This site is an online media that delivers all sorts of trivia about the six Tohoku prefectures, from sightseeing and gourmet spots to local customs, history, and more
Iwate Prefecture is mostly mountainous and hilly, and has many natural parks, so in autumn you can see beautiful autumn leaves in all parts of the prefecture
Among the many famous autumn foliage spots, we will introduce three recommended spots where you can enjoy viewing the autumn leaves while driving
Hachimantai (Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture and Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture)
Autumn leaves in Hachimantai
Hachimantai is the general name for the plateau land made up of several volcanoes that straddles Iwate and Akita prefectures, and is located within Towada-Hachimantai National Park.
The autumn leaves in this area begin to change color near the mountaintops in late September, gradually moving down to the foothills, and are at their best from late October to early November
On the Iwate side, there are two pleasant driving routes that connect near the summit, and you can enjoy the autumn leaves while driving around them until they are closed during the winter
However, as of mid-October 2024, the Hachimantai Jukai Line is closed due to a road collapse, and it may remain closed for the winter, so it is necessary to check in advance
Obuke in , Iwate Prefecture, passing near the summit of Mt. Hachimantai, and connects Hachimantai in Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture. Parts of the road used to be toll-free, but are now free to use.
From the Iwate Prefecture side, enter from Matsuo Hachimantai IC on the Tohoku Expressway, and travel approximately 26km to Mikaeri Pass on the border with Akita Prefecture, admiring the autumn leaves that spread across the northern foot of Mount Iwate
Signpost at the summit of Hachimantai
The Hachimantai Summit Rest House is located at the Mikaeri Pass parking lot, and it is about a 30-minute walk to the Hachimantai Summit Observatory. Along the way, you will come across Kagami-numa, where the "Hachimantai Dragon Eye" appears in early spring
Hachimantai Snow Corridor
The road is closed during the winter, but when the snow is removed at the end of April, snow walls over 10 meters high appear, allowing you to experience a drive through a snow corridor
Hachimantai Jukai Line (Prefectural Route 318)
Autumn leaves near Matsukawa Geothermal Power Plant
On the approximately 15km stretch from Mikaeri Pass to Matsukawa Onsen, you can enjoy a drive through the autumn leaves and sightseeing spots such as Suzukaze Falls , and Taiko no Breath
However, as mentioned above, please note that from July 3, 2024, the section from the Matsukawa Onsen gate to Horaikyo will be completely closed to traffic all day due to a road collapse
Iwate Panorama Line (Hachimantai City Road Iwate Route 1)
Autumn leaves from Mori no Ohashi Bridge
From Matsukawa Onsen, head east along Prefectural Route 218 (Shizukuishi-Higashi Hachimantai Line) along the Matsukawa Valley, turn right at the Shimokura Ski Resort entrance intersection, and you will enter the Iwate Mountain Panorama Line
Immediately after crossing Mori-Ohashi Bridge, you will come across a row of birch trees, which create a beautiful contrast with the autumn leaves
Yakehashiri lava flow and autumn leaves
Further ahead, at the T-junction near the Yakehashiri lava flow, turn right onto Prefectural Route 233 (Yakehashiri Line), and you'll be driving through the pitch-black lava flow while enjoying views of Mount Iwate
If you continue heading east, you will pass near the Nishine Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway and come out onto National Route 282, where Nishine Roadside Station is located
Hachimantai <Information>
Name: Hachimantai (Summit Observation Deck)
Location: Hosono, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
Google Map
Spinach soft serve ice cream
Spinach soft serve ice cream at Nishine Roadside Station
Hachimantai City is a treasure trove of delicious ingredients, including brand-name meats such as " Hachimantai Beef " and " Hachimantai Duzhong Tea Pork ," as well as mountain delicacies such as wild vegetables and mushrooms, and cultivated mushrooms.
Among these, the Nishine district is known as a famous spinach producing area, and at the restaurant at Nishine Roadside Station you can enjoy dishes such as spinach ramen and spinach curry
There are five types of soft serve ice cream, and for those who don't like spinach, we recommend the mixed type
Among these spinach dishes, the " spinach soft serve ice cream " is a must-try dish when you visit this roadside station.
