Hachimantai Aspite Line Autumn Leaves 2026
Last updated: July 28, 2026. Typical viewing times and details below are compiled from official park, temple, city and tourism-association websites (linked at the end of this page). The dates of annual night light-ups are set each year — check the official site before you travel.
This 27 km alpine toll-free drive climbs across the 1,613 m Hachimantai plateau on the Iwate-Akita border, where the mountainsides blaze red and gold from late September before the color descends toward the foothills in mid-October.
Key Facts
| Typical peak | Late September to mid-October |
|---|---|
| Best months | September–October |
| Location | Hachimantai / Kazuno (Iwate-Akita border), Iwate |
| Nearest station | JR Morioka Station |
| Admission | Free to drive the road; summit parking is 500 yen per day. |
| Night light-up | No autumn night light-up |
| Official site | https://explorekazuno.jp/pickup/hachimantaiasupiterain/ |
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Highlights
- A high-altitude drive that lets you follow the foliage front as it moves down the mountain over several weeks
- Panoramic views across the Towada-Hachimantai National Park volcanic highlands
- Aomori spruce evergreens contrasting with the turning broadleaf slopes
Where to See the Autumn Leaves
Hachimantai Summit Rest House area (Paid)
The high point of the road near the summit, the base for short walking trails onto the plateau and the widest views over the turning slopes.
At the summit of the Aspite Line; day parking is 500 yen (107 spaces).
Hachimantai Aspite Line scenic drive (Free)
The road itself is free to drive, winding for about 27 km across the plateau with pull-offs framing the autumn valleys.
Open mid-April to early November; closed overnight (17:00-8:30) in the late-season period and fully closed in winter.
Getting There
By car about 40 minutes (roughly 26 km) from Matsuo-Hachimantai IC on the Tohoku Expressway. By bus roughly 1 hour 50 minutes from JR Morioka Station to the summit area.
Crowd & Timing Tips
- The road is seasonal: it opens only from mid-April to early November and closes overnight late in the season, so check the operating hours before setting out.
- Weekends at peak color draw heavy traffic on the mountain road; arriving early in the day helps with both parking and clear morning light.
See more autumn-leaf spots: Tohoku Autumn Leaves 2026 · Japan Autumn Leaves Guide 2026