Experience Nature at Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts
The clear Oirase River flows through Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The Oirase Stream, about 14 km upstream, is known as one of the most scenic spots in Japan, and is designated as a National Park Special Protection Area, a national special scenic beauty spot, and a natural monument. The ecosystem is diverse, including trees such as beech and katsura, and animals such as antelope and marten. About 300 kinds of mosses grow wild, and the area has been selected as one of the "Precious Moss Forests of Japan.
Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts" is located along the Oirase Keiryu Stream, which is full of attractions. Guest rooms with a view of the mountain stream, restaurants, hot springs, and a wide variety of activities in the great outdoors are available. Starting from the port city of Hachinohe, we will take you on a 3-day/2-night trip to enjoy the rich nature and tastes of Towada and Oirase.
Points of the model course
- French cuisine and fine wines for a blissful time
- Discover the charm of moss by walking along the Oirase mountain stream!
- Enjoy Towadako's famous gourmet cuisine and spectacular views
Day 1
JR Hachinohe Station
10 min. by cab
11:30 Hachishoku Center
Tantalize your taste buds with seasonal seafood at a lively and popular market.
Charcoal-grilled seafood is savory and full of flavor. Rice, rice cracker soup, apple juice and other drinks are also available.
After getting off at Hachinohe Station, you will first visit a huge market where you can enjoy the delicacies of Hachinohe, one of the best port towns in Tohoku. The market features about 60 stores selling freshly landed seafood from Hachinohe Port, freshly picked vegetables, fruits, dry foods, confectioneries, and sundries.
The best place for lunch is "Shichirinmura," where you can taste foods bought on the spot and grilled over charcoal. Visitors can enjoy scallops, shrimp, squid, oysters, seasonal seafood, beef, and more, grilled to their liking. After paying the fee to reserve a seat, visitors can take a tour of the restaurant in search of ingredients. The fresh fish store has a wide selection of fresh seafood, but if you are not sure what to look for, ask the store staff for their recommendations. If you tell the shopkeeper that you want to grill the fish in the shichirin village, he or she will cut the fish into pieces for you to enjoy.
- Hakko Center
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22-2 Aza-Kamisai, Kawaraki, Hachinohe City MAP
Kitchen Stadium 9:00 - 21:00 (Ichibatei from 10:00), Aji Yokocho 9:00 - 18:00 (L.O. 17:30), Market Building 9:00 - 18:00 *Subject to change during Obon and New Year holidays.
Wednesdays (open on national holidays and during peak season), 1/1, Kitchen stadium open daily (except 1/1)
0178-28-9311, Ichibatei direct 0178-28-8748
10 min. by cab
14:30 JR Hachinohe Station
Approx. 1 hour and 10 minutes by shuttle bus operated by Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts (reservation required)
15:40 Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts
Spend an exquisite resort stay with a mountain stream
The concept of the Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts is "Keiryu Slow Life. A relaxing stay awaits you in the Restaurant, Guest rooms, and hot springs with a view of the beautiful mountain stream. Activities in the great outdoors are abundant, and the natural beauty of the four seasons is a once-in-a-lifetime sight.
Keiryu Japanese-style room with Outdoor hot spring terrace
Guest rooms overlooking the mountain stream offer a close-up view of nature. Recommended are the Japanese-style rooms with terraces overlooking the mountain stream and outdoor hot springs, and the "Keiryu-koronto-chair" by the window to lie down on. You can spend a luxurious time viewing the seasonal nature from everywhere.
16:00 Lobby of East Wing, Mori no Myth, West Wing, Keiryu-BASE
Enjoy your time in the space around the fireplace
Relax in the lobby. The large fireplace "Myth of the Forest" vividly depicts the life of birds, mushrooms, and forest fairies.
After taking a break, go on a tour of the hotel. The large fireplace "Myth of the Forest" that greets you in the lobby is the work of artist Taro Okamoto. Enjoy coffee or apple tea in a space where art and nature are in harmony. The large fireplace "Kawagami" in the Keiryu-BASE is also by the same artist and is equipped with a Keiryu library.
17:00 Outdoor hot spring
Refresh yourself in the "mountain stream outdoor hot spring" surrounded by nature.
The cool breeze across the mountain stream feels good on your warm body.
Before dinner, relax and unwind from your trip in the outdoor hot spring with a view of the mountain stream. While admiring the vivid fresh greenery and colorful autumn leaves, you can enjoy the gentle hot springs that spring from Mount Hakkoda. In winter, the "Ice Falls," icy waterfalls, appear in the Outdoor hot springs.
18:30 Buffet Restaurant "Aomori Apple Kitchen
Experience Aomori's rich bounty at the apple buffet.
The space is decorated with apple-shaped lights made from "BUNACO," an Aomori craft, and "Tsugaru Biidoro" apple objet d'art.
