[Akita Prefecture] 2024 Edition "Tohoku Autumn Leaves Driving Map" - 3 recommended driving courses and surrounding gourmet selections in Akita Prefecture!

Popular spots for fall foliage in Akita Prefecture include Senshu Park in Akita City, where you can easily enjoy fall foliage viewing in the city, samurai residences in Kakunodate

However, there are many driving courses where you can enjoy driving while enjoying the view of the vividly colored autumn leaves in the midst of nature.

In this article, we will introduce three courses that are especially recommended for the coming season.

Hachimantai Aspite Line (Kazuno City)

It is the nickname of the approximately 40km prefectural road that connects Kazuno City to Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, and its official name is `` Iwate Prefectural Road/Akita Prefectural Road No. 23 Obuke Hachimantai Line .''

From Mikaeri Pass near the summit of Mt. Hachimantai, the Iwate Prefecture side has a wide view of Mt. Iwate, while the Akita Prefecture side has fewer mountains and trees, so you can enjoy the autumn leaves of the plateau with a clear view.

In addition, there are many autumn leaves spots such as Onuma Lake between Mikaeri Pass and National Route 341, and the best time to view them is until late October, and the area is closed for winter from early November.

Also, when the road reopens in April, a `` Snow Corridor you will be able to see the famous `` Dragon Eye

Aspite Line <Information>

• Name: Hachimantai Aspite Line (Akita Prefectural Route 23)
• Location: Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture

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Goshogake Onsen

There are many hot springs in both prefectures around Hachimantai, but Goshogake Onsen, located along the road on the Akita side, is particularly effective and known for its black hot spring eggs.

The Goshogake Nature Research Trail located near Goshogake Onsen is a spot where you can observe volcanic phenomena such as mud pods , which wipe hot mud from hot spring spouts and fumaroles

Goshogake Onsen＜Information＞

• Name: Goshogake Onsen
• Location: Kumazawa National Forest, Hachimantai, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-31-2221
• Business hours: Check-in 15:00, Check-out 10:00 
• URL: Goshogake Onsen official website

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“Northern limit peach soft serve” at “Roadside Station Kazuno Antora”

When you finish descending the Aspite Line of autumn leaves, you will see the `` 40th Degree North Latitude Line '' monument on your right, and you will come to a T-junction where it intersects with National Route 341.

If you turn left, you will pass through Tamagawa Onsen and reach Lake Tazawa, which is also a drive course with spectacular autumn leaves, but we also recommend turning right and stopping at Roadside Station Kazuno Antora

Kazuno is a land where fruit trees such as apples are cultivated, but the `` Northern Limit Peach '' is especially popular because it can be enjoyed until late September, later than in other peach producing areas.

Although it may be past its peak season during the fall foliage season, you can still enjoy `` Hokugen no Peach Soft-serve Ice Cream '' made with the juice of this northernmost peach at a roadside station.

This roadside station also Festival Exhibition Hall Hanawa Bayashi '' are displayed , allowing you to experience the culture of Kazuno.

Please note that business hours have been shortened to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus (restrooms and rest areas are available 24 hours a day).

Roadside Station Kazuno <Information>

• Facility name: Roadside station Kazuno Antora
• Location: 11-4 Hanawashindencho, Kazuno City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0186-22-0555
• Business hours: Shop/Marche/Travel counter 9:00-17:00
• Business hours: Restaurant Ajikan 10:00-17:00 (L.O. 16:30)
• Business hours: Soba snack corner, Kiritanpo Hall, Festival Exhibition Hall 9:00-16:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Roadside Station Kazuno Antora official website

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A trip around the deep and blue Lake Tazawa (Semboku City)

It is a beautiful circular caldera lake with a circumference of approximately 20 km and a diameter of approximately 6 km. With a maximum depth of 423.4 m, it is the deepest in Japan and is known for not freezing even in the middle of winter.

three Akita prefectural roads ( Prefectural Road No. 38 Tazawako Saigi Line, Prefectural Road No. 60 Tazawakohan Line, and Prefectural Road No. 247 Ainai-Katakano Line ) along the lake, and we recommend the course that goes around the lake in autumn leaves.

` Lake Tazawa Blue '' and `` Persian Blue, '' can be enjoyed from mid-October to early November.

the Lake Tazawa Pleasure Boat operates from April to early November

Lake Tazawa＜Information＞

• Name: Lake Tazawa
• Location: Semboku City, Akita Prefecture

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The legend of Tatsuko passed down in the lake

Tatsuko statue standing on the west bank of the lake represents the legend surrounding Lake Tazawa.

Long ago, a beautiful girl named Tatsuko, who lived in Kaminari Village on the shores of Lake Tazawa, wished for immortality and drank water from a spring that Kannon had given her.

No matter how much water he drank, Tatsuko became thirsty, and as he drank repeatedly, he transformed into a dragon and became the master of Lake Tazawa.

This legend continues, and it is said that a man named Hachiro, who was the owner of Hachiro Lagoon in the north, fell in love with Tatsuko and began living at Lake Tazawa.

As a result, Lake Tazawa became deeper, and Hachiro Lagoon, which had no owner, became even shallower.

Tatsuko statue <Information>

• Facility name: Tatsuko statue
• Location: Saimyoji Katajiri, Nishiki-cho, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0187-43-2111 (Semboku City Tazawako Tourist Information Center "Forake")
• URL: Semboku City official website

Local cuisine “Misotanpo” to enjoy at Lake Tazawa

Akita's specialty, ``Kiritanpo,'' is commonly thought of as being eaten in a hot pot, but in the Tazawako area, it is eaten as ``Misotanpo,'' which is skewered, smeared with sweet and spicy miso, and then grilled.

