Top Things to do in Hachinohe
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Hachinohe, Japan
Discover the best top things to do in Hachinohe, Japan including Tanesashi Beach, Hasshoku Center, Ashigezaki Lookout, Kabushima Shrine, Kabushima Island, Hachinohe Yatai Village Mirokuyokocho, Korekawa Archaeological Museum, Hachinohe Sansha Taisai, Tatehana Wharf Asaichi Hachinohe, Kushihiki Hachimangu Shrine.
Restaurants in Hachinohe
1. Tanesashi Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 140 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan
The main traffic arteries of Hachinohe feel crowded with pachinko parlors, retail outlets, and everyday restaurants. But the Tanesashi Coast is a surprising and sublime Pacific vista located just minutes' away from all of that detritus. Its unspoiled Beaches and rugged landscapes are a beautiful sight and are well worth seeking out. For those with time to explore Hachinohe, the Tanesashi Coast deserves your attention.
2. Hasshoku Center
Overall Ratings
4 based on 236 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan
Hasshoku Center is a worthwhile and authentic Japanese destination. Located outside of Hachinohe City, it is primarily a market for fish (both fresh and dried), but also for vegetables, meats, and local Aomori specialties. Prices are excellent, and the quality of the goods and experience is outstanding!
As for fresh fish, the stands offer a vast array: whole fish, shell fish, fillets, sashimi plates, and fish salads (e.g. squid and scallops). There is also lots of seaweed of different kinds, both dried and prepared. Bring along a Japanese speaker, if you can, or Japanese language skills. But, even without those resources, the Center is great.
If you want to enjoy a meal at the Center, you can purchase items at restaurant stalls. Also, in one area, people were grilling foods on self-service hibachis. If I understand right, what gets cooked there is the food that you have bought at the stalls. I didn't choose this option, but it sounds great for another time!
If you are driving to the market, know the Center's location in advance. The market is just off of Rt. 45. It is outside and to the north of Hachinohe City proper. If you approach the Market from the north, crossing the Mabechi River and entering the City means you have gone too far! At the time of this writing, this link includes an accurate map to the Center: http://www.wattention.com/archives/hasshoku-center/.
3. Ashigezaki Lookout
Overall Ratings
4 based on 54 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan
I have visited Ashigezaki Lookout numerous times over the past 15 months. This place has always amazed me. The first stop along the beautiful and unspoiled Tanesashi Coast after leaving behind industrial, gritty Hachinohe, the lookout affords wonderful views of wild flowers, rugged ocean rocks, and (sometimes, at least) glimpses of divers harvesting aquaculture crops (sea cucumbers or shellfish?) in the shallow coastal waters. The inviting pathways adjacent to the lookout are quiet, calming, and beautiful.
4. Kabushima Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 107 reviews
5. Kabushima Island
Overall Ratings
4 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan
Bottom line: an amazing, sensual, fantastic, and free place for viewing, hearing, and appreciating natural wonder in the form of black-tailed sea gulls. Words and pictures won't suffice -- please check it out in person.
Details: I have visited five or six times since Summer 2013. What an amazing place at any time of year; but, especially true in April-May. During this time, thousands of birds have laid eggs and are nesting them. What a wonderful, noisy, and intense experience to witness! When I visited again in early July, the nestlings had hatched. The youngsters were noisy, needy, and wonderfujl.
Tip: bring an umbrella for head cover -- or borrow an umbrella from the closet located at the bottom of the stairs which lead onto the shrine.
6. Hachinohe Yatai Village Mirokuyokocho
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 93 reviews
Reviewed By 905tunac - Tokyo, Japan
Had the best ramen ever here - Hachinohe ramen - in a cozy, small ramen shop towards the end of the yokocho. Sometimes there's also a "No Face" from Spirited Away playing music to certain bars randomly, which is a really funny sight. Hachinohe may be fairly quiet during the day and night, but the yokocho Springs to life during the evening! Highly recommend trying the oden at certain bars, senbei-shiru (soup) and ramen.
