From Wikitravel

Hachinohe (八戸) [1], a mid sized city in Aomori, is the current terminus of the Tohoku Shinkansen line and mainly a train hub for most travellers.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By train 2 Get around 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

By train

The Tohoku Shinkansen provides hourly service from Tokyo station to Hachinohe station. Trains are all-reserved and are known as Hayate (はやて) trains. The trains only stop at major stations such as Ueno, Omiya, Sendai and Morioka prior to reaching Hachinohe.

Hayate trains from Tokyo reach Hachinohe in three hours and cost ¥15350 each way, so it might be wise to get a rail pass of some kind before making the journey. Beware that the Hayate trains are coupled to Akita-bound Komachi trains, which split at Morioka, so be sure you're in the right train and car when boarding.

There are also various local, rapid, and limited express trains to Aomori and other points in Tohoku.

Get around

Hachinohe has an extensive train and bus system, all using the same station as the bullet train. The buses require some Japanese reading ability. There are always plenty of taxis parked outside of the train station as well. The city is a bit spread out, so walking to many destinations could be time consuming.

See

• Kabushima Island (蕪島). The breeding ground for thousands of black-tailed seagulls, and the very scenic Kabushima Benzaiten (蕪島弁財天) shrine overlooks the ocean. Breeding season is in May, but there are many seagulls there all year except for in the winter.

• Nejo Plaza (根城). The reconstruction of a historic castle from the 1300s. Admission is 250 yen for adults as of Oct. 22, 2005.

Do

• Sansha Taisai (三社大祭). Usually held in the first few days of august, this is called "Japan's largest float festival." The three days of celebration focus around a huge parade each day featuring enormous and intricately decorated floats.

Buy

• Fish Market, to your right as you exit the train station. The indoor fish market which, other than fish, also sells many local souvenirs including food specialties and hand crafted items, including lacquerware and horse statues. There is also a float on display here.
• The Plada shopping center is directly north of downtown Hachinohe, about 8 blocks north of the Hon-Hachinohe train stop. Next to the mall are a Toys R Us and an electronics store, Yamada Denki.

Eat

Drink

The area in central Hachinohe near city hall contains numerous bars, izakaya, restaurants, pubs, and hostess bars. Many of the establishments, especially the hostess bars, will not allow foreigners to enter, although some can be persuaded to change their mind if you speak Japanese. However, most of the "western" style bars, especially those frequented by young adults, are very welcoming to foreigners.

Sleep

• Kawayo Green Farm (カワヨグリーン), [2]. Lies three train stops outside the city, in Mukaiyama, and includes a comfortable Youth Hostel on its grounds. It's is worth a stopover for some horse riding, mini golf or just some countryside.

• Toyoko Inn Hachinohe Ekimae, 1-3-17 Ichibancho, tel. 0178-27-1045, [3]. A business hotel that is very easy to spot just outside the train station's main exit. Singles/doubles from ¥5,200/7,800.

Get out

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!