ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort Destino

About 15 minutes by car from the hotel, the Appi Kogen Secondary Beech Forest—one of Japan’s 100 Best Forests for Forest Bathing—offers year-round natural beauty and the calming presence of the towering Mother Tree. Explore Naka no Makiba, known for summer azaleas, and Oku no Makiba, a wetland of alpine plants and volcanic marshes. Join a guided tour to experience this peaceful retreat in every season.

About a 50-minute drive from the hotel, Kagami-numa near the summit of Hachimantai reveals the “Hachimantai Dragon Eye” from late May to early June, as melting snow forms a dragon-like shape. This rare, weather-dependent phenomenon appears only for a short time each year—an enchanting sight shaped by nature’s rhythms.

About a 30-minute drive from the hotel, the Hachimantai Aspite Line reopens in mid-April each year, revealing Japan’s longest Snow Corridor. Towering snow walls line the 27-kilometer scenic route, usually visible through early May—an ideal stop during Golden Week.

About 30 minutes by car from the hotel, Fudo Falls—one of Japan’s 100 best waterfalls—cascades 15 meters through lush summer greenery, offering a cool, refreshing escape. Nearby, within the grounds of Sakuramatsu Shrine, the matchmaking tree with its entwined trunks is said to bring luck in love and lasting relationships.

About 25 to 60 minutes by car from the hotel, the Hachimantai Aspite Line offers scenic drives connecting Iwate Prefecture and Akita Prefecture. Highlights include the Matsuo Mine Ruins, Aka-numa (Goshiki-numa), Gozaisho Garden, and the Matsuo Hachimantai Geothermal Power Plant. Explore natural springs, alpine marshes, and crater lakes like Hachiman-numa along the route, open mid-April to early November.

Located about 25 to 60 minutes by car from the hotel, Matsukawa Valley offers seasonal beauty with vibrant foliage and clear streams. Mori no Ohashi Bridge provides panoramic views, while the rare Matsukawa Valley Basalt creates a striking scene, especially in autumn. Though closed to vehicles, Matsukawa Ohashi Bridge is still a hidden gem for fall colors.

About 20 minutes by car from the hotel, Araya Shinmachi at the foot of Appi Kogen offers a taste of local culture. Stroll through charming streets, enjoy koji-based dishes at Kojiya Motomiya (SHIMONO528), tofu treats at Fusetsuka, Nanbu Senbei at Hazawa Seika, and traditional foods at Hazawa Koetsu Shoten. Try hands-on crafts like miso-making and lacquerware painting at the One-Day Experience Workshop.

About 30 minutes by car from the hotel, the Yakehashiri Lava Flow—formed by Mt. Iwate’s 1732 eruption—is a nationally designated special natural monument. Spanning about 4 kilometers, this striking black rock landscape remains largely barren, offering a powerful reminder of the mountain’s volcanic past.

About a 40-minute drive from the hotel, Mt. Mitsuishi rises 1,466 meters between Mt. Iwate and Mt. Hachimantai. Listed among the 100 famous mountains of Tohoku, it’s one of the first places in Honshu to see peak autumn colors. Accessible via the Matsukawa trailhead or Matsukawa Ohashi Bridge, it offers a 360-degree view from the summit and scenic beauty year-round.

About a 60-minute drive from the hotel, Morioka City offers a rich blend of history, culture, and seasonal charm. Explore landmarks like Morioka Castle Ruins Park and the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building, visit memorial museums for Ishikawa Takuboku and Miyazawa Kenji, and enjoy local dishes such as Reimen, Jajamen, and Wankosoba. Festivals, crafts, and culinary delights make it a vibrant year-round destination.

About a 60-minute drive from the hotel, Koiwai Farm offers scenic charm and over 130 years of history. Spanning 3,000 hectares, it’s home to around 2,000 cows and 21 nationally designated Important Cultural Properties. At Makibaen, enjoy gourmet food, hands-on programs, and guided tours. In spring, don’t miss the famous solitary cherry tree blooming against Mt. Iwate’s majestic backdrop.

About a 60-minute drive from the hotel, the Goshono Jomon Site (Goshono Ruins) offers a glimpse into a 5,000-year-old Jomon village. Part of a World Heritage Site, it features restored pit dwellings and stone circles. At the nearby museum, explore ancient artifacts, watch immersive projection mapping, and try hands-on activities like making Jomon accessories and pottery.

About a 50-minute drive from the hotel, Tendaiji Temple in Joboji Town is one of Japan’s oldest temples and a historic hub of Buddhist culture. Known locally as “Oyama,” it features a 1,500-year-old Katsura tree and treasured artifacts, including two nationally designated Important Cultural Properties. A serene Jizo statue and a warm-faced bodhisattva offer comfort amid the blooming grounds.

About a 90- to 105-minute drive from the hotel, Kuji—filming site of Amachan—features Kosode Coast, the northern limit for female divers amid dramatic cliffs and copper-colored reefs. Known as Japan’s top amber-producing area, it hosts the nation’s only amber museum. Don’t miss the unique aquarium set in a former construction tunnel for the National Oil Stockpile Base.

About 50 to 60 minutes by car from the hotel, Kazuno City in Akita Prefecture offers rich history and culture. Explore the Oyu Stone Circles, a World Heritage Site, and the Osarizawa Mine with its 1,300-year legacy. Kazuno also preserves traditions like Hanawa Bayashi and Kemanai Bon Odori Dance, and is known for local dishes like Kiritanpo and Kazuno Horumon.

About 105 minutes by car from the hotel, Lake Tazawa in Semboku City is Japan’s deepest lake, famed for its vivid blue waters and the golden statue of Tatsuko. Nearby Kakunodate, known as the “Little Kyoto of Michinoku,” preserves an Edo-period townscape. Stroll down Kakunodate Samurai Residence Street, a nationally designated preservation district that captures the essence of traditional Japan.

About 100 to 120 minutes by car from the hotel, Oirase Gorge and Lake Towada showcase Aomori Prefecture’s scenic beauty. Oirase Gorge, a designated Natural Monument, offers lush forests and waterfalls. Lake Towada, a 327-meter-deep caldera lake known as “the mysterious lake,” rarely freezes and impresses with its vast, panoramic views year-round.

About a 90-minute drive from the hotel, Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi Town is a World Heritage Site known for the Konjikido Golden Hall and over 3,000 treasures of Heian Buddhist art. Nearby in Esashi, Oshu City, Esashi Fujiwara Heritage Park recreates 120 Heian-period buildings across 20 hectares, offering immersive experiences and serving as a filming site for historical dramas.

In northern Tohoku, top cherry blossom spots—Tenshochi in Kitakami, Kakunodate in Semboku, and Hirosaki Park in Hirosaki—are all in Japan’s Top 100, offering stunning riverside rows, samurai streets, and tunnels of blossoms. Hachimantai and Shizukuishi feature Solitary Cherries set against Mt. Iwate, while Morioka’s Rock Breaking Cherry Tree, over 360 years old, stands as a living monument.

Summer in Tohoku is festival season, with major events held in early August. Hachimantai and Appi Kogen, in the heart of northern Tohoku, make perfect bases to enjoy Iwate’s Morioka Sansa Odori with yukata-clad dancers and a record-breaking drum parade; Aomori’s Nebuta Festival with giant lanterns and Haneto dancers; and Akita’s Kanto Festival, where lantern poles are balanced with breathtaking skill.