Winter experience tourism information

Kuji City – Miyako City Sanriku Railway Kotatsu Train

◇The winter specialty “Sanriku Railway Kotatsu Train”. Let’s travel around Sanriku leisurely in a warm kotatsu seat while enjoying seafood bento such as sea urchin bowl.

• period:
  Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from December 16, 2020 (Saturday) to March 24, 2020 (Sunday)
  *Services will be suspended on Sunday, December 31st.
  *Operates during the New Year period from January 31st (Saturday) to January 3rd (Tuesday).
• Fee:
  Section fare + reserved seat fee 300 yen
  Example: Kuji-Miyako one-way 2,190 yen (1,890 yen ticket + 300 yen reserved seat ticket)
  For more information, please visit the Sanriku Railway homepage.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Applications are accepted from 9 a.m. two months before the boarding date. Lunch boxes are only available for those boarding from Kuji Station. (Reservations must be made by 13:00 two days before the boarding date)
  Sanriku Railway Passenger Sales Department Tel: 0193-62-7000

Miyako City – Kamaishi City Sanriku Railway Western-style Kotatsu Train

◇The Sanriku Railway Western-Style Kotatsu Train, a retro train with luxurious kotatsu seats, will run between Miyako Station and Kamaishi Station. We also sell bento boxes such as Miyako’s specialty “Bottle Don”.

• period:
  Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from December 9, 2020 (Saturday) to February 25, 2020 (Sunday)
  *Closed during the New Year period from December 30th (Saturday) to January 2nd (Tuesday)
• Fee:
  Section fare + reserved seat fee 300 yen
  Example: Miyako-Kamaishi one-way 1,840 yen (1,540 yen ticket + 300 yen reserved seat ticket)
  For more information, please visit the Sanriku Railway homepage.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Applications are accepted from 9 a.m. two months before the boarding date. Lunch boxes are only available for those boarding from Miyako Station or Kamaishi Station. (Reservations must be made by 13:00 two days before the boarding date)
  Sanriku Railway Passenger Sales Department Tel: 0193-62-7000

Let’s walk through the Jomon winter in Ichinohe Town

◇Would you like to put on cross-country skis or snowshoes and take a walk through the quiet snowy fields of Goshono Jomon Park? You might even find rabbit or fox footprints!

• Date and time:
  Saturday, February 3, 2020 10:00-12:00
• Number of people/price:
  First 10 people (application period from January 6th to January 31st)
  500 yen for high school students and above (insurance included), 200 yen for junior high school students and below (insurance included)
  For more information, please visit the Goshono Jomon Park homepage.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Reservation required (please apply by phone. From 9:00)
  Goshono Jomon Park 0195-32-2652
• Traffic access:
  About 5 minutes by car from Hachinohe Expressway Ichinohe IC towards Morioka
  Approximately 15 minutes by car from JR Ninohe Station

Kuji City Snowshoe Trekking

◇Let’s put on snowshoes and walk through Japan’s best white birch forest. Recommended for beginners to playing in the snow.

• Date and time:
  January to March 2020 (subject to change depending on snow conditions)
  Morning session: 9:30 gathering 10:00~ Afternoon session: 13:00 gathering 13:30~ Number of people/price Minimum of 2 people (*10 years old and above)
  2,500 yen (insurance premium included)
  For more information, please visit the Hometown Experience Learning Association homepage.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Reservation required at least 3 days in advance (please apply by phone. Weekdays)
  Hometown Experience Learning Association 0195-32-2652
• Number of people/price:
  Approximately 40 minutes by car from Kuji Station
  Approximately 2 hours by bus from Morioka Station

Hachimantai City Iwate Prefecture Citizen’s Forest Nanataki Icefall Tour (Snowshoe Tour/Night Tour)

◇This is a tour to see the 30-meter-high Nanataki Icefall on snowshoes.

• Date and time:
  Sunday, January 28, 2020, Saturday, February 10, 2020
• open time:
  8:30-13:00 (Meet at Forest Fureai Learning Center by 8:15)
• Number of people/price:
  2,000 yen (each session) *Snowshoe rental 1,000 yen (separately) [Hot spring bath ticket included] Capacity 15 people (each session)

• Date and time:
  Saturday, February 3, 2020
• open time:
  15:30-18:30 (Meet at Forest Fureai Learning Center by 15:15)
• Number of people/price:
  3,500 yen *Snowshoe rental 1,000 yen separately [Hot spring bathing ticket included]
  Capacity: 15 people

 

• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  By appointment only. You cannot participate on the day without a reservation.
  Iwate Prefecture Citizen’s Forest Forest Fureai Learning Center Forest i
  Tel: 0195-78-2092
• Traffic access:
  Approximately 15 minutes by car from Tohoku Expressway Matsuo-Hachimantai IC
• remarks:
  Please come with cold weather equipment suitable for snowy mountains. If you are new to snowy mountains, please let us know when making a reservation. We will advise you on what to wear and what to bring.
  For more information, please visit the Iwate Prefecture Citizen’s Forest homepage.

Hachimantai City Appi Kogen Nature Tours Snowshoe Tour

◇ Learn about nature while wearing snowshoes and exploring the winter forest with a guide that you don’t usually walk through. Since a lift is used, even those who are not confident in their physical strength can enjoy it.