7. Korekawa Archaeological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 28 reviews
Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan
Stone Age ("Jomon") people inhabited the area of northern Japan near modern-day Hachinohe at least 5000 years ago. Judging from the artfulness of the excavated artifacts on display at Korekawa Museum, the ancients had developed sophisticated techniques for creating beautiful and useful everyday objects and instruments. Pieces decorated with natural lacquer (from sap drawn from urushi trees) were one of my personal favorites.
The museum staff was very helpful. My request for an "English-language guide" produced a flesh-and-blood volunteer docent...lots better the pamphlet which I hoped my question would produce!
For those who live in or visit the Hachinohe area, the museum is a worthwhile sight. Google Maps will guide you there with no muss or fuss (and, if you're coming from the Misawa area, take you past the Hasshoku Center fish market and Shimpachi Onsen....both amazing locations in their own right).
8. Hachinohe Sansha Taisai
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 20 reviews
The summer festival of Hachinohe Sansha Taisai is historic to is prefecture, having been celebrated for over two-hundred years. The festival is characterized by a parade of large, intricate floats with images from myth and history. These floats are unique, in that along with being massive constructions, they are also mechanized: with floating dolls, moving parts, and even valves that release smoke. Over 25 floats are accompanied by dancers performing traditional renditions of the lion, tiger, and bamboo leaf dances, along with flute and drum music. The festival takes place July 31st-August 4th.
Reviewed By Simone R - Melbourne, Australia
This August we visited 7 festivals in Tohoku in 9 days: Hachinohe, Morioka, Akita, Hirosaki, Goshogawara, Aomori and Sendai. Of all of those this was one of my favourites.
The floats are huge, and so incredibly detailed, there's so much to take in. Add the flutes and drums and chants that are so prevalent in many of the Tohoku festivals, and you've got a feast for the senses.
The festival runs for 5 days starting July 31 each year. If you can, try and stay for two days: the first night is well worth seeing as all the floats are laid out stationary in the city, allowing you to see them up close at your own pace. Then stay for the daytime parade the next afternoon, where along with the moving floats you'll see amongst other thing wonderful Shishi (lion) and tiger dancers!
9. Tatehana Wharf Asaichi Hachinohe
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By 905tunac - Tokyo, Japan
Came all the way from Tokyo for this morning market. Woke up at around 5am (market starts really early) and absolutely no regrets! :) The food is fantastic, lines are long but they go by quick. It's mainly a local attraction, off the beaten track and I believe mainly people from Tokyo have never heard about this market either. I highly recommend if you love the community vibe and delicious, delicious market food.
There's everything to buy as well! Aomori's specialty - apples - are super cheap as well. Highly recommend buying a bottle or two of the Aomori apple juice as they're priced really cheap - 300~400 yen (they can get up to 1,000 yen elsewhere). A popular treat at the market is the "Insect Gummies". They're gummy lollies that have been crafted to look super lifelike, pretty creepy in a way. However, they also sell out REALLY fast. Today they sold out around 7am, so expect them to sell out even quicker during the hotter, holiday season. Most stalls close 9am sharp, they've usually sold out of almost everything anyway. Highly recommend, super fun and good vibes all around. People are also so nice as well and love to chat.
10. Kushihiki Hachimangu Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Cat W - Edwards, California
We went to visit this beautiful area that had some very tall beautiful trees that lined the entrance and surrounding area. We were introduced to some English speaking guides, who told us history about the area and then taught us the proper water/cleansing ceremony before we entered onto the grounds of the Shinto Temple and area. Bring money of many different increments so you may try the different ceremonies, enter certain areas, trinket store, and get a drink from machines, you'll love this tidbit or be mad for forgetting. Crossing the bridge there were Koi under the bridge so grab a small bad at the trinket store to feed them if you wish. Statues are everywhere and so are many old structures that are or were temples on the pathways. You may enter the largest temple, ring the bell, give an offering and look inside. There is even a small museum to look at a bit of history and artwork. Check it out.
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