Towada-Hachimantai National Park (Hachimantai area)

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Goshogake-Tamagawa Onsen Trail Course

Model Course Scenery

Quick trail course to see around flowery marshland and dynamic volcanic phenomena

This is a quick trail course to enjoy driving while also walking on Onuma Hiking Trail, Goshogake Nature Observation Trail, Obayachi Marsh Wooden Walkway and Tamagawa Onsen Nature Observation Trail. All these trails are within the range of about 30 to 40 minutes by walking. Enjoy seasonal flowers, autumn leaves, in addition to volcanic phenomena including mud volcano, vapor of gases, and a gush of hot spring.

If you start by getting nature information at Hachimantai Visitor Center which is across from Onuma Pond, you can have more enjoyable trip of this trail course. Also recommended is to add the bathing in Goshogake and/or Tamagawa Hot Springs to your plan.

Goshogake-Tamagawa Onsen Trail Course

Course Time

Section Time
Hachimantai Visitor Center, Onuma Hiking Trail Approx. 50 min. (on foot)
Onuma Hiking Trail → Goshogake Nature Observation Trail Approx. 1.5 km : 10 min. (by car)
Goshogake Nature Observation Trail Approx. 40 min. (on foot)
Goshogake Nature Observation Trail → Obayachi Marsh Approx. 14 km: 30 mim. (by car)
Obayachi Marsh Wooden Walkway Approx. 40 min. (on foot)
Obayachi Marsh → Tamagawa Onsen Nature Observation Trail Approx. 5 km: 10 min. (by car)
Tamagawa Onsen Nature Observation Trail Approx. 30 min. (on foot)

* The course time and distance are shown just as a guide.

Access

Section Transportation Time
Kazuno Hachimantai IC → Hachimantai Visitor Center Private cars Approx. 24.5 km: 30 min.
Tamagawa Onsen Nature Observation Trail → Kazuno Hachimantai IC Private cars Approx. 31.5 km: 40 min.

* For details, please check with the information counter, website of each transportation facility, or others.

Onuma Pond

Onuma Pond

Located across Hachimantai Visitor Center, this is a pond about 2 km in circumference. There is a hiking trail on which you can make a circuit in about 30 minutes. From spring to summer after the melting of the snow in May, various flowers can be enjoyed; starting from Asian Skunk Cabbage to Ezonoryukinka Buttercup, Japanese Azalea and Shakunage Rhododendron. In autumn, colored autumn leaves around the pond is so beautiful.

Goshogake Nature Observation Trail

Goshogake Nature Observation Trail

In this nature observation trail taking about 40 minutes to make a circuit by walking, unique volcanic phenomena can be observed, including a fumarole named “Oname/Motome”, “Kon-ya -Jigoku” where deep blue water is pooled, “mud volcano” where the mud flown by gushing volcanic gas are piled up to make a small mountain-like shape, and “Oyunuma Pond” where hot water is pooled in an area of about 1 hectare.

Obayachi Marsh

Obayachi Marsh

The beautiful flowers enjoyed here include the colony of pure white Asian Skunk Cabbage and yellow flowers of Ezonoryukinka Buttercup starting around late May at the snow melting time; and the Daylily and the red flowers of Japanese Azalea in early summer. In addition, the view of Mt. Yakeyama to be looked over the marsh is recommended, too.

Tamagawa Onsen Nature Observation Trail

Tamagawa Onsen Nature Observation Trail

There is a hiking trail on which you can make a circuit in about 30 minutes. The attractions here are the volcanic phenomena including “Obuke fountain” where strongly acidic hot spring water gushes out for as much as 9,000 liter/min., and the groups of fumaroles from which sulfur-containing volcanic vapor of gasses gush out. This trail is also well known for its natural bedrock bathing utilizing geothermal heat.