Local Guide
Enjoy this while sightseeing! An exciting Experience unique to Towada, Oirase, and Hachinohe

Towada, Oirase, and Hachinohe are full of nature, including the Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada. We will introduce Experience that will allow you to fully enjoy the charms of this area, from Activity where you can enjoy the seasonal scenery to Property you can interact with local people and learn about rural life and traditional crafts.

A palm-sized arrangement of the Oirase moss garden

"Kokki" is a moss fairy. In Experience you will make a "Kokedama" (a moss ball).
"Kokki" is a moss fairy. In Experience you will make a "Kokedama" (a moss ball).

Located inside the Oirase Gorge Museum, a tourist information spot along the Oirase Gorge, you can Experience making kokedama (a type of moss ball) and gourd lamps. A kokedama is a type of mini bonsai that is easy to make. The roots of the plant are covered in soil, rolled into a ball, and moss is then attached to the surface. The moss-covered appearance is like a snapshot of the Oirase Gorge scenery, making it perfect for creating memories. The round shape is also popular for its cuteness.
The base is made from the same species of plants that grow naturally in the Oirase Gorge. You can choose your favorite from several types of plants. Beech and maple trees are popular, not only in the green season but also in the autumn when the leaves change color. Ferns go well with moss and give off the atmosphere of a deep forest, so we also recommend them.

Comments Local Guide
The kokedama making Experience is popular with both children and adults. At first, you may not be able to roll the moss as you want, but with some gentle advice you will easily get the hang of it.

Handmade gourd lamps with the motif of Oirase moss

Friendly Staff/staff member will give you a lecture. The completed work can be delivered to your home (additional charge).
Friendly Staff/staff member will give you a lecture. The completed work can be delivered to your home (additional charge).

More than 300 kinds of moss have been found in the Oirase Gorge, including the perfectly round "Egg Moss" and the flower-patterned "Kotsubogoke". The "Gourd Lamp" making Experience involves designing a moss pattern on a gourd grown in the waters of the Oirase Gorge by drilling holes in it. The light shining from inside is very romantic and makes a wonderful interior decoration.
If you're looking for souvenirs, head to the shop corner. There are many lamps and "kokedama" (decorative balls) lined up, so it's fun just to look at them.
Also, don't forget to try the "Oirase Moss Soft Serve" at the cafe inside the building. This is a specialty of Oirase Keiryukan, made to resemble moss and sprinkled with plenty of matcha powder.

Oirase Mossball Workshop (inside the Oirase Stream Museum)
  • URLhttp://www.mossball.jp/
  • 住所183 Tochikubo, Okusae, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 40 minutes by car from JR Shichinohe-Towada Station, approximately 50 minutes by car from JR Misawa Station
  • バスアクセスFrom JR Shichinohe-Towada Station, take the Shichinohe-Towada-Oirase Shuttle Bus bound for "Yakiyama" for about 1 hour, then walk for about 5 minutes from the last stop (only operates during Golden Week and mid-June to October)
  • 営業時間9:00～16:30
  • 定休日Open daily
  • 入場料"Kokedama" making Experience: from 2,000 yen, gourd lamp making Experience 5,000 yen *Reservation required by the day before
  • TEL0176-74-1233（奥入瀬渓流館）
  • 駐車場free
  • メモPlease check the official website for details such as Experience times and target ages.

Try making traditional Nanbu Sakiori fabric!

A table center made with Nanbu Sakiori Experience. It takes about an hour.
A table center made with Nanbu Sakiori Experience. It takes about an hour.

This is a spot where you can Experience making traditional crafts and processed products using locally grown vegetables and fruits. One experience you should definitely Experience here is making a table centerpiece using Nanbu Sakiori. Nanbu Sakiori is a type of weaving that has been passed down in the southern part of Aomori Prefecture for over 200 years, in which torn cotton cloth is used as the weft and woven into the warp threads of hemp and other materials. In the past, cotton was a precious commodity in the north, so when it got old, people would cherish it by remaking it into obi belts, kotatsu covers, and other items like this.
In Experience, you will choose your favorite pattern from a wide variety of colorful fabrics and finish it on a loom called an Izaribata. You will be taught one-on-one, so even beginners can feel at ease. Torn fabric will be transformed into a beautiful piece of work.

Comments Local Guide
Instead of throwing away worn-out items, they are reborn as new textiles so they can be used again. I can sense the ingenuity, wisdom, and various thoughts of the people who live in the northern part of Japan.

