Iwate Hanamaki is one of the must-see sightseeing spots in Tohoku. Let's follow the editor to take a trip to the flower roll to see what are the recommended accommodations, must-see attractions, must-eat delicacies and must-buy souvenirs!
Where is Hanamaki City in Iwate Prefecture? The mode of transportation is sorted out at once!
Located in the middle of Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku region of Japan, Hanamaki City is located in the hills of the Kitakami Plain and the Ou Mountains, and offers a variety of beautiful landscapes with different seasons. Among them, you should definitely visit the famous hot spring town "Hanamaki 12 Yu", which has its own unique 12 types of hot springs, as well as the birthplace of Iwate's gourmet bowl soba noodles, a winery, a café that makes local beer, and the "Nanbu Toji Denshokan", which introduces Japanese sake brewing techniques. Many celebrities are also very related to Hanamaki City, such as the well-known Japanese writer Kenji Miyazawa and the popular American major league player Shohei Ohtani were born here.
How do I get to Hanamaki City?
・From Sendai:
From JR Sendai Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Hanamaki Station (about 57 minutes)
・From Tokyo:
From JR Tokyo Station, take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Shin-Hanamaki Station (about 2.5 hours)
How do I move around Hanamaki City? Recommended sightseeing taxi "Acorn and Bobcat"
Sightseeing taxi "Acorn and Bobcat"
When planning a trip in Hanamaki City, we recommend taking advantage of the sightseeing taxi "Acorn and Bobcat" (どんぐりとやまねこ号), which can be used to visit Hanamaki spots at a lower price than regular taxis! In addition to the train ride from the station, you can also get from the inns in Hanamaki Hot Spring Village, and the routes and attractions are fixed, so you can easily run the itinerary without planning your trip. (Reminder: Reservations must be made at least 3 days prior to departure.) ）
Recommended accommodation in Hanamaki City
"Hanamaki 12 Yu" is a popular hot spring town in Tohoku, and it is also a must-stay when visiting Hanamaki. It consists of 12 different hot springs: Hanamaki Onsen, Tai Onsen, Matsukura Onsen, Shidodaira Onsen, Watari Onsen, Osawa Onsen, Sanjin Onsen, Lead Onsen, Shin-Lead Onsen, Kanaya Onsen, Hanamaki Kita Onsen and Towa Onsen. Each hot spring inn has its own unique style, so whether you are traveling with families, couples, or filial relatives, you can find a suitable place to stay. The hot spring village is located in a tranquil mountain surrounded by a river, so you can relax and enjoy the hot springs in nature. The following will help you select Hanamaki Hot Springs and New Lead Hot Springs for more detailed arrangement!
Hanamaki Onsen
A private hot spring at Hanamaki Onsen
Hanamaki Onsen has four inns, namely Momijikan, Chiakikaku, Hanamaki, and Kashoen, and the other three inns are adjacent buildings, and there are passages in the hall that can be connected, and one of the inns can use the hot springs and facilities of the other two inns, and the CP value is very high. Hanamaki Onsen is mild, colorless, and fragrant, making it suitable for all ages. The main attraction of the hot spring inns is the all-you-can-eat menu at each of the three inns, with a focus on local cuisine, a menu that changes depending on the season, and a variety of local sake (some items are available for an additional fee).
Three of the Hanamaki Onsen halls are adjacent to each other and can be connected
The rooms are very spacious
The buffet bar offers a variety of local dishes such as bowls and soba noodles
The crabs are all-you-can-eat, and the meals change with the season
There are also many attractions around Hanamaki Onsen, such as the Rose Garden, which is about a 3-minute walk away, and is lit up until 21:00 every night, so why not take a walk after dinner? There is also a drugstore nearby, so you don't have to worry about buying daily necessities, and there is a small ski resort in winter. Non-self-driving travelers will have a great time near the hotel!
The property is within walking distance of the nearby rose garden
Hanamaki airport shuttle service is available
Hanamaki Onsen
・Address: 1-125 Yumoto, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
Ailinkan (New Lead Hot Spring)
"Airinkan" is a hot spring inn with 3 types of hot springs, 17 different types of baths, including an open-air bath with a beautiful view, a standing hot spring with a depth of more than 1 meter, a sleeping bath with a lying down, and a bedrock bath experience, making it an ultimate hot spring experience that should not be missed by hot spring lovers. For dinner, there will be a set set set set of appetizers, while the rest of the dishes will be buffet-style, with local dishes centered on seasonal ingredients, each of which is a creative dish prepared by the chef.