The beautiful green soft serve ice cream stands out against the autumn leaves, and the subtle spinach aroma and flavor are said to be "addictive," making it very popular
Sennin Pass (former National Route 283: Tono City and Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture)
Sennin Pass is located on the border between Tono City and Kamaishi City in southern Iwate Prefecture, and was once a difficult road with steep gradients and many hairpin curves
Autumn leaves at Sennin Pass and Sennin Bridge Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site "Iwate Travel"
In 2007, the Sennin Pass Road was opened, eliminating the steep gradients and curves, significantly reducing travel time between the two cities and dramatically reducing traffic volume
However, there are many tourist spots for viewing autumn leaves, such as a loop bridge in the mountains, so during the autumn season, many tourists visit the area as it is a great driving course to see the autumn leaves
Sennin Ohashi Bridge
It was constructed when the Sennin Tunnel (which was a toll tunnel at the time) opened in September 1959, and is an arch bridge over the Koshi River on a loop road that can accommodate the steep slope
This bridge and the surrounding autumn leaves are a popular spot for taking photos of the autumn leaves
Sennin Pass <Information>
Name: Sennin Bridge (Sennin Pass)
Location: Kamaishi Kaido, Koshicho, Kamaishi City, Iwate Prefecture
Google Map
Kamaishi Ramen: A B-grade gourmet dish loved by locals
Kamaishi ramen with curly noodles and soy sauce soup
Kamaishi once flourished as a fishing port and steelworks town, and ramen that doesn't keep customers waiting is said to be part of the city's food culture, with many restaurants competing to offer unique dishes
There doesn't seem to be any specific definition for Kamaishi ramen, but if you had to describe it, it would be characterized by very thin, curly noodles that cook quickly and a clear, amber-colored, light soy sauce-flavored soup
Lake Kinshu (National Route 107: Kitakami to Yuda)
JR Kitakami Line crossing Lake Kinshu with autumn leaves. Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site "Iwate Travel"
This artificial lake was created by damming the Waga River, which flows from the border with Akita Prefecture, at the Yuda Dam. As its name suggests, in autumn it offers a beautiful landscape with gorgeous autumn leaves
Yuda Sand Dam appears for a limited time
Between July and October, when the water level of Yuda Dam drops, a sand storage dam appears upstream of the dam lake
It is called Kinshuko Otaki because the flowing water looks like a waterfall, and it is a popular spot to see autumn leaves when it is lit up in various colors at night
Kinshu Lake Waterfall (Yuda Sand Reservoir Dam)
National Route 107 was temporarily closed due to the earthquake in 2021 (Reiwa 3), and a toll-free section was set up on the parallel Akita Expressway to provide a detour
However, the following year a temporary bridge was erected across the lake, making it passable, and some say that this has actually been a positive development for autumn foliage tourism, as people can now cross the lake twice on a drive
Construction of a tunnel to bypass the closed section (Oishi area) is currently underway, and is scheduled to be completed in 2026, ending the detour measures
Biscuit Tempura Source: Iwate Prefecture Official Tourism Site "Iwate Travel"
In the Nishiwaga region, biscuits were deep-fried in a rice flour batter and used as snacks or local sweets for special occasions, but now they have become a B-grade gourmet food in the region
The biscuits used are " Kasan KetIto Seika , and are deep-fried in a batter based on glutinous rice flour.
It's delicious, crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, and is recommended as a souvenir as it can be purchased at the Kinshuko Roadside Station or directly from the farm.
Biscuit Tempura <Information>
Main sales facility name: Roadside Station Kinshuko
This year's autumn leaves in Iwate Prefecture began to change color in the higher elevations in the northern part of the prefecture in mid-October, and are expected to descend to the plains by the end of October
Depending on the area, you can enjoy a drive through the autumn leaves until early November
Before the snow falls, why not take a moment to appreciate the red and yellow colors of nature?
I'm a former Edokko man who loves Morioka and the six Tohoku prefectures, and I also love history, food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. I'll be introducing you to the interesting, delicious, and great things about Tohoku!