Aomori Prefecture is Japan's largest producer of apples. The buffet restaurant offers a variety of creative apple dishes. Freshly prepared dishes such as roast beef will be served in the live kitchen. The "hot apple pie" with soft-serve ice cream will melt your heart and soul.
20:00 Keiryu-BASE
Learn about the charms of the Oirase Keiryu through "Keiryu Discovery
The mountain stream concierge, who is well versed in the nature of the area, gives a fun lecture.
To prepare for the Oirase Keiryu walk starting the next day, you will want to participate in the "Keiryu Discovery" held at Keiryu-BASE. Based on the concept of "deep discovery," a mountain stream concierge will introduce the origins of the Oirase Stream and recommended walking routes. By learning about the charms of the area, visitors can look forward to a more enjoyable stroll.
Day 2
07:00 Buffet Restaurant "Aomori Apple Kitchen
Recharge your energy with a specialty menu before Activity
Original menus incorporating apples as well as dinner
Wake up to freshly squeezed apple juice at the breakfast buffet. French toast prepared in the live kitchen and morning ramen noodles with scallops and kelp are recommended.
11:15 Keiryu Open Air Bus Tour
Rediscover the charm of nature on an open-top bus.
A 90-minute round-trip course between the hotel and Lake Towada. During the course, the mountain stream concierge introduces the charms of the Oirase mountain stream and how to enjoy it.
In the morning, you will join the Keiryu Open Bus Tour, a short tour of the 14-km Oirase Keiryu, which has a double-decker bus with no roof, giving you a great sense of openness. The wind carries the scent of the trees, the murmur of the mountain stream, and the chirping of wild birds. You will experience the great outdoors from a different perspective than on foot.
Approx. 30 min. by cab
13:00 Restaurant Yasumiya
Freshly baked food is a delicacy. The famous "Towadako Himameshi
Yasumiya Gozen. The sashimi of "Aoimori Kurenai Salmon," a new variety of freshwater farmed rainbow trout from Aomori Prefecture, is also delicious.
After returning from the bus tour, we will go to Towadako, the source of the Oirase mountain stream. This lakeside restaurant is well known for its local cuisine from both Aomori and Akita prefectures, including dishes using Lake Towada's specialty, hime-masu trout, and kiritanpo nabe. Hime-masu is a freshwater fish of the salmon family, and as the name "hime" implies, it is characterized by its beautiful appearance and color. Hime-masu was successfully farmed in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and is now a local brand as "Towadako hime-masu.
The most recommended dish is the "Yasumiya Gozen," a set of specialties from both prefectures. The salt-baked himeshi trout, a specialty of the restaurant, is not too fishy, and its elegant flavor and sweet fat fill the mouth with a sweet taste. Kiritanpo (Kiritanpo with Akita-komachi rice) is a dish with a rich Hinai chicken broth and a chewy texture.
- Restaurant YASUMIYA
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- 486 Rest house by Lake Towada, Okuse-Towada, Towada City, Aomori MAP
- 11:00～L.O.14:00
- Open daily (closed in winter from December to March)
- 0176-75-2141
Approx. 3 min. on foot
14:40 Lake Towadako Pleasure Boat (round trip course)
The large rock wall is a powerful sight! Enjoy the seasonal beauty of nature from the lake
Ebisu Daikokujima" made of lava, "Mimigarino Matsu," "Goshiki Iwa," and "Senjo Maku" are just a few of the many attractions.
Lake Towada, which straddles Aomori and Akita Prefectures, is a caldera lake with a maximum depth of 327 meters formed by volcanic eruptions. It is one of the most scenic spots in Japan, with the clear blue surface of the lake reflecting the fresh greenery and autumn leaves like a water mirror.
One of the most popular leisure activities at Lake Towada is a sightseeing boat tour, which operates between "Rest House," the central sightseeing area of Lake Towada, and "Nenokuchi," the entrance to the Oirase Stream in Course A. Course B (round trip course) starts and ends at Rest House, and takes passengers around the Nakayama Peninsula and Lake Nakako. Both courses take about 50 minutes, and only a sightseeing boat can provide a close-up view of numerous viewpoints, including the "Senjo-maku," a large 220-meter-high rock wall. You will be amazed at the pristine and spectacular views that nature has created.
- Lake Towada Cruise (round trip course)
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- 486 Kyukaya, Lake Okuse-Towada, Towada City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
- 8:00-17:00 from late April to early November (*Varies according to the year, course, etc.; check the website for details). Please check the website for details)
- Open all year round during the tour period (subject to change or cancellation in case of heavy fog, strong winds, or other inclement weather).
Junior high school students and older: 1,650 yen, elementary school students: 880 yen (additional fee required for green room)- 0176-75-2909
Approx. 8 min. on foot
15:40 Lake Towada Marine Blue
Take a break from the lake's beautiful scenery and famous apple pie
Handmade apple pie" 600 yen per slice, coffee 450 yen
After the cruise, take a break at a lakeside café. Located on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, the cafe is famous for its "homemade apple pie. The filling is made of carefully selected apples from the prefecture, mainly Fuji apples. The pie is filled with large pieces of apples, and since no cinnamon is used, you can enjoy the natural sweetness and tartness of the apples. The apple pie, created through trial and error in the selection of ingredients and baking method, is now a well-known specialty of Towadako. In addition to eat-in, take-out is also available.