〈Forest exploration snowshoe tour with a guide〉

• Date and time:
  Weekdays from Monday, December 18, 2020 to Friday, March 29, 2020
  *Excluded days: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, December 28th (Thursday) to January 3rd (Tuesday)
• open time:
  9:30-11:30 (Meet at Appi Kogen Nature School reception in Appi Resort Center by 9:20)
• Number of people/price:
  Capacity: 2 to 6 people (*Ages 5 and over)
  Junior high school students and older 6,600 yen 5 years old to elementary school student 5,600 yen *Includes snowshoe/snow boot rental, lift ride fee, guide fee, insurance fee, and consumption tax
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Online reservation by 17:00 the day before
• Traffic access:
  20 minutes from Tohoku Expressway Yasushiro IC Note: Clothes/Equipment: Ski or snowboard wear, hat, gloves, goggles (sunglasses)
  There are other tours in addition to the ones listed above.
  For more information, please visit the Appi Kogen Nature School homepage.

Shizukuishi Town Amihari Visitor Center Winter exploration snowshoe walk at the foot of Mt. Kurakake

◇Amihari Visitor Center is a base facility for disseminating information on the charms of Mt. Iwate and nature, and promoting activities to interact with nature. Let’s put on our snowshoes and head out into the winter forest, which can only be walked during this time!

• Date and time:
  Saturday, January 13, 2020 9:30-14:30
• Number of people/price:
  Capacity: 20 people
  Participation fee: 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for elementary school students
  Meeting place Takizawa Nature Information Center
  For more information, please visit the Amihari Visitor Center homepage.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Reservation required
  Amihari Visitor Center 019-693-3777
• Traffic access:
  20 minutes by car from JR Shizukuishi Station
  30 minutes by car from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway

Shizukuishi Town Shizukuishi Ski Resort Sunrise Tour (CAT Tour)

◇An extraordinary tour to see the sunrise while riding a snowmobile!

• Date and time:
  Sunday, January 7th, Sunday, February 11th, Saturday, February 24th, 2020
  5:00AM – 7:00AM *Varies depending on sunrise time
• Number of people/price:
  15,000 yen per person
  Approximately 8 people each day
  For more information, please visit the Shizukuishi Ski Resort homepage.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Advance reservation required Until 5:00PM the day before the event
  Shizukuishi Ski Resort 019-693-1111
• Traffic access:
  20 minutes by car from JR Shizukuishi Station
  30 minutes by car from Morioka IC on the Tohoku Expressway

Ichinohe Town Nanako Wakasagi Fishing *This season has been canceled

◇Even beginners can enjoy Iwate’s best winter experience, “ice fishing for wakasagi.”

• period:
  Late January to mid-February 2020 (planned) (May be closed if the ice thickness is less than 15 cm)
• Number of people/price:
  From 1 person
  Recreational fishing fee: 800 yen (adult)
  400 yen (junior high school students and over 75 years old)
  Free for elementary school students and under
  *Recreational fishing tickets are only sold locally on the day of the event.
  *Details can also be found on the Fisheries Cooperative Association website.
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Rental equipment must be reserved at least one day in advance. Kamimabuchigawa Fisheries Cooperative Association 0195-33-2111 Fisheries Cooperative Local Office 0195-36-1617
• Traffic access:
  Approximately 30 minutes by car from Tohoku Expressway Ichinohe IC

Morioka City Yabukawa Challenge yourself empty-handed! Lake Iwado ice smelt fishing

◇Please try fishing for smelt in the coldest weather in Honshu. You can rent the necessary tools, so you don’t have to worry about coming empty-handed.

period:
Scheduled from January 31, 2020 to late March. No regular holiday. (If the ice is not thick enough, we may be closed)

• Number of people/price:
  1 person ~ Fishing ticket: Adult 800 yen
  Junior high school students and people over 75 years old: 400 yen
  Free for elementary school students and under
  Rental fee: Rod set 2,000 yen
  Ice drill 1,000 yen
  Tent for 2 to 4 people 3,000 to 5,000 yen
  Boots 500 yen
  Large sled 1,000 yen
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  Reservations are not required, but please inquire in advance before heading out.
  Iwado Lake Rest House 019-681-5039 (until 17:00 on weekdays)
• Traffic access:
  50 minutes by taxi or bus from JR Morioka Station (get off at Iwadoko on the Hayasaka Kogen Line)
  60 minutes from Tohoku Expressway Takizawa IC
• remarks:
  ・Due to busy times on Saturdays and Sundays, it may be difficult to receive calls. For reservations and inquiries, please call on weekdays if possible.
  ・Although you can rent the tent empty-handed, please bring your own cold weather gear, a chair to sit on in the tent, a mat, and boots.

Hanamaki City Lake Tase smelt fishing

◇You can enjoy fishing for smelt while riding a boat on the vast Lake Tase. It is recommended for beginners as it comes with a guide.

• period:
  Scheduled from Saturday, November 18, 2020 to late February 2020
• Fee:
  Adults/Children: 4,500 yen/person (Includes passenger accident insurance fee of 520 yen and fishing ticket of 900 yen)
• Availability of reservation/contact information:
  It is a complete reservation system.
  Lake Tase Town Revitalization Project 080-2820-8749
• Traffic access:
  Approximately 25 minutes by car from JR Shin-Hanamaki Station
• remarks:
  Fishing rod rental available (please let us know when making a reservation)

*Contents may change due to weather and other factors, so please check before going out.