Getting around Ichinoseki and Hiraizumi using public transport
Getting up here by bullet train is a walk in the park, but getting from the station to your desired destination will take a little more effort and planning if you don't have a car. There are plenty of car rental companies in Ichinoseki if you fancy going on a drive around rural Japan. You can find a list of phone numbers and homepages here.
I have uploaded the bus/train schedules for the major attractions in the area which can be found below the map.
Here are some pointers for organizing travel: Ichinoseki is a sizable region. See the map below to get a sense of the locations of the main tourist attractions. I'll also include a list of approximate durations for each popular tourist site.
General time spent per destination:
Geibikei (boat): 2hrs~3hrs
Chusonji: ~2hrs
Motsuji: <1hr
Takkoku no Iwaya <1hr
Genbikei: ~1hr (depends on whether you eat dango)
Sukawa (Mt. Kurikoma): A half to a whole day
Bus/train schedules 2024
*It's best to confirm the times as they may be subject to change, with the Ichinoseki Tourism Information Center located in front of the west exit of the JR Ichinoseki Station and right where all the bus stops are too!
*Feel free to download but please refrain from distributing/re-uploading
Bus/train TT 2024 December ~
If you need anything before your set off, make sure to check into the Ichinoseki Tourism Information Center. Here you will find maps, brochures and multilingual pamphlets (with audio) and luggage services. Don't hesitate to ask any questions to the friendly staff English and Chinese speaking staff are available.
Happy travels~
