Tohoku

The mountains, coasts and hot spring country of northern Honshu's six prefectures: the Oirase Stream, Ginzan Onsen, Matsushima, Kakunodate's samurai district and summer festivals.

The Tohoku region lies at the northern end of Honshu and includes six prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima. It is Japan's most unspoiled and least visited region. Highlights: in Aomori, the Oirase Stream, autumn leaves at Lake Towada, and the snow monsters of Hakkoda; in Iwate, the Golden Hall of Chuson-ji in Hiraizumi (a World Heritage site) and Morioka's reimen noodles; in Miyagi, Sendai and Matsushima, one of Japan's Three Views; in Akita, cherry blossoms at Kakunodate's samurai residences, Lake Tazawa and Nyuto Onsen; in Yamagata, Ginzan Onsen's Taisho-era snowy scenery, Zao's snow monsters, and the Shugendo mountain asceticism of Dewa Sanzan; and in Fukushima, Aizu-Wakamatsu's Tsuruga Castle and the thatched post town of Ouchi-juku. In summer, Aomori's Nebuta, Akita's Kanto, Sendai's Tanabata and Yamagata's Hanagasa are together known as Tohoku's four great festivals. Classic routes are Sendai–Matsushima–Hiraizumi–Kakunodate–Aomori, or a Yamagata–Aizu southern route, about 6–9 days. The Tohoku Shinkansen links the major cities, and heading into the countryside requires transfers to local lines and buses; the JR East Pass (Tohoku area) is good value for foreign visitors. Snow is deep in winter, so driving requires snow experience.

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Itineraries