Make eco-friendly slippers using corn husks

The finished table center and the ash slippers
The finished table center and the ash slippers

Making slippers using corn husks is Experience that can only be experienced here. Towada has long been known as a horse-producing region, and these slippers were made to avoid wasting the husks of the corn that was grown for feed.
Experience involves making the sole of the sandals, which are like straw sandals. The upper part requires skill, so you basically just attach the finished product. The work takes about four hours per pair, which is quite painstaking, but the sandals are comfortable to wear and have a stylish retro pattern. They also make a great souvenir.
In addition, once a month there is an agricultural product processing Experience where participants can make their own dumplings, tofu, and bread using ingredients from Towada City. Everyone from children to adults can enjoy eating freshly made local flavors.

Towada Roadside Station and Towada Pia
  • URLhttp://www.towadapia.com/
  • 住所37-2 Hirakubo, Denpoji, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 26 minutes by taxi from Misawa Station
    About 30 minutes by taxi from Shichinohe-Towada Station
  • 営業時間Center House 7:00-20:00 (8:00-19:00 from November to March of the following year), other times vary by Property
  • 定休日Open everyday (Takumi Kobo is closed on Mondays, and the following day if a public holiday falls on Monday)
  • TEL0176-28-3790
  • 駐車場free

A nature guide will take you to one of Japan's best moss forests

The "Oirase Stream Moss Walk" tour period is from mid-April to early November.
The "Oirase Stream Moss Walk" tour period is from mid-April to early November.

The Oirase Gorge has been selected as one of Japan's precious moss forests by the Japanese Bryological Society. The Oirase Natural Tourism Resources Research Association offers the Oirase Gorge Moss Walk, where a professional nature guide will show you the charms of the Oirase Gorge through moss. You can learn how to identify moss, how it relates to other living things, how to use a magnifying glass for observation, and how to take photos with your smartphone or camera.
This tour is a leisurely rambling style walk that covers a few hundred meters for 1 hour and a half or 3 hours. In spring, you can enjoy the flowers, and in summer, you can listen to the calls of small birds such as blue-and-white flycatchers. You can enjoy nature other than moss.

Comments Local Guide
From a distance, the mosses all look the same, but under a magnifying glass, each one is different in size and type. When you look closely, the mosses start to look cute.

There are many ways to enjoy Oirase's nature in each season

On the "Kinoko*Nokonoko Photo Tour" you can encounter cute mushrooms like those you see in picture books.
On the "Kinoko*Nokonoko Photo Tour" you can encounter cute mushrooms like those you see in picture books.

From June to October, the park will be hosting a "Mushroom * Nokonoko Photo Tour" and a "Fern Observation Tour," where participants will walk around in search of a variety of mushrooms, including colorful ones and ones with unique shapes.
We recommend the "Snowy Oirase Walk - Crystal Fantasy" winter nature tour, which takes place from February to March. Put on snowshoes and head out into a world of silvery white snow, admiring the moss trapped in the ice and searching for the footprints of wild animals such as martens, giving you a taste of adventure.
All tours are limited to small groups of five or six people, making it easier to communicate with the guide.

Oirase Natural Tourism Resources Research Association
  • URLhttps://www.oiken.org/
  • 住所11-1 Nishinijusanbancho, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture, 1 Sobeyama, Okuse, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture (Meeting place: Ishigedo Rest Area) MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 50 minutes by car from JR Shichinohe-Towada Station Approximately 1 hour by car from Aoimori Railway Misawa Station
  • バスアクセスFrom JR Aoimori Railway Hachinohe Station, take the JR Bus Tohoku Towada Kita Line "Oirase-go" bound for Lake Towada for about 1 hour 40 minutes and get off at "Ishigedo" (only operates from mid-April to mid-November, 2 buses per day)
  • 営業時間9:00-17:00 (telephone hours), tours are held from 6:00-17:00
  • 定休日Irregular holidays
  • 入場料Elementary school students: 2,000-3,000 yen; middle school students and above: 3,000-6,000 yen (varies depending on the tour)
    *Reservations are required for each tour. Check the official website for details.
  • TEL0176-23-5866もしくはinfo@oiken.orgへメールで問い合わせ
  • 駐車場Free (use Ishigedo Rest Area Parking)

Cruise around Lake Towada's special protected area on a high-speed boat!

Japan's leading RIB tour, takes about 50 minutes. The maximum speed during the travel section is 50 knots! Children from 1 year old can participate.
Japan's leading RIB tour, takes about 50 minutes. The maximum speed during the travel section is 50 knots! Children from 1 year old can participate.

"Guriland" is a place where you can enjoy a wide variety of Activity, starting from Lake Towada.
The most popular "RIB Tour" is an adventure cruise around Lake Towada on a RIB boat, which is used for military use, rescue, and polar exploration. You will explore special protected areas with steep cliffs and virgin forests. The highlight is Itomuka Cove, one of the sources of the Oirase Gorge. The crystal clear lake surface is mystical, and rare aquatic creatures such as the Tohoku salamander can be seen in the water.
The tour will take you to caves, ancient ruins, and power spots, and there is a 99% chance of encountering wild animals along the way, such as Japanese serows, flying squirrels, and golden eagles. You can fully enjoy the dynamic nature.

