Hakkoda, Aomori Prefecture
Hakkoda–Towada Gold Line Spring’s snow walls tower just beyond the windows
National Route 103, from Yachi Onsen to Sukayu Onsen, is still lined with snow walls up to 5 m high in spring. In late April, as I rounded each bend in my red sedan, snow walls filled my windows, almost too much to take in. I kept my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel as I made my way through the winter still clinging to the mountain, bit by bit.
Come along for my late-April drive through the snow corridor, with walls of snow rising right up to the windows. I’ll show you what makes this season special.
SpringLate April
Driving between snow walls in cherry blossom season
As I drove into Hakkoda at the end of April, snow walls rose outside my windows. I’d come expecting a spring drive, but the snow reached far above the roof of my car. I’d seen it in photos, but realizing I was actually about to drive between those walls made me grip the wheel tighter.
I was driving a red four-wheel-drive sedan that day. I’d bundled up, so my shoulders felt a little cramped in the car. But when I saw all that snow outside, I couldn’t help laughing at myself for considering a change into lighter clothes before I set off. Good thing I didn’t choose what to wear based on the season alone.
The road curved gently to the left. I kept my eyes on the road and my hands on the wheel as I followed the bend. Horizontal lines ran across the snow walls in layer after layer as they slid by my windows. The sheer scale of those walls made me feel the thrill of being somewhere so different from my usual routes.
I lowered the window just a little, and cool air brushed my cheek. I rolled it back up almost at once, but even that little chill made me smile. Someone had cleared a road through the snow that had piled up on the mountain all winter. The fact that it was wide enough for cars to pass made me appreciate just how remarkable the snow-clearing work must be.
I’d imagined that being hemmed in by tall snow walls might feel claustrophobic. But as I followed the road and looked ahead, the light shifted with every bend. After I passed through the corridor, I kept thinking about the snow walls that had filled my windows. I never thought I’d get to welcome spring in the mountains like this.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialties to try on this trip
Aomori Ginger Miso Oden
A specialty of Aomori City, this oden is made with miso mixed with grated ginger. It’s said to have originated at food stalls around Aomori Station after the war, where vendors made it to warm ship passengers. After driving between the snow walls, even hearing how it began made me crave a warm bowl.
Highlights
A road carved through the snow
Aomori Prefecture describes the work to clear the 8.0 km stretch between Sukayu and Yachi Onsen. With snow piled right beside my window, I could appreciate just how much effort it took to open this road.
Along Hakkoda’s southern foothills
The route runs from Oirase, past Tsuta Onsen, and along Hakkoda’s southern foothills to Sukayu Onsen. After driving through the snow corridor, even the hot spring names on the map started to feel like invitations to my next stop.
Road and location details
National Route 103 (Hakkoda–Towada Gold Line)
- Sukayu–Yachi stretch
- 8.0km
- Snow wall height
- Up to 5 m
The stretch between Yachi Onsen and Sukayu Onsen. I drove my red sedan around its bends through the snow.
The distance is for the section Aomori Prefecture clears of snow; the snow wall height comes from the Ministry of the Environment. Inside the car, I could feel just how high those walls were.
More Spot Guides
If you enjoyed this story, you might like these places too. I've gone back to each of them in different seasons, again and again.
