Misawa
Misawa (三沢) is a city in Aomori prefecture, Japan, best known for its airport/air base.
Understand
[edit]Tourist Information Site
[edit]The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]- 1 Misawa Airport (MSJ IATA). Served by Japan Air Lines, which offers domestic service from Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
Towada Kanko Bus runs an hourly bus service from the airport to Misawa's train station.
By train
[edit]Misawa is a stop on the private Aoimori Railway. It is served by the Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Aomori.
The fastest way to get to Misawa from Tokyo is to take the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayate service to Hachinohe (¥15350), where you can change to the Aoimori Railway for the run to Misawa (20 minutes, ¥550). With good connections the one-way trip will take about 3 hours, 45 minutes. Foreign tourists will find it cheaper to use the JR East Rail Pass or the national Japan Rail Pass, but note that the rail pass will not cover the Aoimori Railway.
By bus
[edit]An overnight bus service is offered from Tokyo to Hachinohe (9 hours, ¥9500), from which Misawa is a 20-minute ride on the Aoimori Railway.
Get around
[edit]The best way to get around is by car. If you don't have a car, taxis are available with a starting fare of about ¥600.
See
[edit]
There are many places in and around Misawa that are worth seeing; for example, the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum, Miss Veedol Beach (July-Aug) and Swan Lake (Lake Ogawara). The airport itself is a popular destination for local aviation fans - spotting both civilian and military aircraft.
Do
[edit]There are a lot of small parks and such, and a small bar district, but not much to do if you don't like nature. It is close to Mt. Hakkoda (八甲田山) and the ocean, but that is about it.
In September, the joint USAF/JSDF air base opens to the public for its annual airshow.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Many local places here have English menus due to the large military population. Lots of food to eat, everything from Chinese to Japanese to Thai, all good.
- Noresore Shokudo (のれそれ食堂), Hoshino Resort Aomoriya hotel 1F. 7:00-9:30 and 17:30-20:30. 5-star buffet. Perfect for special occasions or if you are just craving delicious steaks. morning \2750, dinner \5500.
- Grill Omiya (グリル大宮), 2-4-6 Omachi (at the beginning of White Pole Road). Popularly known as Pizza Curry, this restaurant is arguably the best example of the gastronomical collision of American and Japanese cuisine. They serve curry on a scale of spiciness ranging from 5-10-15-20-25 as well as Special 1, Special 2, and Special 3 for the brave of heart and teflon of stomach. Additionally, a "B Set" includes 2 pieces of a pizza toast. While the pizza is not faithful to American-style pizza, it is a delight all its own.
- Tonki (とん喜), 2-7-9 Chuo (two blocks from the budokan and down the same street as Cheese Roll restaurant.). Hamburger steak and Tonkatsu. Run by 2 generations of the same family and they are some of the nicest people you will meet.
All in all, Misawa is full of good restaurants, the smaller the better and avoid ones specifically geared towards the large foreign population, they're predictable.
- Marumiya (丸美屋, or Cheese Roll House), 2-7-13 Chuo (Off White Pole Road). This is a local favorite. One of the first restaurants most new comers are taken to. They feature Ramen, Yakisoba (fried noodles), beef dungaree, and of course cheese rolls. If you want quality yakisoba that is not greasy or over rushed, this is the place and don't forget the cheese rolls. Very friendly staff.
Drink
[edit]Where you can, just don't get 'X'ed out of the Japanese bars, unless you are trying to.
There are lots of good Izakaya in Misawa, both chain and local, if you want a good place with cheap beer to start off the night and lots of good drinking food, try:
- Paddy's: For a real pub with Guinness and other Irish brews, the Irish pub and only one far north Tohoku Irish experience, full of charm.
- Holes in the wall, all over the place, the more Japanese you speak, the better the chance you'll enjoy them and more importantly get in.
Drinking in Misawa is more fun that many think, you can karaoke Enka one minute and get down in Nitrous the next, what you want is out there, you just have to have an open mind and find it.
Sleep
[edit]There are many hotels in the city center or spa.
Connect
[edit]Tourist information
[edit]- Misawa city Sightseeing Association (三沢市観光協会), 2F Lakepia 116-2858 Sabishirotai, ☏ +81 176 59 2311.
- 1 Lake Ogawara Sightseeing center Lakepia (小川原湖観光センター レークピア), 116-2858 Sabishirotai (At Misawa Shimin no mori (citizen's forest)), ☏ +81 176 59 2311. 09:00-17:00.
- 2 Misawa City Tourist Information (三沢市観光案内所), 1F skyplaza 2-8-34 chuochou (At Skyplaza Misawa), ☏ +81 70 5621 6010. 10:00-18:00.
Go next
[edit]| Routes through Misawa |
| Aomori ← Asamushi onsen ← Noheji ← | N  S |
→ Hachinohe → Morioka |
| Mutsu ← Higashidori ← | N  S |
→ Oirase → into  → Hachinohe |