National Parks Of Japan
Scenic Drive
Walking
Distance
Varies
Time
Varies
Start
Hachimantai Visitor Center
Finish
Tamagawa Onsen

Goshogake-Tamagawa Onsen Trail

Explore four trails full of seasonal flowers and geothermal gems

This course combines walking and driving to let you explore four short trails connected by road—the Onuma Pond Nature Trail, Goshogake Nature Research Path, the boardwalk through the Obayachi Marshlands and Tamagawa Onsen Nature Research Path. Each trail can be walked in 30 to 50 minutes and allows visitors to observe seasonal plants and flowers, mud volcanoes, hot springs and other volcanic phenomena. Start your excursion at the Hachimantai Visitor Center, located near Onuma Pond, and finish with a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Goshogake Onsen or Tamagawa Onsen.

Highlights

Onuma Pond

Onuma Pond is located close to the Hachimantai Visitor Center. The 1.2-kilometer trail around the pond can be walked in 50 minutes. From the start of spring to summer, you can observe a variety of flowers in bloom, including Asian skunk cabbage, Ezonoryukinka buttercups (Caltha palustris var. barthei), Japanese azaleas and shakunage rhododendrons. The area is popular in fall for its colorful foliage.

Goshogake Nature Research Path

This nature trail takes about 40 minutes to walk and is packed with geothermal phenomena. Observe fumaroles—bubbling pools of hot water—and mud volcanoes spewing volcanic gas.

Obayachi Marshlands

In this marshland area, visitors can enjoy picturesque mountain views and fields of flowers from the wooden walkway. When the snow begins to melt in May, flowers such as yellow ezonoryukinka buttercups (Caltha palustris var. barthei) and Asian skunk cabbage bloom. Daylilies and red Japanese azaleas grow in early summer. On clear days, you'll see views of Mount Yakeyama overlooking the marsh.

Tamagawa Onsen Nature Research Path

This 30-minute trail takes you to several volcanic attractions, such as the Obuki Spring—a gushing stream of hot spring water—and groups of sulfuric fumaroles. There is also an area where you can lie on geothermal "bedrocks baths."

Trail Map

Goshogake-Tamagawa Onsen Trail

Click to Expand Map