The Tohoku area is located in the upper part of Honshu, facing the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, and consists of six prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima. In the center of the inland area, the Ou Mountains extend from north to south, and the climate differs from region to region due to the mountains that range in elevation from 1,000 to 2,000 meters above sea level. Regions facing the Sea of Japan are characterized by year-round cloudiness, rain, and snow in winter, while those facing the Pacific Ocean have stable sunshine hours throughout the year.
The Tohoku area is nationally known for its specialty agricultural products, such as hops, a raw material for beer, and safflower, one of the ingredients for vegetable oil, as well as for its marine products, such as oysters, saury, and tuna.
The area is also well known for having some of the best hot springs in Japan, including Nyuto Onsen in Akita Prefecture, which dates back to the Edo period, and Akiu Onsen in Miyagi Prefecture, which is said to have its origins in the Kofun period, attracting many spa tourists.
The main attractions include "Genbikei Gorge" in Iwate Prefecture, famous for its kakko dango (dumplings), "Ryusendo," one of the three largest limestone caves in Japan and designated as a natural monument, and "Oirase Stream" in Aomori Prefecture, designated as a special scenic beauty and natural monument by the government.
Iwate Prefecture's "Genbikei Gorge" is a 2-km-long gorge in the middle reaches of the Iwai River, and was designated a national scenic beauty spot and natural monument in 1927. The scenery of rock surfaces formed by river erosion and trees covering the surrounding area is simply beautiful, and is a popular spot for many tourists. Genbikei is also famous throughout Japan for its kakko dango (dumplings). Visitors pay a fee for the dumplings, which are placed in bamboo baskets connected to both banks of the river by wire ropes, and the dumplings come down from a teahouse on the opposite bank in a bamboo basket.
Ryusendo" is a 3.6-km-long limestone cave with multiple underground lakes and is one of the three largest limestone caves in Japan. It is also characterized by the depth of its underground lakes, the deepest of which is the No. 4 Underground Lake, which is 120 meters deep, making it the deepest in Japan. The water that forms the underground lakes is filtered from deep underground streams and gushes out in the underground lakes, making the lakes exceptionally clear.
The Oirase Stream in Aomori Prefecture is a 14-km-long mountain stream that stretches from Lake Towada's Konokuchi to Yakeyama, and is designated as a special place of scenic beauty and a natural monument by the government. The ensemble of the beautiful clear stream and the trees that change their expressions from season to season, making it a popular tourist spot, attracts many visitors in search of healing and relaxation.
After Hirosaki Castle was abandoned, the ruins of the castle were opened as a park in 1895.Cherry trees have been planted there since 1903, and today, with approximately 2,600 cherry trees, Hirosaki Park is famous for its flowers. Because of its location in the northern Tohoku region, the cherry blossom season is relatively late, and the best time to view the blossoms generally coincides with Gol...»
The zoo is located in the northernmost part of Japan, and its mission is to convey the brightness of life through "behavioral exhibits," in which the animals' natural instincts and characteristics can be seen through their vivid appearance, by drawing out their habits and behavior. In recent years, the zoo has turned its attention to familiar animals, including those native to Hokkaido, and is act...»
The hot springs are located in a naturally beautiful valley covered with virgin forest.Hot spring water gushes naturally from the cracks in the bedrock on the riverbanks and riverbed. The hot spring resort is located along the Toyohira River 26 km south of downtown Sapporo, less than an hour's drive, and is lined with old-fashioned, purely Japanese Meiji-style inns, deluxe hotels, and souvenir st...»
Three- and four-story wooden inns from the Taisho and early Showa eras stand side by side on both banks of the Ginzan River, with steam rising from the river. The architecture was very modern at the time of construction, with many bridges spanning the river and gas lamps lining the cobblestone sidewalks, creating a silver world at night. The nostalgic townscape with Taisho romanticism is marked ...»
Stone warehouses built in the Meiji and Taisho eras line the canal. These former warehouses are now reused as restaurants, cafes, and souvenir stores. At night, the sight of the buildings lit up by shining gas lamps is truly fantastic. It creates a romantic mood. Along the Otaru Canal, there is a promenade for visitors to stroll around, and many tasteful sightseeing spots are spread out around t...»
This is the only prison museum in Japan that exhibits the main buildings of the former Abashiri Prison, including the relocated cells, the prison chapel, and the government office building, and also exhibits the historical objects and equipment that have been used since the Meiji Era. In particular, this is the only one of its kind in Japan that has the five radiating wooden one-story cells. In ...»
Mount Hakodate commands a panoramic view of the city of Hakodate.The observatory at the summit of the 334-meter-high mountain is a popular spot to enjoy the magnificent panorama and beautiful night view. Together with Mt. Maya Sukuseidai in Kobe and Mt. Inasa in Nagasaki, it is one of the "Three Great Night Views of Japan," and the unique topography of the mountain has earned it a three-star rati...»
The magnificent Daisetsuzoku mountain range and hills provide the backdrop for a 7-hectare flower garden with an outstanding view. From spring to fall, 30 different kinds of flowers can be seen. In winter, visitors can experience ATV and snowmobile riding, and fully enjoy the charm of the hill in winter, which is different from the green season....»
