Tohoku travel guide: For everything Japan has to offer but with less crowds!
Welcome to Tohōku, Japan’s northern
region of Honshu Island, a treasure chest full of beautiful temples & shrines,
preserved towns, and breathtaking views. Not only is it easily accessible via trains or
the Shinkansen from major cities like Tokyo, there are many places in Tohoku to escape crowds, immerse in beautiful nature, and enjoy
warm hospitality in the countryside. In this video, I will be sharing some of the
highlights from 4 of Tohoku’s prefectures. No.1 Miyagi Prefecture for Matsushima city. Known for the pine islands
scattered throughout the bay, Matsushima is famous for being one of
Japan’s Top Three most scenic views. You can walk along some beautiful
bridges to closeby islands, or take a boat ride to see
the pine islands up close. There are some beautiful temples and lovely shops
around, and the sunset here is just magical. While you’re here, try some local
seafood like Matsushima oysters, or enjoy some tea and sweets
at a historic teahouse. Spending calm evenings here at sunset was one of
the most magical experiences in our Tohoku trip. No.2: Iwate Prefecture There are a few things to go through here, but
we’ll get started with the town of Hiraizumi. Once the center of the Tohoku region, Hiraizumi
has several historic and unique sites. The Chūson-ji temple built in the 12th
century houses the Konjikido Golden Hall, a golden pavilion which you can view inside. If you come in autumn, the fall
foliage here is absolutely stunning, and the night light-up is worth visiting. Also in Hiraizumi is Motsu-ji temple,
a unique place to see one of Japan’s few Pure Land Gardens, influenced by
Pure Land Buddhism of the Heian period. This temple site contains many
excavated sites and restored buildings, besides being a beautiful
and calm place for a stroll. If you’re a mochi fan like me, you’ll love
the variety of mochi flavors you’ll find in Ichinoseki or Hiraizumi, we even had mochi
with ramen, and let me tell you, that was good! The local specialty wanko soba is
also not to be missed in Iwate! Next up: Tonō city, where you’re
greeted by its local kappa mascot. A beautiful town in the countryside, you’ll find
Kappa statues hidden in various spots around here. That’s because Tonō is known for being the city
of folklore, made famous because of the writer, Kunio Yanagita who penned the book, The Legends
of Tono, a collection of local Japanese folklore. See the stories come to life in the Tono
Folktale Museum with beautiful illustrations. The Tono Municipal Museum also gives
a wonderful insight into the life, history and culture of Tonō, including
their believes and traditions. With several artifacts and displays,
all with English descriptions, you can spend a good one or two hours here.
While you’re in Iwate prefecture, don’t miss out on some of the beautiful
nature sights you can find here. Geibikei Gorge is easily accessible from Hiraizumi
or Ichinoseki, making it perfect for a day trip. You can ride a boat through the peaceful gorge and
enjoy a song from your boatman on the way back. A smaller but also beautiful gorge is Genbikei,
which you can access directly from Ichinoseki. This place is particularly famous
for its Flying Dango experience. Just place your payment into the basket,
watch it disappear into the horizon, and arrive magically back with
some deliciously soft dango. If you would rather skip the wait here, head up directly to the shop and
enjoy your dango with a view. The coast of Iwate is also full of gorgeous cliff
views, my favorite being the Kitayamazaki Cape. Walking onto the observation deck, you’ll be
met by a stunning view of the cliff formations. If you’re willing to brave some stairs, you can
also get really up close with the rocks below. Another beautiful spot along
the coast is Jodogahama Beach, a beautiful pebble beach with unique rock
formations along the coastline. For easier exploration of places along the coast,
I would suggest having your own wheels. No.3 Akita Prefecture, the home of the Akita Inu! Here you’ll find Kakunodate, a former
castle town and samurai stronghold, offering beautiful views and interesting
museums of a well-preserved samurai district. Many of these houses are open for viewing,
displaying valuable samurai artifacts, with even a chance to get some hands-on practice! Kakunodate is a great place to explore
some local cuisine and Akita specialties, like the Hinai chicken and kiritanpo. Just one train station away, you’ll
find the gorgeous lake of Tazawa-ko. Known as Japan’s deepest lake at 423 meters,
this scenic lake area is a serene getaway, as you’ll find yourself quite
in the middle of nowhere. A tourist loop bus goes around stopping
at major sites like the Tatsuko Statue and Goza no Ishi shrine. A boat tour
around the lake is also available. No. 4 Yamagata Prefecture Where you’ll find the Three
Sacred Mountains of Dewa, considered to be one of the holiest
places in Japan since ancient times. Mount Haguro in particular, is quite easily
accessible by bus from Tsuruoka city. Surrounded by a peaceful forest, you can walk the
pilgrimage trail that leads to the top shrine. Just a short distance away from the entrance,
you’ll come across the five-story pagoda, a magnificent National Treasure
standing proudly among the trees. You should be ready for lots and lots
of stairs before you see the top, but worry not as along the way, you can rest
here at the Ninosaka teahouse to enjoy some tea, hand-pounded Chikara mochi, and a beautiful view. Getting to Tsuruoka is easy as many
trains stop at the city’s train station, and a trip to Mount Haguro is close
enough to make it perfect for a day trip. After two weeks of traveling through Tohoku,
I’m completely in love with the region. The experience of staying out in the countryside
with local people were the most memorable of all. We were able to do one major attraction
in the day, and spend the rest of our time wandering, eating, and chatting to locals. If that’s the kind of travel you love, I hope
this video has inspired you to visit Tohōku!
Discover what you can see, eat & do in these 4 prefectures in Tōhoku:
📍Miyagi
📍Iwate
📍Akita
📍Yamagata
What you can expect:
– One of Japan’s 3 most scenic views in Miyagi
– To follow in the footsteps of pilgrims on an ancient trail in Yamagata
– Seeing one of Japan’s largest preserved samurai districts in Akita
– Discovering ancient Japanese folklore in a small city in Iwate
(and so much more!)
Plus warm hospitality, amazing rice & sake, and nature views that will capture your heart forever.
_Small disclaimer: I refer to the islands in Matsushima as ‘pine islands’, meaning they are islands covered with pine trees 🙂 No, they are not islands made of pine! (it’s just easier to say it that way)_
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Key moments:
00:00 Welcome to Tohoku!
00:41 Miyagi: Scenic pine tree islands
01:25 Iwate: Historic town Hiraizumi
02:16 Mochi delight!
02:34 Tono, the city of folklore
03:22 Geibikei & Genbikei gorge
04:10 Wild coast of Iwate
04:46 Akita: Samurai town & Japan’s deepest lake
05:47 Yamagata: Ancient pilgrimage trail
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Disclaimer:
All opinions expressed are my own and contain no paid promotions or reviews. The clips were recorded at the end of 2024, and any places and prices mentioned were from that time.
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