The view from the room
Children's play area
The inn offers a variety of services for guests with children and infants, and is certified as a "Welcome Baby Accommodation" that includes baby items such as non-staple food and diapers, as well as a plan for in-room dinner, as well as a private hot spring for the whole family to enjoy. In addition, there is a children's area in the lobby that is suitable for young children, so it is a hot spring inn where children can have fun and parents can stay at ease.
Winter open-air hot spring scenery
The dining room is divided into groups of tables and partitions for privacy
Carefully prepared dishes using local ingredients
花巻结びの宿爱邻馆
・Address: 23rd place of Nishilead, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
Recommended spots in Hanamaki City
Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village
Hanamaki is the hometown of Kenji Miyazawa, a famous Japanese poet and writer, and many of his masterpieces include "Night on the Galaxy Railway", "A Restaurant with a Lot of Demands", and "Cellist Takasaku", many of which have been included in Japanese textbooks. "Kenji Miyazawa's Fairy Tale Village" is a facility centered on Kenji Miyazawa's fairy tale world, which is divided into six areas: Galaxy Plaza, Fairy Trail, Sky Plaza, Mountain Grass Garden, Kenji's classroom, and Kenji's school, recreating the author's whimsical worldview.
The Constellation Trail at Sky Square
Exhibit in "Kenji's School".
Among them, it is recommended to visit the "Kenji's School", which includes 5 theme rooms, namely the Dream Hall, the House of the Universe, the House of the Sky, the House of the Earth, and the House of Water, where you can recreate the atmosphere of the work with decorations, mirrors, light and shadow, and music, so that you can get an extraordinary feeling and experience here whether you have read the work or not.
"Kenji's Classroom" cabin
On weekends in summer and autumn, nighttime illuminations are held
The fairy tale village is divided into many districts, so you can take a leisurely stroll and visit
The "Kenji's Classroom" is a collection of small cabins that exhibit animals, plants, stars, and stones that have appeared in Kenji Miyazawa's fairy tales, as well as souvenirs and Hanamaki souvenirs. Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village is lit up on weekends from late July to mid-October every year, and the atmosphere of Kenji Miyazawa's works is displayed through the lights, so why not come and experience it differently from the daytime?
宫沢贤治童话村
・Address: 26-19 Takamatsu, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
・Operating Hours: 8:30~16:30
・Closed: December 28th ~ January 1st
・Admission: 350 yen for adults, 250 yen for high school and university students, 150 yen for elementary and junior high school students
Southern Toshi Heritage Museum
If you want to learn more about the history and culture of the Southern Toji in Iwate Prefecture, Echigo Toji in Niigata Prefecture, and Tamba Toji in Hyogo Prefecture, the Southern Toji is located in Ishinotoriya Town, Hanamaki City. Today, craftsmen who are proficient in the art of Nanbu Toji are also active all over Japan, and you can enjoy a variety of sake made by Nanbu Toji at the paid tasting area. The Southern Toji Heritage Museum is located at the "Ishitori Valley Road Station" at the road rest station, and you can also stop by to buy souvenirs after the tour!
You can pay a fee to taste the Japanese sake of Nanbu Toji
You can take the commemorative sake seal home as a souvenir
Nambu Du clan tradition 馆
・Address: 7-25-1 Nakaterayashi, Iwate Hanamaki City, Iwate
・Operating Hours: 9:00 a.m. ~ 4:30 p.m. (Tasting area closes at 4:00 p.m.)
・Closed: December 29th ~ January 1st
・Admission: Free
MLB player commemorative handprints
The monument is located behind the high school's baseball field
You can take a photo with your handprint
In commemoration of the selection of two baseball players who graduated from Hanamaki Higashi High School, Shohei Ohtani and Yusei Kikuchi, to be selected for the 2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Hanamaki Onsen Town made a monument to Hanamaki Higashi High School, which is printed with the handprints signed by the two people. (Note: The monument is located outside the net behind the Hanamaki East High School Baseball Stadium, so if you are coming by car, please park at Hanamaki Stadium Parking Lot 2 and follow the signs at the board in Hii Jono Sports Park to reach the monument for about 3 minutes.) Please do not enter the campus without permission. ）
MLB Memorial Monument
・Location: 55-1 Matsuba-cho, Hanamaki-shi, Iwate Prefecture Hanamaki 东 High School Ground Back Net Village
・Operating Hours: 24 hours
Lit work place
Bagel is combined with three beers
A la carte beer is also available
In addition to Japanese sake culture, it is also recommended to sip a glass of craft beer in Hanamaki City! Located next to the east exit of Hanamaki Station, Lit work place is the only place in the city that produces beer, and it is one of the few restaurants in the city that is open for a long time, and you can enjoy a wide variety of beers from 7:00 to 23:00. For your meal, we recommend bagel made with Iwate wheat flour, which comes in a variety of flavors, including plain, savory, and sweet, and you can also ask the staff to make a sandwich bagel to fill your stomach!
