Mount Iwate is an active volcano! The landscape of the Yakehashiri Lava Flow, which covers the base of the mountain in black, gives a real sense of the threat of nature [Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture]

Mount Iwate (2,038m above sea level), the highest peak in Iwate Prefecture, is a symbol of Iwate and has been selected as one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan.

On its northeastern slope is a vast lava flow known as the Yakehashiri Lava Flow, which flowed out from the mountainside in the 18th century .

There is an observation path on the lava flow, and you can walk on it at any time except in the winter when there is snow.

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Mount Iwate was a group of volcanoes stretching from east to west

Mount Iwate is not actually a single volcano, but a group of 25 volcanoes stretching 13km east from the Akita Prefecture border, also known as Iwate Volcano Group

Nishi Iwate Volcano which was active about 300,000 years ago Higashi Iwate Volcano, which is the current summit, was born at the eastern end of its outer rim.

Because of this history, Mount Iwate appears in a variety of different ways depending on the direction from which you view it.

Another name for Mt. Iwate: Southern Kata Fuji

Mount Iwate is sometimes called by other names due to its shape and the pattern of remaining snow.

From the east, it looks like Mount Fuji with its long bases on both sides, but from the southeastern area around Morioka City, it is called "Southern Half-Fuji" because of the rugged ridgeline on the west side.

Mount Iwate's other name #2: Mount Iwaku

When the snow melts in spring and you look at the summit from near Morioka City, there are times when the shape of the exposed mountainside after the snow has melted looks like a large, flapping eagle.

For this reason, Mount Iwate is also sometimes called Mount

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"The Abode of Demons" - Yakehashiri Lava Flow

On the northeastern slope of the mountain lies Yakehashiri Lava Flow wrote about in his poem Is this the abode of demons and gods

This lava flow erupted from a group of craters about 4 to 5 meters high and 4 meters in diameter that are located in a straight line at an altitude of approximately 850 to 1,250 meters.

Approximately 4 km long and 10 m deep, the lava flow covers a vast area of ​​149.63 hectares and spreads out in a fan shape from the crater group.

It was designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan in 1952 (Showa 27), but at that time it was registered as a "lava flow" rather than a "lava flow."

The academically valuable Yakehashiri lava flow

The eruption that created the lava flow is said to have occurred in either 1719 (Kyoho 4) or 1732 (Kyoho 17), but it is not clear.

The lava flow is said to be " olivine-containing hypersthene-augite andesite ," which is a type of lava that is said to have high viscosity, but the lava here is said to be of a low viscosity type.

Therefore, when the eruption occurred, bright red lava flows flowed down the slopes of Mt. Iwate at high speed, and the people who saw it at the time called Yakihashiri

Since the lava flowed about 300 years ago, it has not weathered much and there are almost no trees growing there, making it a valuable place to observe the cooled and solidified lava.

Moss and mining plants thrive on lava flows

Despite the harsh environment, where temperatures reach 40°C in the summer and minus 20°C in the winter, a small amount of soil has formed in some areas and plants are growing here and there.

Also clinging sturdily to the surface of the lava are mosses and lichens such as Sclerotium glabra, Sclerotium hailis, and Sclerotium spp

These mosses and lichens are also valuable academic materials that allow us to observe the stage when erupted lava cools, weathers, turns into soil, and becomes a stage before plants can grow.

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The Yakehashiri Nature Observation Trail allows you to experience the ferocity of lava flowing up close

Trail near the Iwateyama Yakehashiri International Exchange Village to the exit where there is an observation deck, there is a nature observation trail about 1 km long that allows you to walk on lava flows.

On both sides of the observation path marked by a fence, rugged lava rock is exposed, creating a landscape that Kenji Miyazawa described in his poem as "the dwelling place of demons and gods."

At the end of the walking path there is an observation deck where there is a stone monument engraved with a poem by Miyazawa Kenji, who visited the Yakehashiri lava flow.

Although this nature observation trail is technically a road, it is made up of exposed rugged lava rock, so we recommend wearing sturdy shoes with thick soles rather than sandals.

the Iwateyama Yakehashiri International Exchange Village located at the entrance to the observation trail, was previously a leisure facility where people could bathe, eat, and stay overnight, and it also had a campsite and an observatory.

However, with the management company withdrawing, the facility has been closed since October 20, 2025.

The city of Hachimantai, which owns the village, is considering the possibility of reopening it.

Yakehashiri Lava Flow <Information>

• Name: Yakehashiri lava flow
• Location: Hirakasa, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0195-78-3500 (Hachimantai City Tourism Association)
• Closed: Winter (due to snow)
• URL: Hachimantai City Tourism Association
• URL: Yakehashiri Lava Flow Guide Map

Google Map　

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Introducing some recommended gourmet spots in Hachimantai City that you should try when visiting the Yakehashiri Lava Flow!

