How to go to Mount Iwate 岩手山
There are multiple trails to ascend Mount Iwate 岩手山, but only the trails starting from Matsukawa Trailhead 松川登山口 and Nanataki Trailhead 七滝コース登山口 are accessible by public transport. You can take the Hachimantai Nature Stroll Bus 八幡平自然散策バス or the Matsukawa Onsen Line 松川温泉線 to reach these trailheads. However, we recommend the Yakehashiri Trailhead 焼走り登山口, which offers a unique landscape of lava flows.
Hiking Trails to Mount Iwate 岩手山
There are 6 main trails we would recommend to hike up Mount Iwate 岩手山. However, only the Matsukawa Trail 松川コース and the Nanataki Trail 七滝コース are accessible by public transport. We will cover access to these 2 trails only in this article.
However, we recommend ascending or descending from the Yakehashiri Trail 焼け走りコース as you will get to witness the majestic Yakehashiri Lava Flow 焼走り熔岩流 field.
In addition, Mount Iwate 岩手山 is near another famous Japanese 100 mountains, Mount Hachimantai 八幡平. We would strongly recommend considering visiting there as well if you are in the area. If your stamina is up to the task, we recommend going for the Iwate Hachimantai Trail 岩手八幡平コース.
- Yakehashiri Trail 焼け走りコース
- Nanataki Trail 七滝コース
- Matsukawa Trail 松川コース
- Uwabo Trail 上坊コース
- Omisaka Trail 御神坂コース
- Umagaeshi Trail 馬返しコース
- Iwate Hachimantai Trail 岩手八幡平コース
You can take a bus from Morioka Station 盛岡駅 to reach either Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停 for the Nanataki Trail 七滝コース, or Matsukawa Onsen 松川温泉 for the Matsukawa Trail 松川コース.
From Jul 04, 2024 (Thu) until further notice, the bus route from Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル to Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停 and Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 are not accessible due to the closure of Hachimantai Jukai Line 八幡平樹海ライン.
More information here.
If you are going to the Nanataki Trail 七滝コース, instead of alighting at Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停, alight at Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル and walk to the Nanataki Trailhead 七滝コース登山口 to start your hike.
If you are going to the Matsukawa Trail 松川コース, you will also need to alight at Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル and transfer to the Hachimantai Nature Stroll Bus (Descend) 八幡平自然散策バス (下り) that will take you to Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停.
According to the official Hachimantai City 八幡平市 tourism website, there is only 1 trip that starts from Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル at 3:53pm and reaches Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 at 4:10pm. You probably cannot start your hike once you alight, so consider staying overnight at the lodges at Matsukawa Onsen 松川温泉 and begin your hike in the early morning the next day.
The Matsukawa Onsen Line (Ascend) 松川温泉線 (上り) operates from Apr 01, 2024 (Mon) onwards.
From Jul 04, 2024 (Thu) until further notice, the bus route from Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル to Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停 and Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 are not accessible due to the closure of Hachimantai Jukai Line 八幡平樹海ライン.
More information here.
| Morioka Bus Center 盛岡バスセンター | Morioka Station 盛岡駅 | Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル | Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6:45 | 6:54 | 8:31 | 8:51 |
| 7:00 | 7:12 | 9:43 | - |
| 8:40 | 8:52 | 10:32 | - |
| 9:30 | 9:42 | 11:09 | - |
| 10:30 | 10:42 | 12:14 | - |
| 11:30 | 11:42 | 13:22 | - |
| 12:00 | 12:12 | 13:42 | 14:02 |
| 13:30 | 13:42 | 15:12 | 15:32 |
| 15:30 | 15:42 | 17:14 | - |
| 16:30 | 16:42 | 18:14 | - |
| 17:50 | 18:04 | 19:47 | - |
| 19:25 | 19:37 | 21:03 | - |
Source: Northern Iwate Transportation Inc. (Last updated: 2024-07-29)
The Hachimantai Nature Stroll Bus (Ascend) 八幡平自然散策バス (上り) operates from Jul 04, 2024 (Thu) onwards.
From Jul 04, 2024 (Thu) until further notice, the bus route from Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル to Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停 and Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 are not accessible due to the closure of Hachimantai Jukai Line 八幡平樹海ライン.
More information here.
| Morioka Station 盛岡駅 | Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル | Mount Hachimantai Summit Bus Stop 八幡平山頂バス停 | Toshichi Onsen 藤七温泉 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Departure | |||
| 9:10 | 10:13 | 11:15 | 11:20 | 11:24 |
Source: Northern Iwate Transportation Inc. (Last updated: 2024-07-30)
If you are descending towards Matsukawa Trailhead 松川登山口, board the Matsukawa Onsen Line (Descend) 松川温泉線 (下り) at Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停.
If you are descending towards Nanataki Trailhead 七滝コース登山口, board the Matsukawa Onsen Line (Descend) 松川温泉線 (下り) at Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停.
From Jul 04, 2024 (Thu) until further notice, the bus route from Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停, passing through Kenmin No Mori Bus Stop 県民の森バス停, to Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル will not be accessible due to the closure of Hachimantai Jukai Line 八幡平樹海ライン.
More information here.
If you are descending towards Nanataki Trailhead 七滝コース登山口, continue on a short walk Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル to board the Matsukawa Onsen Line (Descend) 松川温泉線 (下り).
If you are descending towards Matsukawa Trailhead 松川登山口, there is only 1 trip at departing in the morning from 10:05am (see here for more information) that will take you from Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 to Morioka Station 盛岡駅.
Do consider spending a night and rewarding yourself at Matsukawa Onsen 松川温泉 after your hike before leaving on this bus the next day.
The Matsukawa Onsen Line (Descend) 松川温泉線 (下り) operates from Apr 01, 2024 (Mon) onwards.
| Matsukawa Onsen Bus Stop 松川温泉バス停 | Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル | Morioka Station 盛岡駅 | Morioka Bus Center 盛岡バスセンター |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | 6:40 | 8:18 | 8:36 |
| - | 7:30 | 9:16 | 9:32 |
| - | 8:00 | 9:34 | 9:46 |
| - | 9:05 | 10:39 | 10:51 |
| 9:45 | 10:05 | 11:35 | 11:47 |
| - | 12:20 | 14:05 | 14:17 |
| - | 13:30 | 15:04 | 15:16 |
| 14:45 | 15:05 | 16:35 | 16:47 |
| - | 15:30 | 17:15 | 17:27 |
| 16:20 | 16:40 | 18:10 | 18:22 |
| - | 17:30 | 19:03 | 19:16 |
Source: Northern Iwate Transportation Inc. (Last updated: 2024-07-29)
The Hachimantai Nature Stroll Bus (Ascend) 八幡平自然散策バス (上り) operates from Jul 04, 2024 (Thu) onwards.
| Morioka Station 盛岡駅 | Hachimantai Mountain Hotel 八幡平マウンテンホテル | Mount Hachimantai Summit Bus Stop 八幡平山頂バス停 | Toshichi Onsen 藤七温泉 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | Departure | |||
| - | - | 12:20 | 13:16 | - |
| 14:41 | 14:45 | 14:55 | 15:53 | 17:20 |
Source: Northern Iwate Transportation Inc. (Last updated: 2024-07-30)