Bagels are a popular light snack during the daytime
Bicycles can be rented from the store to tour the city
Most of the beers produced at Lit work place were developed in collaboration with Iwate stores and farmers, including "espresso beer" made using coffee beans from "CAFE LAube" in Kitamarket, and "rice beer" made from rice grown at "Morikawa Farm" where Hanamaki is utilized. There are more than 10 kinds of beer available at any one time, so if you can't get enough of a single beer, we recommend choosing the "3 Beer Set". If you're driving, you don't have to worry, the restaurant offers a variety of beer cans to take home and savor!
Lit work place
・Location: 1-7-40 Boulevard, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
・Hours: Bakery & Coffee 7:00~17:00, Bar 17:00~23:00
Hanamaki City food and souvenirs are recommended
Bowl of soba noodles: Golden Wedding Pavilion, Lynx Pavilion
A bowl soba experience at the Golden Wedding Pavilion
The first floor of the Golden Wedding Pavilion is a native production area
"Wanzi Soba" (わんこそば) is a popular dish in Iwate Prefecture, and it is eaten by taking a small bite of soba noodles in a bowl to challenge how many bowls you can eat. The history dates back to more than 380 years ago, when the first lord of the Morioka Domain, Minami Toshinao, was said to have stopped at Hanamaki on his way to Edo, and the local residents put soba noodles in a bowl to comfort him. Every February, Hanamaki holds the "Bowl Soba All-Japan Tournament", where players from all over the country compete to see who can eat the most bowls.
Bobcat is located across from Shinhanamaki Station
You can also experience bowl soba noodles at Bobcat K
Hanamaki City has many famous soba restaurants, including the "Golden Wedding Pavilion", which is close to Hanamaki Airport, with a large number of seats and suitable for many tourists, and an entire souvenir area for arranging a final food shopping trip before going to the airport. Another famous restaurant, Bobcat Ken, is located opposite Shin-Hanamaki Station and is suitable for Shinkansen travelers, and the bowls of soba are served in a set of 12 bowls without prior reservations.
Kinbutei
・Address: 11-88 Nishinomiya Nome, Iwate Hanamaki City
・Operating Hours: 10:30~13:30
・Regular holiday: New Year's Day
银河プラザ山猫轩
・ Ground: 1-3-3 Hu Shio, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
・Operating Hours: 10:00~17:00
葡萄酒庄:NOBLE WINE
Popular wine tastings are available for a fee
Hanamaki is also well-known for its wines, which are produced in the Okahari region, in the Haoikemine Mountains of Hanamaki City, where the air is clean and the pure spring water gushes from the foothills, combined with the dry climate and large temperature differences, making it an excellent environment for growing grapes. The winery "EDEL WEIN" is open to the general public without reservations, and you can observe the process of the winery, and you can also provide detailed explanations of the wine-making process, which is very easy to understand.
Tours of the factory are free of charge
Tables and chairs are available in the tasting area, so you can enjoy them slowly before deciding what to buy
The shop next to it is perfect for souvenirs! If you don't know which wine to choose, you can also enjoy the "Paid Tasting Corner" at the "Paid Tasting Corner", where you can enjoy the scenery while enjoying the scenery while enjoying the scenery. At the end of the tour, we recommend having lunch at Restaurant Berndorf, a winery-run restaurant, where you can enjoy local dishes such as Hanamaki City's brand pig "Shirakanezu".
NOBLE WINE 大迫店
・Address: 10-18-3 Osaku, Osaku, Osakura-cho, Iwate Hanatsugi-shi
・Operating Hours: 9:00~16:30
・Closed: Closed at the beginning of the year, winter
It's super convenient to take a direct flight from Hanamaki! If you like hot springs and food, and want to enjoy the Japanese style and culture, we recommend visiting Iwate Hanamaki because of its delicious bowls of soba noodles, delicious wine, sake, and pilgrimage to the spots of baseball player Shohei Ohtani and fairy tale writer Kenji Miyazawa.
Iwate recommended "Hanamaki City": Staying at a hot spring village hotel, challenging tsubako soba, and pilgrimage to Shohei Otani spots! | Teh-Eat! Japan