Towada

Towada spans two distinct landscapes: an axial grid city built for horse breeding and a wild volcanic caldera connected by the Oirase River. You move through open-air modern sculpture downtown before heading west into dense beech forests and lake waters. Public buses link the urban center to the gorge, but driving gives you control over early-morning trailheads. Expect quiet streets, cold mountain air, and stark contrasts between contemporary design and nature.

Towada Barayaki defines the city's food landscape. Sliced beef short rib cooks alongside mounds of sweet onions on a heavy cast-iron skillet, bound by a soy sauce infused with local Aomori apples.The dish originated in nearby Misawa after World War II, but Towada adopted it and refined the cooking style into a communal meal found across downtown. You cook the skillet contents at your table, letting the onion juices caramelize the meat before eating it with steamed white rice.Further west along Lake Towada, menus change from sizzling iron plates to wild river fish. Local restaurants in Yasumiya serve kokanee salmon (himemasu) caught directly in the deep volcanic lake, usually grilled with salt or served raw as sashimi.

• Caramelize onions first

  Cook the onion layer thoroughly on the skillet before stirring in the beef slices to prevent burning the sweet sauce.

• Order Barayaki lunch sets

  Downtown restaurants like Megetsu offer complete lunch sets including raw dipping egg, rice, and miso soup.

• Carry cash in Yasumiya

  Small trout eateries near Lake Towada pier rarely take credit cards or mobile IC payments.

Modern Towada developed late compared to older Japanese castle towns. In the mid-19th century, civil engineers began diverting water from the Oirase River to convert the dry Sanbongi volcanic plain into arable farmland.The Imperial Japanese Army established an extensive horse-breeding depot on the plain in 1885. This military development required precise urban planning, resulting in the wide grid layout and broad central avenues that define central Towada today.In 1936, the surrounding natural basin gained national protection when Towada National Park was established; it became Towada-Hachimantai National Park in 1956 after Hachimantai was incorporated. Decades later, in 2008, Towada launched its Arts Towada project, transforming the former military street grid into an open-air modern design museum.

1. 1859

   Sanbongi Reclamation

   Engineers begin diverting water from the Oirase River to irrigate the dry volcanic plain.

2. 1885

   Imperial Horse Depot

   The military horse breeding center forms, creating Towada's distinctive wide street grid.

3. 1936

   National Park Status

   Towada-Hachimantai National Park is established, protecting Oirase Stream and Lake Towada.

4. 2008

   Arts Towada Launch

   Towada Art Center opens, turning Kanchogai-dori into an open-air contemporary art avenue.

Choose your location based on your primary objective: stay downtown near Kanchogai-dori for access to art installations and evening dining, or stay along Oirase and Lake Towada for immediate access to mountain trails and hot springs.

• Early hikersYakeyama & Oirase Entrance — Position yourself at the trail start to beat tour buses to the mossy gorge.
• Lake travellersYasumiya & Lake Towada — Sleep beside the water and catch the morning ferry across the caldera.
• Rail commutersShichinohe-Towada Gateway — Stay steps from the Shinkansen platform for seamless day trips.

Towada has no passenger rail stations within its city limits since the local train line closed in 2012. You rely on JR buses and regional bus services connecting from Shinkansen hubs at Shichinohe-Towada, Hachinohe, or Aomori.

• JR Bus Tohoku routes connecting Hachinohe, Towada, and Lake Towada accept valid JR East Rail Passes.

• Bus service frequencies between Yakeyama and Yasumiya decrease significantly between late November and April.

• Towada Kanko Dentetsu train line ceased operation in 2012; all local public transit operates via buses.

• Car rental offices concentrate around Shichinohe-Towada and Hachinohe stations rather than central Towada.

Towada offers reasonable prices compared to Japan's major metropolitan areas. Food and museum entries are modestly priced, though transport costs accumulate if you use local buses without a rail pass.

• Barayaki lunch set: ¥1,000–1,500

  Includes iron skillet beef, onions, rice, and miso soup in downtown eateries.

• Art Center ticket: ¥1,800

  Grants access to permanent collection galleries and special exhibitions.

• E-bike daily rental: ¥2,500

  Available at Yakeyama or Nenokuchi rental hubs for riding through Oirase Gorge.

• Pack waterproof footwear

  Oirase Stream trails are frequently damp and muddy, even on clear summer days.

• Museum closed Mondays

  Towada Art Center closes every Monday. If Monday is a national holiday, it closes Tuesday.

• Bear precautions in Oirase

  Asian black bears inhabit the forest along Oirase Stream; carry a bell on early morning walks.

• Limited ATMs at Lake Towada

  Withdraw cash in central Towada or post office ATMs before traveling up to the lake.

• One-way bike drop-offs

  Rent an electric bicycle in Yakeyama and drop it off at Nenokuchi for a small terminal fee.