Have you already done the Japanese “Golden Route” - Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Kyoto, Osaka to Hiroshima - and are looking for your next destination in Japan?
Explore Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture
The northernmost area of Honshu – Accessible from Tokyo in less than 3 hours by Shinkansen Bullet Train! The Hachinohe Area is made of 7 towns and villages surrounding Hachinohe City – a unique area and a warm-hearted community, full of unique opportunities for visitors. Experience pristine nature, amazing local food, and fascinating traditional culture when you explore Japan’s Northern Frontier.
The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai
The region offers opportunities that are only possible in the Japanese countryside. The Hachinohe Sansha Taisai has been celebrated over hundreds of years – Local community groups create stunning floats and parade them around the streets of the city. The city is taken over by stunning statues of mythical figures, Kabuki heroes, and fantastical creatures, reaching up to 10 metres high. This is your opportunity to see a traditional festival full of local passion and an exciting atmosphere.
The Michinoku Coastal Trail
Once you have experienced the excitement of Hachinohe City, experience pristine nature as you hike the Michinoku Coastal Trail. The full trail runs 1,000km all the way down to Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture, any point on the trail will showcase the incredible Japanese coast, including beaches, cliffs, forests, mountains, and shrines.
The Morning Market at Tatehana Warf
If you would prefer to take it easy and live like a real Hachinohe citizen, join them at the Tatehana Wharf for the biggest morning market in Japan. Every Sunday thousands of locals gather to enjoy fresh local food and produce, from fruit and vegetables to seafood fresh from the Hachinohe fishermen’s catch. The market is not only famous for its food, there are stalls selling antiques, traditional crafts, and all sorts of locally produced goods. If you want an authentic Japanese experience, join the crowd here, eat some local delicacies, and browse the stalls.
TOHOKU EMOTION train
Travelling by train evokes a romantic past. Leisurely taking in the sights and enjoying the journey as much as the destination. The views of oceans, mountains, and forests seen through the windows of a speeding locomotive are some of the most beautiful sights in the world. Japan is famous for the lightning fast Shinkansen Bullet Train, which regularly takes hundreds of passengers between Tokyo and Osaka in under three hours, and for developing the next-generation of high-tech rail, but it has a wide range of “Joyful trains” which travel on some of the country's most beautiful railways. These trains are more than just a way to get to your next destination, they are a unique and beautiful experience, and one of the greatest is TOHOKU EMOTION.
What is the TOHOKU EMOTION train?
Despite the image of railway travel as being from a bygone era, the beautiful TOHOKU EMOTION only made it’s debut in 2013. Each carriage is decorated in the motif of traditional crafts from around the Tohoku region. Some of the trains run along the coast and provide incredible ocean views and panoramas of the beautiful natural landscape of Northern Japan.
The train route lets you experience about 60 kilometres of natural beauty and a luxury meal
Along the way, you will be able to see the vast plains of the Tanesashi Coast, as well as Kabushima Island, a famous natural breeding ground for seabirds. Visit this area of natural beauty you April to July for an unbelievable number of black-tailed gulls, or enjoy the lush scenery of the grasslands and wildflowers from mid-June to mid-July. The TOHOKU EMOTION route lets you experience about 60 kilometres of natural beauty can see everything from the comfort of a luxury train carriage.
The train includes a private compartment railcar and open dining railcar with a luxury meal and a spectacular view, as well as live kitchen space railcar where you can see the chefs preparing meals using local ingredients. The menu also offers different meals on each leg of the journey, so you can enjoy a meal on the outward journey and a dessert on your return.
For a unique celebration you can also charter the whole train and enjoy the ride with up to 48 guests. The cost is about £4,500 (about 800,000 yen)
*Prices will change according to the exchange rate.
The train runs between Hachinohe in Aomori prefecture and Kuji in Iwate prefecture. Why not travel in style, stay cool in the summer and enjoy your trip through the gorgeous Hachinohe area in a unique and beautiful train? Make the journey as special as the destination!
Train Times
The train usually runs on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and National Holidays
- Outbound
・Hachinohe 11:06 (dep.)
・Kuji 13:02 (arr.)
- Inbound
・Kuji 14:18 (dep.)
・Hachinohe 16:01 (arr.)
*Times schedule are subject to change.
More information here.
There are plenty of incredible places to visit in Japan outside of the “Golden Route”. Hachinohe is a great choice for traditional culture, incredible food and unspoilt nature. Add it to your itinerary.
How to access Hachinohe
From Tokyo : About 2 hours and 45 minutes by Shinkansen Bullet Train
From Osaka (Itami Airport) : About 1 hour and 35 minutes by flight to Misawa Airport
From Sapporo (Okadama Airport) : About 1 hour by flight to Misawa Airport
For more information please see the VISIT HACHINOHE website here.
About VISIT HACHINOHE
The Hachinohe Area is comprised of eight regions; Hachinohe City, Sannohe Town, Gonohe Town, Takko Town, Nanbu Town, Hashikami Town, Shingo Village and Oirase Town.
The VISIT HACHINOHE organization has simple goals: to raise awareness about the unique and amazing attributes of the Hachinohe Area as a domestic and international travel destination, to establish Hachinohe as a brand known for its quality and excellence, to increase the number and satisfaction of both visitors related to tourism and business, to continue to support the growth of local businesses and entrepreneurs, and to work towards increasing the residential population of the area as a whole.
