If you often travel to Japan and have already visited major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, and Okinawa, and are wondering where to go next, after reading this article, you’ll have a brand-new, truly off-the-beaten-path and worthwhile destination to consider!
Tanohata Village in Iwate Prefecture — just the name might make you think of a small rural area full of farmland, but it’s actually an excellent seaside... small rural area. With a population of just 3,400 and only 16% flatland, its pillar industries are fishing and dairy farming. The large stretch of cliffs along the eastern coastline is known as the “Alps of the Sea.”
(Tanohata Village Kitayamasaki Lookout)
Chinese driver's licenses are not valid in Japan, so you can only reach Tanohata Village via public transportation:
[How to Get to Tanohata Village?]
Shanghai Pudong Airport → Iwate Hanamaki Airport (New direct flight route starting January 30, with one flight every Wednesday and Saturday!)
Hanamaki → Morioka (airport shuttle bus)
Morioka → Miyako (JR or bus)
Miyako → Tanohata Village (train, 11 departures per day)
[2-Day, 1-Night Seaside Itinerary]
Day 1 — 2 Attractions + 1 Experience
1. Reserve the hotel shuttle bus in advance. Take the bus from Tanohata Station to Suisho no Yado “Hotel Roga?” (about 3 minutes). Check in, leave your luggage, and ask the staff to arrange a 2-day sightseeing shared car ride and a North Yamazaki Fishing Boat Adventure experience. While waiting, relax by the ocean-view room, take photos, and post on social media. If you don’t have much luggage, you can also leave it at Tanohata Station first (fees apply, storable until 4 PM, 100 yen per item)
2. Walk from the hotel to Tanohata Station (about 10 minutes), then take the sightseeing shared car to Kitayamasaki (about 20 minutes). Head to the Kitayamasaki Lookout to enjoy the sea view, visit the Kitayamasaki Visitor Center, and take a stroll nearby. From early June to early July, you can also see vast fields of white alpine flowers.
3. Take the sightseeing shared car from Kitayamasaki to Kihama (about 10 minutes), then visit the Kihama Bandstand Group to experience the old-fashioned charm of a small Japanese fishing village. Take a fishing boat to explore Kitayamasaki (about 60 minutes) and get up close to the magical magnificence of the “Alps of the Sea.”
4. Take the sightseeing shared car from Kihama back to Tanohata Station (about 10 minutes), walk back to the hotel, enjoy a seafood feast at the hotel, and end the first day.
Day 2 — Free Time + 1 Attraction
1. Sleep in, wake up naturally. Spend the morning at the hotel enjoying the sea view, or wander around the area near Tanohata Station, shop, eat, and do as you please. Check out and leave your luggage at Tanohata Station.
2. Take the 1:05 PM sightseeing shared car from Tanohata Station to Unotaki Cliff (about 30 minutes). Head to the Unotaki Cliff Lookout to gaze at the spectacular view of five continuous cliffs and admire the jewel-toned greens and navy blues beneath your feet.
3. Take the 2:25 PM sightseeing shared car from Unotaki Cliff back to Tanohata Station (about 30 minutes), pick up your luggage, end your trip in Tanohata Village, and head to your next destination.
Starting April 1, 2019, the sightseeing shared car service will add morning round-trip runs to Unotaki Cliff. If you want to save time, you can head straight to the cliffs in the morning.
[Are There Other Options Besides the Sightseeing Shared Car?]
Besides the sightseeing shared car, there are regular taxis. A one-way trip from Tanohata Station to Kitayamasaki costs 800 yen per person on the shared car, but a regular taxi would cost over 3,000 yen. If traveling with a group, a regular taxi isn’t too expensive and offers more flexibility.
Here is the price and schedule information for the sightseeing shared car:
Sightseeing shared cars must be reserved at least one hour before departure (Tanohata Sightseeing Shared Car phone: 0194-33-2121). You can also ask the hotel to help make the reservation.
Starting April 1, 2019, there will be some time adjustments on the Kihama & Kitayamasaki route, and one additional morning run will be added on the Unotaki Cliff route. Please take note.
[Are There Other Fun Places to Visit in Tanohata Village?]
If money is no object when it comes to travel options, you can also take a regular taxi to check out these two spots:
1. Shianzaka and Taishokuzaka
In the past when transportation was underdeveloped, officials or teachers who were assigned to serve in Tajima Village in the fields, upon seeing the perilous mountain path before them, had to decide whether to press on or turn back—this moment of “deliberation” gave the slope its name, “Deliberation Slope (Shian-zaka).” However, those who struggled mightily to climb up “Deliberation Slope” would immediately resign and head home upon seeing the vast, deep swamp ahead, hence the name “Resignation Slope (Taishoku-zaka)...”
Nowadays, a bridge has been built overDeliberation Slope, along with “Iguchi Family Retired Officials’ Bridge” and “Nanakai Bridge,” which are popular spots for photos. Both have now been paved.
2. Minami 8 Coast Seawall
Japan’s disaster preparedness education is very thorough. Here you can seethe seawall that was destroyed by the tsunami during the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, allowing you to truly witness the devastating impact of the disaster at the time.
If even language doesn’t limit your travel experience, you can also book the following experiences:
1. Scuba Diving
At Kihan’s Sea Experience Banya, you can book a scuba diving experience. There are beginner-friendly gear options, and they also assist licensed divers with free diving. For scuba diving experiences,it’s 5,400 yen for 90 minutes. Snorkeling classes are 3,240 yen for 60 minutes.
2. Salt-Making
Tajima Village has been one of the salt-producing regions since the Edo period. At Kihan, you can try making salt using the traditional“direct boiling method,” and you can take the salt you make home. The Simple Experience Package (for 10+ people, 20 mins) is 500 yen per person. The Regular Experience Package (for 2+ people, 1 hour) is 2,500 yen per person. The Authentic Experience Package (for 2+ people, 7 hours) is 7,000 yen per person.
In addition, Kihan also offers a variety of other experiences such as cooking, shell art, and fishing.
[Official Website]
Tajima Village Tourism Official Website::https://www.vill.tanohata.iwate.jp/kankou/index.html
Hotel Roga Official Website:http://www.ragaso.jp/index.html