The "homemade apple sherbet" made with apple syrup and lemon juice is also recommended. If the weather permits, be sure to sit on the terrace. The apple sweets tasted in the excellent location are exceptional.
- Lake Towada Marine Blue
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- Towadako Okudaira, Kosaka-cho, Kazuno County, Akita Prefecture MAP
- Late April - Early November 8:00-18:00
- No holidays
- 0176-75-3025
Reservations not accepted (reservations for take-out are accepted)
Approx. 30 min. by cab
17:00 Outdoor hot spring
Relax in the Outdoor hot spring after leisure activities.
Enjoy bathing while gazing at the ever-changing evening scenery
The outdoor hot spring overlooking the mountain stream is the perfect place to relax after a hard day's work. The soft hot spring water will relax your body and mind. If you wake up early the next day, a morning bath is also recommended. You can enjoy bathing while the morning mist envelops the mountain stream and the murmuring of wild birds and streams echoes in the air.
18:30 French Restaurant "Sonore
A superb dinner where beautiful scenery, fine food, and fine sake are combined.
Sonore" is a musical term meaning "echoing cheerfully. A space where the sound of the mountain stream, French cuisine, and fine wines resonate with each other.
Dinner begins with an aperitif on the terrace along the mountain stream, where you can enjoy an aperitif and amuse yourself with an aperitif. In the dining room, sophisticated modern French cuisine is served one after another, making the most of the ingredients. The wine list features carefully selected fine wines from all over the world, which you can enjoy with your meal.
Day 3
08:30 Mountain Stream Terrace
A morning with sparkling forests and mountain streams. Enjoy breakfast with all your senses.
Breakfast on the mountain stream terrace is available only from May to October. Blankets and bench coats are available for comfort on chilly days.
Breakfast on the last day is served on the mountain stream terrace where we enjoyed an aperitif last night. The sun shining through the trees and the murmuring of the river gently echoing in the background, you can enjoy an elegant moment.
09:50 Moss Walk
Welcome to the microscopic world of mysterious moss.
The tour takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The mosses that can be seen vary depending on the time of year, and you will be guided through the structure and ecology of the mosses.
About 300 kinds of mosses grow wild in the Oirase Stream. In the "Moss Walk," you will walk about 1 km along the midstream trail, observing mosses with a stream concierge. The mosses are surprisingly unique when viewed through a loupe. When you spray water on the moss with a mist, it spreads its leaves and becomes bright green and shiny.
12:00 Check out of Oirase Keiryu Hotel by Hoshino Resorts
Approx. 3 min. on foot
12:05 Stone Oven Pizza Oltrana
Authentic pizza topped with local delicacies and freshly picked vegetables
The buffet is a 60-minute tour and costs 2,580 yen for high school students and older, 1,680 yen for junior high school students, 980 yen for elementary school students, 550 yen for children 3 years old and older, and free for children under 3 years old.
After returning from your moss walk, check out and leave your luggage at the front desk. We headed for a popular stone oven pizza restaurant near the hotel. Authentic pizza baked in a high-temperature stone kiln is exquisite with crispy dough and juicy ingredients, and the subtle aroma of wood fires whets the appetite. The diverse lineup of pizzas includes the "Ortolana" filled with seasonal vegetables and the "Nagamotoko Garlic Pizza" topped with Aomori's specialties. Pizza is not the only thing that attracts attention. Vegetables purchased directly from farmers in the prefecture are fresh and you can taste the flavor and deliciousness of the ingredients.
The buffet is open from late April to late November, and during the rest of the year it is open by order only. The buffet includes pizza, vegetables, curry, gratin, and drinks.
- Stone Oven Pizza Ortolana
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- 11-253 Tochikubo, Okuse, Towada-shi, Aomori MAP
- 11:00-15:30 (L.O. 14:30)
- Year-end and New Year's holidays
- Buffet: High school students and older: 2,580 yen, Junior high school students: 1,680 yen, Elementary school students: 980 yen, 3 years old and older: 550 yen, Under 3 years old: free (60-minute buffet)
- 0176-70-5955
Approx. 3 min. on foot
13:00 West Wing Keiryu-BASE
Experience the Oirase Lamp Making Experience
Takes about 1 hour. The completed lamps can be taken home with their bases, so you can look forward to lighting them at home!
Back at the hotel, we participated in the "Oirase Lamp Making Experience. You can make your own original lamp by drilling a hole in a gourd. The motif of the design is based on the unique mosses encountered during the moss walk. When you light the lamps, a fantastic and warm space will be created.
MAP
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
