Duration
3 days
Season
Feb-Mar
Plan your visit carefully and allow plenty of time for your activities in the park. Always check the latest weather information, and avoid overexerting yourself if you feel unwell.

ITINERARY

Hot Springs and Snowscapes in Towada-Hachimantai

Experience the hot spring culture of northern Tohoku in between ski and snowshoe tours of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, a mountainous area that is a haven for winter sports with healing waters powered by volcanic energy.

Itinerary Highlights

  • Skiing in the picturesque Hakkoda Mountains.

  • Relaxing in the hot springs of Sukayu Onsen and Nyuto Onsen.

  • Snowshoe tours of the Goshogake and Nyuto areas.

  • Unwinding with a guided craft workshop and leisurely lunch.

Trip Overview

A backcountry ski tour of Hakkoda
Snowshoeing around Goshogake and Oyunuma
The culture and cuisine of Nyuto
Day 1

A backcountry ski tour of Hakkoda

Take a bus from Shin-Aomori Station to the Hakkoda Ropeway in the late morning, then find somewhere for lunch in the area. In the afternoon, you'll go on a thrilling backcountry skiing tour of the Hakkoda Mountains where beautiful Maries’ fir trees abound. The Hakkoda area receives one of the heaviest snowfalls in the world, and February and March are prime for skiing.

After skiing, take a bus to Sukayu Onsen and check in for the evening. This hot-spring hotel has a history of 300 years and has baths and dining to nourish your body and soul after a day out in the cold.

Day 2

Snowshoeing around Goshogake and Oyunuma

Get an early start to the day and take a car from Sukayu Onsen to the Goshogake area. Your morning will be occupied with a three-hour snowshoe tour of Goshogake and Oyunuma, where you'll explore the Daideikazan Mud Volcano with a guide and get an up-close look at active fumaroles that spout sulfur into the air. This experience lets you explore parts of the park that are usually closed to visitors.

Stop by a restaurant in the area for lunch. Next, travel to Nyuto Onsen, a hot-springs area located deep in the mountains and surrounded by a forest of beech. Your overnight stay at a traditional Japanese ryokan will give you a chance to immerse yourself in not only the hot springs, but the healthy regional cuisine of Akita Prefecture and the serenity of nature. You'll get a refreshing night's sleep after trying it out for yourself.

Day 3

The culture and cuisine of Nyuto

Head out from your ryokan in the morning for a snowshoe tour of the surrounding forest. This guided experience continues with a break at either the baths of Tsuru-no-Yu or a craft workshop where you can make a wooden horse known as an itaya-uma. For lunch, you'll enjoy a special hot pot made with Japanese yams.

Wind down your time in Towada-Hachimantai in the afternoon and travel by bus back to Tazawako Station.

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