Comments Local Guide
You'll be impressed by the beauty of the waters of Lake Towada, which cannot be seen from land. It's an exhilarating experience with a sense of speed that you rarely experience!

A full range of Activity unique to a snowy country

Enjoy a snowmobile drive on the "Lake Towada CAT Tour"
Enjoy a snowmobile drive on the "Lake Towada CAT Tour"

From mid-December to mid-March, you can enjoy Activity unique to snow country on the "Lake Towada CAT Tour," which involves driving on a snowmobile along the shores of Lake Towada and the Oirase Gorge.
This tour takes about an hour to one of Lake Towada's best view spots, Kankodai. Along the way, you can change into snowshoes and enjoy trekking while admiring the snow-covered scenery. Drinks are served at the finish line, and for an additional fee, you can also enjoy stone oven pizza and barbecue on the snow. The freshly cooked, piping hot food you can enjoy in the clear air is exceptional. It will warm both your body and your soul.

Greeland
  • URLhttp://guriland.jp/
  • 住所123-1 Utarube, Lake Towada, Okuze, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 1 hour and 20 minutes by car from JR/Aoimori Railway Hachinohe Station
  • バスアクセスFrom JR/Aoimori Railway Hachinohe Station, take the JR Bus Tohoku Towada Kita Line "Oirase-go" bound for Lake Towada for approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, then get off at "Shimo-Utarube" and walk for approximately 2 minutes (operates from mid-April to mid-November)
  • 営業時間7:00-19:00 (Telephone support)
  • 定休日Open everyday (Kayak tours are closed from November to mid-April)
  • 入場料RIB tour: 4,000-6,000 yen for ages 12 and over (varies depending on departure time), 2,000 yen for ages 11 and under, Kayak tour: 6,000 yen for ages 16 and over
    Lake Towada CAT Tour: 5,000 yen for ages 12 and over, 2,000 yen for ages 11 and under
    *Reservations may or may not be required for each tour. Please check the official website for details.
  • TEL0176-75-2755、090-4159-4811
  • 駐車場free

Experience rural life in Nango, Hachinohe

You can Experience making soba noodles and "tempo senbei" crackers all year round.
You can Experience making soba noodles and "tempo senbei" crackers all year round.

An Experience-based exchange Property in Nango on the outskirts of Hachinohe City where you can learn about the lifestyles and traditional culture of this region.
You can try local recipes such as making soba noodles, tofu, making the moist and soft "tempo senbei" crackers, and "mameshitogi" made by kneading crushed beans into rice flour, all using recipes from local grandmothers. There are also other Experience that vary depending on the season, such as making woven slippers from scraps of cloth and making baskets using vines from arrowroot. All of them are filled with the wisdom of old-fashioned life. You can also interact with the local people, and their warm personalities and conversations mixed with their dialect will warm your heart.

Comments Local Guide
There is a full menu of Experience available, with local experts in action. The location is also wonderful.

A peaceful Property surrounded by nature and a nostalgic atmosphere

Approximately 2 million sunflowers bloom behind the school building. You can also Experience them yourself.
Approximately 2 million sunflowers bloom behind the school building. You can also Experience them yourself.

The Experience Property is a renovated wooden school building of the former Masuda Elementary and Junior High School, which was closed down. The building is over 100 years old, and inside, there are nostalgic items such as an organ and a multi-channel television.
There is also the Yomasu Dam Museum, which introduces the lives of the villages surrounding a school that was submerged in the dam lake to construct the Yomasu Dam, and a farm Restaurant where you can sample locally produced 100% buckwheat noodles.
In addition to the above, seasonal events are also held, and the "Buckwheat and Sunflower Cherry Blossom Viewing Week" held in late August is so popular that it attracts over 35,000 people every year. The approximately 4 hectares of fields are dyed in two colors, white and yellow, creating a breathtaking beauty.

Mountain School
  • URLhttps://www.yamanogakkou.com/
  • 住所6-2 Kitanohata, Shimamori, Nango, Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • アクセスApproximately 25 minutes by car from JR Hachinohe Station
  • 営業時間8:00-17:00, Experience until 15:00, farm Restaurant 11:00-14:00
  • 定休日Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday)
  • 入場料100-3,000 yen (varies depending on Experience)
    *Reservations may be required depending on the Experience. Please check the official website for details.
  • TEL0178-82-2222
  • 駐車場free
*The contents listed are current as of the date of article update. They may be subject to change, so please check before using.