Oirase Gorge

The basics

A hiking trail—which you can take in either direction—runs from Nenokuchi, on Lake Towada’s eastern shore, to Ishigedo, with waterfalls along the way. If you’d rather bike, rent a regular or electric bike from the Oirase Field Museum at the northern end of the gorge. Be aware that a road runs alongside the trail (and sometimes across it), so it can be noisy.

If you're comfortable navigating Japan’s rural bus network, you can travel here independently. For extra convenience, consider hiking with a guide from a nearby town in Aomori Prefecture.

Things to know before you go

• There’s no need to backtrack if you’re hiking the trail, as the road beside it means you can easily catch a bus back.

• Cruise between Yasumiya and Nenokuchi for a scenic start, or end, to your hike.

• The full hike is about 8.5 miles (14 kilometers), so get an early start if you want to complete it in a day.

How to get there

Nenokuchi is about equidistant from Aomori City (38 miles/61 kilometers) and Hachinohe (42 miles/68 kilometers). You can catch a bus to Nenokuchi via nearby Yasumiya from Aomori (almost 3 hours) or Hachinohe (over 2 hours), but only between mid-April and early November. The road through the Oirase Gorge is closed to private cars on some days during the peak fall season, because of congestion.

When to get there

The Oirase Gorge’s foliage is most beautiful in the fall (from late September to early October in this northern part of Honshu), but this is also a very busy time. Late spring and summer are also nice times to visit, as the climate isn’t too hot here. Be prepared for heavy snow if you visit in the winter.

Best fall foliage spots in Tohoku

If hiking the Oirase Gorge isn’t for you, but you don’t want to miss Tohoku’s spectacular fall leaves, there are other great options that don’t require as much physical effort. Check out the Jogakura Ohashi Bridge further north in the Towada-Hachimantai National Park for impressive mountain views, or Hirosaki Park beside Hirosaki Castle in Hirosaki.