Tatsuko Chaya located on the shores of Lake Tazawa , is said to be the birthplace of miso danpo

Miso Danpo (Tatsuko Chaya) <Information>

• Facility name: Tatsuko Chaya
• Location: 40-1 Tazawakogata Nakayama, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0187-43-0909
• Business hours: 9:00-16:30
• No regular holiday
• URL: Tatsuko Chaya Official Facebook

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Sanzugawa Valley ~ Kawarage Jigoku ~ Akinomiya Onsenkyo (Yuzawa City)

The area from Yuzawa City in the south of the prefecture to the Miyagi Prefectural border is called Sanzugawa Caldera

It is a approximately 40km course that from the Sugawa IC on the Tohoku Expressway to the Sanzugawa Valley on the `` Prefectural Route 51 Yuzawa Kurikoma Park Line '' and then continues on the ` `Prefectural Route 310 Akinomiya Oyasu Onsen Line

Approximately 60,000 cosmos trees bloom along Prefectural Route 51 ``Cosmos Line'' before the leaves turn red, and Prefectural Route 310 ``Komachi Yutari Road'' is a mountain road that runs through fumarole areas such as Kawarage Jigoku and beautiful autumn foliage forests. is.

Please note that both prefectural roads are closed during the winter season (November to May), so please check road information in advance after November.

Entrance to “Hell” “Sanzugawa Valley”

The Sanzugawa Valley is said to be the entrance to Kawarage Jigoku, and from the Sanzugawa Bridge, where there are stone statues of King Enma and others, you can see the autumn leaves clinging to the 40m high cliff.

From the Sanzugawa Valley, drive along Prefectural Route 51 for a while, then continue on to Prefectural Route 310 and drive for a while, and you will see the source with steam rising along the road and arrive at the Doroyu hot spring town.

Sanzugawa Valley <Information>

• Name: Sanzugawa Valley
• Location: Takamatsu, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture

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Secret hot spring in the mountains “Doroyu Onsen”

It is said to have opened in the early Heian period, and is a hot spring that has the feel of a hidden hot spring buried in the autumn leaves of the surrounding mountains.Currently, there are two hot spring inns, Okuyama Ryokan and Ogura Ryokan.

It is called mud bath because the source water is cloudy, and you can enjoy bathing while looking at the autumn leaves in the open-air bath.

Mudyu hot spring <Information>

• Name: Doroyu Onsen
• Location: Takamatsu Doroyuzawa, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone: Okuyama Ryokan 0183-79-3021, Ogura Ryokan 0183-79-3035
• URL: Okuyama Ryokan official website

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Kawarage hell (acidic alteration zone of river hair)

The white ash plateau where no trees can grow due to hot water eruptions and volcanic gas fumes is called Jigoku, and it is considered one of Japan's three great sacred places, along with Mt. Osore (Aomori Prefecture) and Mt. Tateyama (Toyama Prefecture).

The contrast with the surrounding bright autumn leaves is beautiful and can be seen from the car window on Prefectural Route 310.To see the fumarole up close, walk along the promenade from the parking lot, but volcanic gas including hydrogen sulfide is emitted everywhere. Please be careful not to enter restricted areas.

Kawarage Hell＜Information＞

• Name: Kawarage Hell
• Location: Takamatsu Banzawa, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture

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“Kawahara no Yukko” in Akinomiya Onsenkyo

From Kawarage Jigoku to Akinomiya Onsenkyo, Komachi Yutari Road , ends at the intersection with National Route 108.

Turn left at this intersection and there is a footbath spot called `` Kawahara no Yukko '', which is a rare footbath that uses naturally occurring hot springs.

You can dig freely in the riverbed of the Yakunai River with a free shovel and enjoy a footbath at the temperature of your preference while mixing hot spring and river water.

You can have ramen or other food delivered to a nearby restaurant or by the riverside, and enjoy your meal while admiring the autumn leaves and soaking in the footbath.

Kawahara Hot Spring <Information>

• Facility name: Kawahara no Yukko
• Location: 83 Akinomiya Yunotai, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0183-56-2717
• Business hours: 24 hours
• No regular holiday
• URL: Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture Official Tourism Site “Yuzawa Tabi” Official Site

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Yuzawa's soul food "Dutch Yaki"

Yuzawa City is famous for Inaniwa udon as a local dish, but there is also a local delicacy that originated in Yuzawa called Dutch Yaki

The sweet and fluffy dough, similar to Oban-yaki or Imagawa-yaki, is filled with ham and plenty of mayonnaise, creating a perfect balance between the saltiness and the sweetness of the dough.

Its name comes from the fact that the ham that is served on it when grilled looks like a Dutch windmill, and is said to be the soul food of Yuzawa residents.Nowadays, it can be eaten throughout the southern part of Akita Prefecture and in Akita City, but especially in Yuzawa. Takaichi Fruit and Vegetable Store in front of the station is a popular and long-established store.

Oranda Yaki (Takaichi Vegetarian Store) <Information>

• Facility name: Takaichi Fruit and Vegetable Store
• Location: 1-1-28 Omotemachi, Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture
• Phone number: 0183-73-2623
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00
• Regular holiday: New Year's Day
• URL: Takaichi Fruit and Vegetable Shop Official Website

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summary

In this article, we have chosen a route where you can enjoy autumn leaves viewing from late October to early November from among the many roads in Akita Prefecture where you can enjoy autumn leaves driving.

All roads are in the mountains and are narrow and have sharp curves with poor visibility, so please enjoy the drive safely without being distracted by the autumn leaves.