The Shirakami Sanchi is the collective name for the mountains stretching from Akita to Aomori Prefectures. This natural treasure trove was registered as Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site (Natural Heritage) in 1993, along with Yakushima Island. The pristine natural beech forests, untouched by humans, are among the largest in the world. The beech forest was formed around 8,000 years ago dur...»
Located northeast of Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Spring Resort, Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Noboribetsu Hell Valley) is the site of a 450-meter long explosive crater created by the eruption of Mt.Numerous fumaroles are located on the surface along the valley, and gas and hot springs are gushing out. The name "Jigokudani" comes from the bubbling and boiling scenery. A variety of hot springs gush out from h...»
A garden with a factory that manufactures Rokkatei's "Marusei Butter Sandwich," a museum, and a café on a vast 100,000 square meter site. In order to realize the wildflower scenery depicted on Rokkatei's flower-patterned wrapping paper, a wetland was regenerated, and a waterfront was revived in an isolated forest, and flowers and grasses were also revived. The garden grows seasonal flowers and g...»
The Blue Pond, also known as "Shirogane no Aoi Ike" (Blue Pond of Biei) or "Biei Shirogane Aoi Ike" (Blue Pond of Biei), is a popular tourist spot, known mainly to photographers for its mysterious blue water and fantastic scenery of standing dead trees. It is said that the different water components of the spring water near here and the main stream of the Biei River mix together to reflect the su...»
Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture is one of the three most scenic spots in Japan, along with Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture and Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture. Since the Edo period (1603-1867), it has been famous as one of the most scenic spots in Japan, and even the famous haiku poet Matsuo Basho (1522-1616) included a visit to Matsushima as one of the objectives of his "Okunohosomichi" (Tra...»
Located on the north side of Mt. Bandai, Goshiki-numa is a group of about 30 small lakes and swamps of various sizes that show various colors such as green, red, and blue. Bandai erupted, a debris avalanche choked the rivers and formed hundreds of lakes and marshes. The lakes are known for the color of their water, which changes depending on the quality of the volcanic water and the plants and a...»
In the mountains of Minami-Aizu, buildings built in the style of hipped roofs are neatly lined up at right angles to the old highway in the rice paddies, and the Edo period scenery remains intact,The town flourished as one of the inns on the Minamiyama-dori (Aizu West Highway) connecting Aizu-Wakamatsu and Imaichi, Nikko, as a "half farmer, half inn".It was selected as a national Important Preserv...»
Hirosaki Castle is a flat mountain castle located 50 meters above sea level in the Tsugaru Plain.During the Edo period (1603-1867), the castle was the seat of the Tsugaru clan of the Hirosaki domain, which held 47,000 koku of land, making it the political and economic center of the Tsugaru region. The entire castle, including moats, stonewalls, and earthen mounds, remains in its original form as ...»
This is a 28.7 km long, full-scale mountain sightseeing road that traverses the Azuma Mountain Range.It runs from Takayu Onsen in Fukushima City along the eastern side of the Azuma Mountain Range in Bandai-Asahi National Park, passing through Jododaira and ending at Tsuchiyu Pass. Located in Bandai-Asahi National Park, the road is blessed with a large scale view of the Zao mountain range in the d...»
The Kanamori Red Brick Warehouses flourished during the Meiji Era (1868-1912) as the volume of shipping cargo increased. For a time, the existence of these warehouses was threatened due to changes in transportation patterns, but in the late Showa period (1926-1989), they once again came into the limelight as valuable architectural treasures. Today, the area has been reborn as a popular tourist spo...»
The dynamic beauty of nature's formations and the rich colors of the four seasons are woven together in this valley. Iwai River flowing from Mt. Kurikoma, the 2-km-long gorge offers scenery of oddly shaped rocks, monstrous rocks, waterfalls, and deep pools. From the promenade, visitors can enjoy the contrasting scenery of "stillness" and "movement" of the wild upstream flow and the relaxing abys...»
Zuiganji Temple was built with the best of Momoyama-style architecture.Founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin in 828, the temple was rebuilt by Date Masamune in 1609 and renamed Zuigan-ji Temple. It is the family temple of the Date family. Masamune invited 130 master craftsmen to complete the building, which is a masterpiece of Momoyama-style architecture and took five years to complete. The main hall a...»
Aoike is one of the "Twelve Lakes," a group of lakes and marshes of various sizes in the Shirakami Mountains, and is surrounded by mountains over 1,000 meters high. The surface of the water shines a brilliant cobalt blue, reflecting the surrounding trees like a mirror, creating a fantastic atmosphere. The pond, with a surface area of 975 square meters and a depth of 9 meters, is formed by a mixt...»
One of the three largest limestone caves in Japan and designated as a national natural monument. Fresh water gushing from deep within the caves forms deep underground lakes at several locations, with the third underground lake at a depth of 98 meters. The third underground lake is 98 meters deep, while the fourth underground lake, which is not yet open to the public, is the deepest in Japan at 12...»
