Recreational Activities / Experiences

Gotenyama

Altitude: 672.8m. It has a gentle plateau-like ridge line, and the scenery is good with some pastures mixed in. The surrounding area is a treasure trove of wild vegetables and fruits, and many wild birds and animals can be seen.

Ikoi Village Iwate

Located 10 minutes by car from the Nishine IC on the Tohoku Expressway, there is an accommodation facility with an observation deck, a large bathroom with a sauna, and an indoor hot spring pool, as well as an indoor artificial turf facility where you can enjoy field athletics, baseball, volleyball, tennis, and gateball. Sports facilities such as grounds and climbing boards are available. It is also a multipurpose hot spring accommodation facility equipped with a training room.

Hayachine Mountain

Hayachimine, the highest peak in the Kitakami Mountains, rises 1,917 meters above sea level. Of the three trails, the Kawarabo Course and the Odagoe Course are the most common. Although the slopes are steep, even beginners can reach the summit in about 3 hours. Hayachimine, famous for its alpine flora, also offers beautiful autumn foliage in the forest zone, and the vivid autumn colors at the foot of Hayachimine, composed of serpentine rock, make for a magnificent panoramic view from the fifth station as well as from the base of the mountain. Hayachimine was designated as a national quasi-national park in 1982. The trail is closed for the time being because part of the Kawarabo trail collapsed due to heavy rains on May 26, 2008, making it impassable. To preserve the natural environment of Mt. 　 Hayachibe for more information.

Arakawa Plateau and Arakawa Valley

It is a 2,500 hectare plateau connected to Mt. Yakushi, south of Mt. Hayachine, and is used as grazing land. You can see clusters of hydrangeas and rhododendrons. The Arakawa Valley flows at the foot of a plateau and is home to many river fish. It is also a climbing course from the Tono side of Mt. Hayachine.

Yakushidake

Many people use the course to climb Mt. Yakushi (1,645m) on the south side, which is the opposite of the route from Odagoshi to Mt. Hayachine. Although the climb is almost direct, the mountainside is generally gentle. You can see granite outcroppings and light moss under the rocks in the forest zone of Aomori fir and other trees. As the tree height decreases, the forest zone changes to Japanese pine. Approximately 300 meters from the top of the mountain, the rock formations growing on the granite are spectacular. There is also a course for descending the mountain that goes directly east from the summit and leads to Odakoshi Sanso.

Chicken head mountain

Ketouyama (1,445m) is a mountain with a strong presence as a rocky peak in the Hayachine Mountain Range. There are two ways to climb the mountain: one goes to the left side of the mountain and climbs up via Nanaori Falls, and the other goes up through a forested area on a steep slope. Both courses have rough roads with bamboo thickets, so be careful of your footing.

Mt. Haradai

Altitude: 894.7m. The summit, which is flat from north to south, offers views of Mt. Hikami and the Pacific Ocean to the east, Mt. Omori and Mt. Murone on the border of Miyagi Prefecture to the south, and the mountains of Kurikoma Quasi-National Park to the west in the distance.

Yaishishidake

The Yakeishi Mountain Range occupies the northern part of Kurikoma National Park and has 13 peaks over 1,000 meters high. Yakeishi-dake, which rises 1,548 meters above sea level, is the leader of this mountain range. It has the most lingering snow in the prefecture, and marshlands and ponds are found throughout the area. It is said that more than 300 species of alpine plants grow here, and the vegetation is diverse. In addition to the Nakanuma Course and Tsubunuma Course, there is also a traverse course leading to Mt. During the winter, National Route 397 is closed to the trailhead. Yakeishidake on the first Sunday in June.

Inaniwa Highlands

A grassland that spreads out at the base of Mt. Inaniwa. The path through the virgin beech forest is perfect for forest bathing. A sea of ​​green grass sways in the wind. Cows and horses are grazing leisurely. Such refreshing scenery refreshes both mind and body. Time seems to move slowly here.

Tomoriyama

It was said to be a sacred mountain where women were not allowed. Lake Tase can be seen from the top of the mountain, and on clear days you can even see Mt. Chokai.

Kunimiyama

With an altitude of 778m, the Ou Mountains to the west and the Isawa Plain below, the Kunimidaira Ski Resort is crowded with skiers in winter.

Kujihiradake

Kujihiradake is 706m above sea level. This is a great hiking course that is 5km from the trailhead to the top and takes about an hour to walk. The view from the summit is spectacular, with a 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Iwate, the Hakkoda Mountains in front of you, and the Pacific Ocean behind you. The night view of the azaleas in early summer and the fishing fires swaying in the distant sea is especially magical. Near the top of the mountain, there is Kujidaira Shrine, dedicated to the guardian deity of horses, Ozen-sama. There is also a campground, and events are held in the spring, summer, and fall, making it a lively place.