlucky me to get here with strong winds and rain clouds. Had to make the best of it. Will return before I leave Aomori. Its worth a drive to get here..I mean since u already here yah.. Got restroom here too.

Walkway to see over the bride is closed, I'm amazed everything in the area is closed during peak season when everyone wants to see the fall colors. Aomori needs to do better. There is a small parking lot where you can still have a bit of a view but it's barely worth the stop for a few pics.

I really like this museum. The aunty jump scared me a little. There are plenty of art pieces outside the museum and also around the area but pleas don’t hesitate to pay to see what’s inside. The experience is not the same as only seeing the photo reviewed. It was an amazing art center!!!!!!!

A highly recommend place to visit. The exhibits inside are great and is detailed annotated with multi language hearing aim. Definitely needed to bring along with the map that recommending the route of your tour. The excellence of this art center is it's exhibits extended to the outdoor and to the park at the opposite street. A large free carpark also convenience for the visitor.

The museum offers a lovely experience, with both impressive indoor and outdoor collections that can easily take over two hours to explore. While the city itself is small and has limited attractions, driving there is recommended as it’s more convenient than using public transportation.

A bunch of large-scale installation art pieces by internationally known artists. Really unique space. Larger collection than I thought before entering the museum. Some artworks are also outdoors. Spent a few hours here. Majority of the gallery spaces and the cafe were ground-level. I noticed a wheel-chair user visiting the museum.

Do make a trip here if you are in Aomori. Worth 2hrs of your time. Be amazed.

I had checked a few months in advance and noted that the museum is closed only on Mondays, so I planned my itinerary accordingly. We visited on a Tuesday and were disappointed to find that it was closed, and several other visitors were let down as well. I checked the website again on the spot and saw that it had been updated to show it was closed that day. I have since learned to reconfirm key information closer to the travel date to avoid similar situations. The whimsical sculptures surrounding the museum were still fun to explore, nonetheless.

Nice museum! Some of the exhibits are very nice and photogenic!

Lots of tourists arriving in buses, and the queue to use the Ropeway is long. I arrived in the morning and had to wait 1 hour to use the Ropeway after buying the ticket. The views on the way up are amazing as the gondola slowly goes up. The views from the top are amazing, especially the autumn colours when I visited. There are multiple hiking trails at the top that range from 30 mins to hours. Each trail will offer stunning views.

Came expecting vibrant autumn leaves and left with beautiful snow-capped memories The Ropeway in Aomori is an absolute must-do. It boasts an awesome and unforgettable view and runs with a highly efficient management system, handling the large volume of tourists with ease. The staff were very active and helpful, ensuring a great atmosphere. The most surprising part of my visit (on October 24, 2025) was expecting autumn leaves but being treated to a beautiful, unexpected blanket of early season snow! It made for a very unique and memorable experience.

Visited on end Oct 2025. Suggest to go to other places instead. price is 2200yen per person and since it is almost end of autumn, the top of the mountain is pretty chilly and windy. We cannot walk around the top of mountain as it is covered with ice and snow. So, basically only stay there for less than 5 minutes to take a quick snapshot and then return back to the base station. I would suggest for those coming during these time (end Oct 2025-early Nov 2025), to go to the nearby attraction - famous bridge instead. That bridge is free and view is spectacular. Many people went up and spent 5-10 mins. One very small shop and no food up there at this time.

6/Apr/2025: Though the team down the city is around 10c; snows up on the mountains still there and several people still comes to snowboarding. A nice view up there after get off from the ropeway station.

Took the free JR bus service to the Ropeway station with the JR pass. Very lucky to be able to experience both autumn and winter in one spot 😃✌🏼

Just beautiful. The chairlift is nice with great views.. Bur the walk up to see the mountain are better. Nice and easy walkway.. there is no way of getting lost.. Just chexk the weather that its not raining befor you go... If its muddy - there are grealy good boots to borrow- for free.

Visited 25th October during autumn colours, and it was really pretty! The gondola ran every 15 mins when I visited, and the ride was pretty packed on both ways. Once you're up there's 2 routes you can hike, 30 min route and an hour route. When I went the route was already covered by thin cover of ice making it slippery at points so it took us longer. Best to have proper clothing and shoes if hiking, but also saw other groups just taking pictures close to the ropeway then taking the next one down. The round trip cost 2000 yen pp, and there's free parking on site.

Totally worth the experience. Lots of things to do. Easily should set aside 2 hours to really fully explore the inside activities and walk about the parked live sides airplanes outside.

