From the Yokocho alley to morning market; a city full of human warmth and the beautiful Tanesashi coast.
The Paradise, Tanesashi Coast.
Explore the flowery shore and singing sand
The city of Hachinohe lies on the southeastern part of Aomori prefecture, facing the Pacific Ocean. The Sanriku Fukko National Park, Tanesashi coast welcomes visitors after riding on the Tohoku shinkansen and transferring to the JR Hachinohe Line. Many prominent figures including over 100 authors and artists have taken inspiration from the scenic view of Tanesashi coast for their works. The writer, Ryotaro Shiba once said “if someone from another planet came to earth and I were to tell them about the beauty of earth, I would bring them to Tanesashi coast.” The coastal line stretches for 12 km (7.4 miles) starting at Kabushima island, and features natural grass that grows to the water’s edge, the nakisuna (singing sand) that produce sounds when walking, and a vast grassy plain with many rare ocean flowers and plants. It is a sight of paradise.
Kabushima Island is a famous nesting location for black-tailed gulls and the only location where the nesting process can be observed closely. The Kabushima Shrine honors the god Benzaiten and attracts many visitors.
A walking trail stretches along the coastal line and is a great place to walk while enjoying the comforting sea breeze. In support of this beautiful Tanesashi coast, a civil group works towards protecting and maintaining the area. With the motto “Making Hachinohe treasure to a treasure of Japan”, citizens of all ages from children to seniors work together to protect and pass on the natural environment to the next generation. The beauty of Tanesashi is precisely the product of people and nature living together and protecting what must be preserved.
One of the Largest Morning Markets and Bar Hopping through the Yokocho Alley
The Hachinohe port is one of the main distributors of squid and mackerel. The popular morning market is held throughout the city from spring to winter. Among the markets, the Tatehana Wharf morning market is one of the largest in Japan. It is open every Sunday from mid-March to the end of December, and hosts over 400 shops. The number of visitors range from 10,000 to 30,000 weekly. With its massive scale, visitors can enjoy a lively environment just like a festival.
The Mutsu Minato Station Front morning market is the oldest existing market in Hachinohe city. The kattcha (a friendly term that means “mom”) at the fish shop calls out energetically at the Hachinohe city fish market. Visitors can enjoy a special breakfast by selecting side dishes from the freshly caught fish sashimi such as sea urchin or salmon roe, grilled fish and other prepared ingredients along with rice and miso soup. A quick chat with kattcha is sure to become a highlight of the day.
The Hachinohe culture of Yokocho alleys goes back many years. There are eight Yokocho alleys and small roads within the city center and every shop has a strong support from locals to visitors. The red hanging lanterns welcomes bar hoppers and visitors. A night in Hachinohe is said to begin in Yokocho and end in Yokocho, an indication of how eventful Yokocho can be. Enjoy a drink with a local, and the night in Hachinohe will slowly but surely grow late.
The Best Mackerel and Squid in Japan
Eat up all of the good food in Hachinohe
Thanks to the abundancy of plankton and the cold ocean water of early fall, the mackerel caught in Hachinohe have plenty of fat. During the peak season, a mackerel of over 600 grams (1.3 lbs) can have up to 30% of fat content, gaining the title of the number one mackerel in Japan. The deep flavor that compares to the most expensive cut of tuna is the key selling point of Hachinohe brand mackerel to the world. Hachinohe is also the top squid producer. The squid can be used in a wide variety of dishes from sashimi, curry and pasta. The local dishes ichigoni and sembeijiru are also popular as it uses fresh sea urchin and abalone.
The Hasshoku Center is an entertainment type tourist market, where visitors can see, buy and grill the fresh ingredients sold at the market. Many visitors from Japan and abroad visit the center.
The Hachinohe bouillabaisse festival features bouillabaisse which extravagantly uses the seafood caught from Hachinohe only during the winter months. 14 chefs from restaurants in Hachinohe city prepare the one and only bouillabaisse in Hachinohe.
The Starting Point for Hachinohe Travels.
“Hachinohe Portal Museum Hacchi”
The “Hachinohe Portal Museum Hacchi” introduces various information about Hachinohe such as festivals, traditional crafts, food, and Yokocho guide. It is a welcoming rest place to stop by while sightseeing.
The Korekawa Jomon Museum, located next to the Korekawa Stone Age Historical Site is a popular tourist spot welcoming over 30,000 people every year. Visitors can see the National Treasure, the praying clay figurine, which was unearthed from a pit dwelling remains of the last half of Jomon period (approx. 3500 years ago). As the only clay figure which is sitting in a praying position that has been found, the artifact has great academic significance and value.
See Aomori’s Attruction