There are many restaurants within a 10-minute drive from the lava flow, but we would like to introduce two that we particularly recommend.

Please note that the prices (including tax) listed in this article are current as of mid-November 2025.

Bar Restaurants Lamp (Kashiwadai, Hachimantai City)

In Kashiwadai, north of the lava flow, there was Higashi-Hachimantai Station on the Matsuo Industrial Railway, which transported sulfur from the now-defunct Matsuo Mine.

Founded in 1969, when the Matsuo Industrial Railway was still in operation, this popular restaurant has many repeat customers who come from far and wide.

When I visited on a Friday at lunchtime, the parking lot (7 spaces) was full, and in addition to cars from Iwate and Morioka, there were also cars with Akita license plates parked there.

The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere and is completely non-smoking. There are about 40 seats, including counters, tables and raised areas, and private rooms are also available.

In addition to the restaurant's recommended Angus beef and Kuroge Wagyu steaks, the menu is rich, diverse, and international, with a variety of set meals, Turkish rice, pizza, ramen, and more.

The most popular dish is the "Chicken and Wasabi Set Meal" (900 yen)

The crispy batter on the fried chicken is large and juicy, and it is topped with a generous amount of sauce that whets the appetite with the aroma of wasabi and the tartness of mayonnaise.

This set meal includes fresh vegetables such as tomatoes and lettuce, potato salad, a small side dish (kinpira), lightly pickled vegetables, rice, and soup (chicken broth and fish broth with egg drop).

Loco Moco (1,100 yen), popular among women

A large hamburger steak and fried egg are placed on top of white rice on a plate, and it is topped with a generous amount of rich and flavorful demi-glace sauce.

The large, round hamburger steak has little binder, allowing you to enjoy the original flavor of the meat, and it goes perfectly with the generous amount of demi-glace sauce.

This demi-glace sauce is rich and delicious, and when mixed with white rice, it tastes like high-quality hayashi rice.

Enjoy this exquisite dessert after your meal: "Hachimantai Premium Cloud Cheesecake" (550 yen)

This extremely rich and satisfying baked cheesecake was perfected by the owner after researching and eating cheesecakes from all over the country.

The cheese has a rich flavor and aroma, and it has a matured feel that gives it a hint of blue cheese, making it a must-try product.

The name comes from the cloud-like scenery of the former Matsuo Mine site, and it is also a popular gift in return for hometown tax donations.

It is a little pricey to buy a whole one, but the store offers pieces for 550 yen.

Bar Restaurants Lamp <Information>

• Store name: Bar Restaurants Lamp
• Address: 2-3-3 Kashiwadai, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0195-782066
• Business hours: 11:00-15:00, 18:00-20:00
• Closed: Monday
• URL: Bar Restaurants Lamp Official Website

Google Map

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Nollegretto

This soft serve ice cream and gelato shop is located along National Route 282 near Hachimantai City Hall, and its ice cream is made with delicious raw milk from the local Fujita Farm.

The toppings are also sourced from the local city of Hachimantai, and the name of the restaurant is said to mean full and wide-open

A serving of two gelatos costs 408 yen, a serving of three costs 499 yen, a serving of four costs 597 yen, and a serving of five costs 706 yen. This time, we tried the following four types of gelato.

• Rum raisin (+60 yen): Made with homemade rum raisin (alcohol content 0.71%)
• Freshly squeezed milk: Enjoy the natural sweetness, umami, and flavor of milk.
• Strawberries (+20 yen): Locally grown "Benihoppe" strawberries with a good balance of sweet and sour flavors.
• Brown rice (+20 yen): Contains "gyuhi" made from fragrant brown rice and rice flour

By the way, the shop's top recommendation is the "Noregret Set" (662 yen), which includes two servings of gelato and soft serve ice cream.

Nollegretto <Information>

• Store name: Nollegretto
• Address: 107, Hiradate 16th District, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 0195-68-7776
• Business hours: Monday to Friday 11:00-17:00, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 10:00-17:00
• No regular holiday
• URL: Noegretto official website

Google Map

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summary

The Yakehashiri lava flow is a precious natural heritage site in Japan that can be said to be the breath of the earth, allowing you to feel the ferocity of an eruption firsthand.

The rugged lava flows stretch as far as the eye can see, and there is a mysterious feeling that suggests both an unfathomable terror and the beginnings of robust life.

Hachimantai City, where the Yakehashiri lava flow is located, is a large new city formed by the merger of Nishine Town, Matsuo Village, and Yasudai Town during the "Heisei Great Merger."

This resort area is home to many ski resorts and hot springs, and is home to a mix of restaurants that have long been loved by locals and new concept restaurants, allowing you to enjoy a food tour.

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