- MOE
- Towada-Hachimantai National Park
- Let’s visit the Hachimantai area!
- Model Course
- Shizukuishi-Amihari Driving Course (Tentative)
Shizukuishi-Amihari Driving Course (Tentative)
Exhilarating driving course running through the pasture land in Sihzukuishi
It’s a drive course to go up north from Koiwai Farm, which shows a grand view of stock farm against the background of Mt. Iwate first. And then, it takes you to Amihari at the foot of Mt. Iwate, and further to Takinoue.
In Amihari, you can enjoy skywalk to Inukura Viewpoint Deck at 1,300 m above sea level by passenger lift. Also recommended is the walking in the woods of Amihari, which contains extensive Japanese beech and Mizunara Oak forests in addition to camping grounds. Moreover, there is Amihari Onsen, which has 1,300 years of history and was called Taishaku Onsen a long time ago.
The trail going down from Amihari Area to the south and then going up along the Kakkonda Gorge is also known as a viewing spot for autumnal leaves starting around early October; with the Torigoe no Taki Waterfall in Takinoue Hot Springs area ahead of the Gorge being the most beautiful spot.
This is the course that you can enjoy their respective sceneries of the four seasons in all of Koiwai, Amihari and Kakkonda Gorge.
Course Time
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Morioka Station (Terminal) → Koiwai | Approx. 20 km (30 min.) |
| Koiwai → Amihari (Lift of KYUKAMURA Hotel, Visitor Center, Amihari Forest) | Approx. 15 km (20 min.) |
| Amihari → Genbudo Cave | Approx. 10 km (13 min.) |
| Genbudo Cave → Takinoyue (Torigoe no Taki Waterfall) | Approx. 12 km (15 min.) |
* The course time and distance are shown just as a guide.
Access
| Section | Transportation | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Takinoue（Torigoe no Taki Waterfall）→ Morioka Station | Private cars | Approx. 35 km (60 min.) |
* For details, please check with the information counter, website of each transportation facility, or others.
Koiwai no Ipponzakura, a cherry tree at Koiwai
In the meadow about 1.5 km away from Koiwai Farm Makiba Garden, there stands a single cherry tree known as Ipponzakura (Species: Edohigan: Prunus pendula form. Ascendens). It was planted some 100 years ago to protect cattle that hate heat from the strong sunlight in summer.
The scenery with Mt. Iwate with lingering snow, rush green meadow, and brightly-colored cherry blossoms together is breathtakingly beautiful. The flowering season is in late April to early May.
Amihari area
It is recommended to get fresh information of local nature at Amihari Visitor Center so that you can have more enjoyable walking around the Center while feeling a touch of the turn of seasons. The observation lift operated from June to October is especially recommended in the foliage season. The lift also gives convenient access for climbing mountains including Mt. Iwate, one of 100 Famous Japanese Mountains.
Kakkonda Gorge and Genbudo Cave
Kakkonda Gorge, which include Genbudo Cave, spread out in the middle reaches of Kakkonda River, and also are one of popular spots for autumn leaves in Iwate Prefecture. Also known as “Oiwaya at Kakkonda”, the Genbudo Cave shows a wonderful columnar joints formed of lava, which is designated as a national natural monument. You can enjoy its view from the parking lot on the side of prefectural road. Driving up further for about 15 minutes from Genbudo Cave, there is Torigoe no Taki Waterfall, the course’s final destination.