Wow an amazing place to take the family! Amazing you can get right up and close with historic planes from japans history in aviation! Many examples i have never seen and i really enjoyed this experience i rate it as a must do for anyone who's into planes! The fighter jets outside i have never been so close to such examples! Amazing

I went to visit an exhibit at the museum but explored a bit outside of that as well. The shop is an overpriced tourist trap, but that's to be expected of any museum shop. The planes on exhibit were set up so you could get close to them or climb up a short staircase to a small walkway and look at them from above. Much better place for children to have fun at than adults, but not horrible.

Fantastic! Perfect place for kids and adults. Lots of interactive activities. There’s a free phone with a direct line to call for a taxi and they speak English. Our favorite activity was the flight stimulation machine. It felt so real to be flying.

Great day out for the family. Museum is not large but still has lots of interactive things to do for children and adults. There are play areas and aeroplanes to explore outside, which you can do for free. Food options are not great so I'd bring something or go elsewhere. Will definitely visit again if we have a chance.

This is a great little museum to visit if you are in the vicinity of the Misawa Airport and an aviation enthusiast. Besides the actual plane models exhibited and the story behind iconic planes such as Miss Veedol (first plane that flew non-stop over the Pacific Ocean), there are also some experiences/simulators and areas that explain science aimed for families/kids.

Very cool museum with lots of aircrafts inside. If you like aircrafts, don't think twice, you'll love this place 👍 There is a free bus shuttle from Misawa Station called "Gurutto Bus (ぐるっとバス)" which schedule can be found online by googling the name

A good place to stop and shop in north of Misawa. Enough parking spaces. Various local delicacy.

I could get garlics with cheap price.

Nice place to stop.

😋👍

Many choices

Happy day

👍 nice

The type of location that makes you say, “where are we.” This isn’t a spot for your first visit to Japan, but if you’re trying to get off the beaten path, this is for you. Beautiful scenery with the sulfur fields and springs. You can walk all through the complex and see various sites. We spent 90 minutes here and could have stayed longer exploring if the wind wasn’t whipping as badly. Admission is 700¥ for adults and 300¥ for kids. There are (2) female onsen huts and one male on site that are fed by the springs. They look cool, but are primitive and you’ll need to bring everything with you (e.g. towels) if you want to use them. Admission to the onsen hut (I’m reinforcing “hut” here) is included. Interesting note, we saw two dead tenuki on the drive to the temple.

Impressive and peaceful temple complex located atop Mount Osore (恐山). There are a few elements to visit, shown on a walking tour on the information pamphlet, but the frequency of the public transport service makes it a little tricky to see in one hour and not quite enough to drag out to three. Still, definitely worth a visit if in the area; the rugged, moon-like landscape contrasted wonderfully with the autumn leaves.

This is a one of a kind temple. Very special. You’ll see the connection of hell and heaven, how peaceful it is and close to the nature. Definitely worth the drive. You’ll spend 1-2 hours there.

This is a very cool shrine, next to the lake and overlooking the beautiful mountains! There is also alot of geothermal activity to observe here if your into thar sort of thing

Beautiful mountain temple complex / pilgrimage site founded 1000 years ago by a famous monk. Entrance fee of 700 yen covers the temple itself, and a decent length walking path including multiple places for prayer or to take beautiful photos of the lake and surrounding mountains.

I love coming here. The lake is beautiful and the mountains have an aliens landscape feel to them. The volcanic vents spew sulfur smoke and all you can hear is the wind and your own footsteps. Highly recommend coming here at least once.

Great experience. This is a very good place to visit if you are nearby. Definitely worth it

Easy trail and the view is stunning and beautiful!!

This is the place where I had climbed up with my first son on my back in 2007 and I visited again after a decade. Nothing but we had been changed. This is the mountain where I fell in love with Hokkaido. I climbed again with my three sons to let them know the scenery I love. I call it where thee blues are meet-sky, sea, and forest (green is often called blue in Asia).

Gorgeous views and the hike payoff is worth it. You have to hike Esan if you’re in Hakodate. Hikers are friendly too because it’s primarily native Japanese that hike this mountain. Car transport highly recommended.

Road up to the mountain and climbing the mountain is not allowed due to bear sighting

Worth visiting.

(Translated by Google) It's close to downtown Hakodate, so I recommend going there. I traveled by motorcycle, and the roads were well maintained and easy to ride. There are Jizo statues erected here and there along the way to the observation deck. (Original) 函館市街地から近隣なので行くのお薦めです。バイクで移動しましたが、道も整備されており走り易い。展望台までの道中の御地蔵様も所々建立されております。

(Translated by Google) It's a bit of a tough mountain for those who aren't used to hiking, but if you're traveling to Hakodate and have the stamina to spare, I recommend it. (Original) 普段歩き慣れていない方はちょっと厳しい山ですが、函館旅行で体力に余裕があればオススメです♪