Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada in One Day
Walk the mossy 9 km of Oirase Gorge from Ishigedo to the lake, cross Lake Towada by boat, and finish at the shrine and beaches of Yasumiya.
Last updated 2026-09-03 · 1-day self-guided plan
Oirase Gorge & Lake Towada
A river walk under beech trees, then the caldera lake
For walkers who want one long, gentle day in the forest, with the bus and the boat doing the hard work at both ends.
1JR bus to Ishigedo
Take the first JR bus of the morning from Aomori or Hachinohe toward Lake Towada; both routes run only from spring to mid-November, and the ride is a little over two hours through beech forest that turns copper and gold in late October. Get off at Ishigedo rest house around 10:00. It has toilets, a small shop and the last coffee before the walk.
2 HoursCost: ¥2,500–3,500- 2
Oirase Gorge walk, Ishigedo to Kumoi Falls
The riverside path runs the whole way beside the Oirase, mostly flat and shaded, with the water braiding around moss-covered boulders. The first half passes Ashura Rapids, the most photographed stretch, and Kumoi Falls dropping in a white curtain off the cliff. The road runs parallel, so you can bail out at any bus stop if the weather turns.
1.5–2 HoursCost: Free - 3
Upper gorge to Nenokuchi
The second half is quieter: Choshi Falls, the only fall on the main river, then the forest opens up and the river slows as it leaves the lake at Nenokuchi around 13:30. A couple of rest houses here sell soba, grilled trout and soft serve made with local apples; sit outside on the lake shore while you eat.
1.5 HoursCost: ¥500–1,500 
4Boat across Lake Towada
Sightseeing boats leave Nenokuchi for Yasumiya every hour or so from spring to early November, and the 50-minute crossing is the best view of the caldera walls dropping straight into water that is deep blue on a clear day. Sit on the open upper deck on the right-hand side for the cliffs of Ogura Peninsula.
1 HourCost: ¥1,500–2,000- 5
Yasumiya, Towada Shrine and the Statue of Maidens
From the pier at Yasumiya, walk the lake path ten minutes to the bronze Statue of Maidens on the shore, then up the cedar-lined steps behind it to Towada Shrine, a quiet mountain shrine older than most of the town. Buses back to Aomori and Hachinohe leave from the Towadako terminal a few minutes away; the last ones go before dusk, so check the board when you land.
1 HourCost: Free
Day 1 Estimated Cost
- Food¥2,000–3,500
- Transport (bus and boat)¥5,000–7,000
- AdmissionsFree
Tips
Buy a JR bus round-trip or the Towada area pass in advance; seats fill in leaf season and the buses do not run in winter at all.
The path is packed earth and roots, wet all year: proper walking shoes, not sandals, and a light rain layer even on a blue-sky forecast.
Carry snacks from Aomori or Hachinohe station; between Ishigedo and Nenokuchi there is nothing to buy for three hours.
Overcast days are better than sunny ones in the gorge; flat light brings out the moss and lets you use a slow shutter on the water without a filter.