Went to Kyukamura Iwate Amihari Onsen to Escape the Summer Heat 7.22, 2024

The lowest temperature this morning was 24.3℃. It was almost a tropical night, and it was hot from the morning!

So Sachiki-san and I went to Amihari Onsen-hot spring, located on the middle slope of Mt. Iwate, to escape the summer heat. Amihari Onsen is about an hour's drive from my house. The altitude is about 760m. It is about 600m higher than the city, so the temperature should be 5 or 6 degrees lower.

There is a Kyukamura-national park resorts of Japan called Iwate Amihari Onsen, which has accommodation facilities, hot springs, a ski resort, a campsite, a visitor center, and walking trails. You can walk with your dog on the walking trails. However, dogs are not allowed in the accommodation facilities or tents.

I parked my car in the visitor center parking lot and first walked to Amihari Onsen Ski Resort.

On the way from the visitor center to the ski resort, there was a snow shed. Seeing this makes me realize that the snow must be deep.

In front of Amihari Onsen Ski Resort.
From here, I could see the foot of Mt. Iwate clearly.

Return from the ski resort to the visitor center.

Below the visitor center is the grassy area of ​​the campsite.

We headed to the walking trail from the visitor center.

Along the way, there is the wooded area of ​​the campsite.

I wanted to go beyond the campsite, but Sachiki-san wasn't keen, so we took a break in the woods and then returned to the visitor center.

It was a cool and pleasant walk.

Took a Leisurely Stroll around Family Land at Lake Goshoko Regional Park 6.4, 2024

Lake Goshoko Regional Park posted on X that "The poppies are nearing the end of their blooming season. They are scheduled to be mowed on June 6th-7th," so I thought, "I have to go and see them," and hurried over with Sachiki-san.

I had seen the blooming and full bloom information posted on X a half month ago, but I don't act until the last minute. (lol)

Family Land is located on the western edge of Lake Goshoko and is one of the facilities that make up Lake Goshoko Regional Park. It's about a 30-minute drive from my house, which is close to the center of Morioka City.

The poppies were planted in the "Kenji Flower Bed," which is named after Miyazawa Kenji and has a statue of Kenji in the center.

Even though it was nearing the end of its blooming season, it was still beautiful.

According to the person who was taking care of the flower beds, after the poppies are mowed, sunflowers are planted.

It was a weekday morning, so there were not many visitors, and I felt like I had the large park all to ourselves.
We took a leisurely stroll around the spacious garden, which included poppy flower beds, grassy areas, and around the pond, etc.

Roadside Station Shizukuishi-Anekko's Dog Park was Preparing to Open this Season 2024.3.31

The roadside station "Shizukuishi Anekko" is located by National Route 46 near the border between Iwate and Akita prefectures, about 30km west of the center of Morioka City. It has a variety of facilities including a hot spring, an auto camping ground, a dog park, a herb greenhouse, and a soba restaurant is attached.

You can camp, take hot spring, and there is a dog park. I couldn't wait for the park to open in spring, so I and Sachiki-san went to check it out (lol)

The dog park had its net removed and was still closed for the winter. According to the staff who were working on the opening preparations, it will be available for use from next Saturday.

Although we couldn't use the dog park, we had a fun walk around the area.

On the other side of this river is an auto camping ground, which was also closed during the winter. According to the website, it is scheduled to open on Friday, April 12th.

The Autumn Leaves in Kakkonda Valley have Just Begun 10.11, 2023

I had heard that the autumn leaves would be late this year due to the long lingering summer heat, but according to the autumn leaves information, Kakkonda Valley is now in its best season.

"It is a must go!'' Sachiki-san and I visited to Takinoue Onsen hot spring by the Kakkonda River.

Takinoue Onsen is located about 40 km from Morioka city, and although it is not far from the city, it is a place where you can enjoy the atmosphere of a secret hot spring.

There is a facility where you can take a day trip bath, but since I was with Sachiki-san, I did not take a bath this time.

As the name Takinoue Onsen suggests, the hot spring is located upstream of Torigoe Falls.

To see the waterfall, go to Takinoue Onsen, park at the Takinoue Park parking lot, and walk back to Takimidai viewing platform.

The sound of fumarole reaches the parking lot.

It takes about 5 minutes to walk to Takimidai viewing platform.

The waterfall is said to have a height of 30m, but it was hidden behind the trees and I couldn't see the whole thing. The road runs right next to the waterfall, so you can hear the sound of the waterfall while walking.

This is an erosion control dam on the way to Takinoue Onsen. The road is a little wider in this area, so you can park your car and enjoy the scenery.

Cosmos Flowers were in Full Bloom at Machiba Area Park in Goshoko Regional Park 10.1, 2023

Sachiki-san, a Samoyed dog who is sensitive to high temperature, used to stay in an air-conditioned room in the daytime during summer without going out. Now the weather has gotten cooler, he is able to go out in the daytime.

I heard that cosmos flowers were in full bloom on the shores of Lake Gosho, so Sachiki-san and I went to see them.

Lake Gosho is a lake created by Gosho Dam, located about 15 km west of the center of Morioka City. It is known for Iwate Morioka Tsunagi Hot Spring located by the lake, but in addition of the hot spring, the surrounding area is also a regional park that exceeds the municipal area and has various facilities.

The place to see cosmos now is one of these facilities, the Machiba area park. It is a park with a panoramic view of Mt. Iwate, which includes a center house with a rest room and a study room, a picnic area where you can enjoy a barbecue, playground equipment, and a flower garden. The park is closed from December to March.

Cosmos flowers are blooming on the other side of the center house.

Sachiki-san seems to prefer sniffing the ground to admiring flowers.

A picnic area and a kitchen building. You can put up a tent in the picnic area, and you can drive your car to the back of the kitchen building when loading and unloading.

Next to the picnic area, there are play equipment and a hill from which you can view the park.

Wild flowers are planted around the hill, which were the subjects of a paintings by Fukazawa Koko, a painter from Morioka.

Koiwai Farm Makiba-en was Preparing for Spring 3.14.2023

Koiwai Farm, which is known for its dairy products, has a tourist facility called "Makiba-en" where you can bring your dog.

At restaurants in Makiba-en, dogs are allowed only at the tables in front of the restaurants. There is also a dog park of 6,000 square meters.

Dogs cannot be brought into the animal areas or buildings, but Makiba-en is friendly for the people with dogs, where poop boxes (exclusive trash cans) are installed.

On the day Sachiki-san and I visited, the admission fee was the winter season fee. The dog park was also still closed for winter, but it was a weekday in early spring, so Makiba-en was not crowded, and we were able to take a leisurely walk while seeing at Mt. Iwate up close.