Eye of the Dragon
ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort offers easy access to a rare sight.
Mount Hachimantai, which straddles Akita and Iwate prefectures, is home to a variety of stunning views.
But perhaps one of the most intriguing is the Hachimantai Dragon Eye.
Making only a brief appearance between late May and early June, the Dragon Eye is a mysterious occurrence that owes its presence to a natural phenomenon at Kagaminuma, a small swamp near the top of the mountain. During the changing of the seasons, the spring’s snowmelt flows into the snow that covers the swamp in winter, maintaining a brief but spectacular balance.
The resulting concentric circles of water and snow bear a striking resemblance to the eye of a mythical reptile, which has led to the Hachimantai Dragon Eye becoming a popular tourist attraction over the last few years. Without a doubt, part of its appeal is its rarity: it can only be seen during a brief time, and its appearance depends on a variety of natural factors.
UNFORGETTABLE ART
The Hachimantai Dragon Eye also features prominently in a piece of art displayed in the hotel lobby of the ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort, in the town of Hachimantai, Iwate Prefecture. The hotel, which celebrated its first anniversary this February, was recognized in the Luxury Destination Hotel category at the 2022 World Luxury Hotel Awards and has been garnering attention both domestically and internationally.
As this unique Tohoku attraction can be reached in about one hour by car from the hotel, using the ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort as your gateway to seeing the Hachimantai Dragon Eye—and all the region has to offer—can make for an unforgettable trip this spring.
