Hello, we made it! After an hour of being sardined in a flying tin can from Sapporo’s Okadama airport, we can finally stretch our legs and take a deep breath at Misawa airport. Phew, that cabin air could use a little freshening up!

Can’t find Misawa Airport on Google Maps? Don’t worry! It’s really close to the Misawa airbase, and they even share some facilities over there.

Not much of the airport is open to regular folks. I guess the rest is all about keeping the airbase running. We grabbed our bags and headed to the arrivals area. It’s just a plain little hall, and you can’t miss the big sign saying “Exit no. 4.” The shuttle bus stop to Hon-Hachinohe is right there next to the crosswalk on the left.

After doing a stealthy little tip-toe dance to peek inside the bus, we discovered that all the other passengers had rolled on board with their luggage like it was the latest fashion accessory. Gee whiz, looks like I’m about to earn my unofficial gym membership by hoisting 20kg bags like they’re featherweight dumbbells! At this rate, I might just end up with a trophy for “Most Creative Weightlifting Techniques”!

Tip: The shuttle bus is like a local bus which does not have any bus luggage compartment storage. Board the bus from the front with the luggage and collect the ticket from the dispenser. Keep an eye on the monitor screens at the front. It will indicate the next stop and bus fare. Press the bell ahead and alight from the front. Present the ticket and the bus fare to the driver when alighting. For updates on the bus fare, please visit Misawa Airport Official Site.

Yes, I know.. In Kanazawa and Kumatsu, boarding is from the back door and alighting from the front. Misawa boarding and alighting from the front. I suppose for simple reasons that they kept the back door closed so that our luggage will not be flying out through the back door.

Food near JR Hon-Hachinohe Station

JR Hon-Hachinohe Station is located within Uchimaru. The bus stop for JR Hon-Hachinohe is along the main road facing the Station. For snowy weather or rainy conditions, this is a bad choice as we have to either navigate through the parking lot to the Station building or drag our luggage along the unsheltered pathway. 

I prefer dragging my luggage over smooth or even pavement. The footpath leading towards the Station building is not made of concrete slates with columns of spaces making dragging the luggage difficult. 

So happy that Hon-Hachinohe station is just one station to JR Hachinohe station. My excitement died down the moment the Station master pointed me to the gates and said no elevator. Goodness me, one more time 🤦‍♀️. This time is like practising for the World title. First flight of steps – 8 steps up. Around the corner and looked up, that’s how much I have to carry my luggage and my backpack to climb the stairs – 2 flights of stairs with approximately 20 steps each. This must be a joke. Getting to the top is like an accomplishment of having climbed Fuji-san.

Whenever a station name has the term “JR”, I tend to believe that the station has been refurbished with lifts or elevators. 

Hon-Hachinohe station being home of Miroku Yokocho and more hotels will be better than Misawa Station? Do not bet on it. There are no elevators or escalators at Hon-Hachinohe station. 

From Google Street View, it appears that there is an elevator at the East Exit. The shuttle bus stops at the Station’s main exit and building. With some luck perhaps, there might just be an elevator. Bus to Misawa Station is 400yen. Local train from Misawa Station to Hachinohe Station is 580 yen. Worth the try next time perhaps.

Maybe next time I shall try using Misawa Station to get to Hachinohe to confirm my suspicion that there might just be an elevator after all.

Tip: If traveling with heavy luggage, best to avoid alighting at JR Hon-Hachinohe Station. That station has no elevator or escalators. There is only a small waiting room at the platform with limited space and chairs. These costs are subject to changes. For updates to access to/from Misawa Airport, visit Bus information at Misawa airport Official site. For updates on train travels, use Japan Travel Navi