A paradise with a constant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius, Spa Resort Hawaiians combines a bright local atmosphere with the charm of the South Pacific. There are thrilling pools and activities, entertainment facilities such as authentic tropical dance shows and comfortable hot springs, and tropical gardens. You can also feel the comfort of materials touching your skin. The open-air baths have ...»
The limestone caves were created by the metamorphism of limestone into crystalline limestone over a period of 80 million years. Since long ago, limestone and marble mining has been active in the area, and stalactites of various shapes and sizes have developed along the 600-meter public tour route. Stalactites that drop from the ceiling, stalagmites that accumulate like bamboo shoots from under t...»
Kakunodate, the castle town of Kakunodate Castle that flourished in the Edo period, is known as "Michinoku's Little Kyoto" for its old and quiet atmosphere. Within a compact area of about 2 km in radius, many old buildings such as samurai residences still exist, making it a popular sightseeing spot with its elegant townscape. In the past, the inner town (samurai town) and outer town (merchant to...»
The contrast between the pure white castle walls and red roof tiles makes for a beautiful castle tower, also known as Aizu Wakamatsu Castle, Wakamatsu Castle, Kurokawa Castle, or Aizu Castle. The exterior of the castle tower was reconstructed in reinforced concrete, and the interior is used as the Wakamatsu Castle Keep Local History Museum. Kurokawa Castle was originally built by Naomori Naomori...»
Ideha Shrine is located at the summit of Mount Haguro, 414 meters above sea level. The deities worshipped are Inakuratomikoto and Inakuratomikoto. It is one of the three mountain shrines of Ideha. Gassan, Haguro, and Yudono in the Shonai region of southern Ideha Province (on the Sea of Japan side of Yamagata Prefecture) are collectively known as the Ideha Sanzan and have been the object of mounta...»
The Dewa Sanzan (Three Mountains of Dewa) is the general name for the three mountains of Gassan, Haguro, and Yudono, located in the Murayama and Shonai regions of Yamagata Prefecture. Shugendo, and still attract many ascetic practitioners and worshippers today. The three mountains of Dewa are believed to symbolize the past (Gassan), the present (Haguro), and the future (Yudono), and each of them ...»
The shrine is the most revered shrine in Oshu and is believed to be the god of safe childbirth, safety at sea, and satisfaction from a great catch of fish. It is popularly called "Shiogama-sama" (Lord of Shiogama). It is the head shrine of all the Shiogama (Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama, Shiogama) shrines in Japan. Facing the sea with a beautiful view, the shrine is also home t...»
Located in Towada-Hachimantai National Park, Lake Towada is the core of Towada tourism.It is a double caldera lake with a surface elevation of 400 meters. It is believed to have been formed by the eruption and sinking of the Towada Volcano.It is 327 m deep at its deepest point, 44 km in circumference, and 61.02 km2 in area. The geological strata created by crustal movement form cliffs surroundin...»
Visitors can experience a demonstration of the traditional Namahage, which has been strictly preserved in the local Mayama area since ancient times, in a kyokka (a farmhouse with an L-shaped flat roof) with a distinctive thatched roof. Visitors will be overwhelmed by the power of the Namahage, which can be seen up close as it ravages through the house. Also nearby are the Mayama Shrine, the Many...»
This is one of the representative scenic spots on the Rikuchu Coast, where sharp, white, meteoric rocks adorn the beautiful coastline, each one with a different appearance. Nambu red pine and other evergreen trees tower over the rocks, creating a beautiful Japanese garden-like landscape in contrast with the green of the pine trees, the white rock surface, and the deep blue of the sea. Jodogahama...»
Visitors can enjoy sheepdog and sheep shows, horseback riding, archery, trolley rides, and other attractions while enjoying the view of Mount Iwate in the background. Visitors can also tour the barn and dairy factory. At the restaurant and store, you can taste the famous Genghis Khan and fresh milk. Contact with nature, a fun experience Koiwai Farm is one of the largest private farms in Japan, ...»
Nyuto Onsenkyo is the generic name for the hot springs scattered along the foot of Mount Nyuto in Towada-Hachimantai National Park. This hot spring village is dotted with rustic one-house inns surrounded by deep mountains, each with its own unique source, offering a variety of spring qualities. Myonoyu, Ogama, Kaniba, Magoroku, and Kuroyu are located downstream, and Tsuru-no-yu is located along ...»
A historical building, the Akarengakan was established in 1911 as the head office of the Bank of Morioka, and later served as the head office of the Bank of Iwate for many years. Designed by Kingo Tatsuno and Manji Kasai, the same architects who designed Tokyo Station, it is known as the only Tatsuno work in the Tohoku region. In 1994, it became the first active bank building to be designated an...»
This 27 km long drive route traverses the Hachimantai Mountains and connects Iwate and Akita. It winds through the mountainside of Chausu-dake (Mt. Chausu), and offers the unique scenery of Hachimantai, a magnificent volcanic belt, including Mt. Iwate, blue lakes and marshes, and the unique landscape of dead ash trees. Especially just after the opening of the road in mid-April, several meters of...»