From Mountains to Sea: Hokkaido & Tohoku by JAPAN RAIL PASS

From Mountains to Sea: Hokkaido & Tohoku by JAPAN RAIL PASS

Today we’re going to introduce some lesserk known adventure spots in Hokkaido and Tohoku. Let’s go. [Music] Hey guys, it’s Emma here on the TC channel coming to you from my studio at home. Uh, I actually just got back from a trip to Hawkkaido and Al Modi in the Tohawker region and it was so much fun. and I had a really really great time. Actually, I do have a fun fact for you before we get started. Did you know that Almodi and Hokkaido are connected by the world’s longest undersea tunnel? Actually, this video is sponsored by Japan Railways Group. And in this video, we’re going to be showing you lots of locations that you can visit using the Japan Rail Pass. If you guys don’t know what the Japan Rail Pass is, it’s a pass that allows you to get unlimited access to all of the JR trains all the way across the country. So, before we get stuck into the adventure that I got to go on, I want to give you a little bit of an overview of the Japan Rail Pass. Let’s go. With the Japan Rail Pass, you can ride all of the JR trains without having to buy a ticket each time. You can just get on and go. You can also reserve seats up to 1 month in advance if you book through the official Japan Rail Pass reservation website. That and other benefits are only available through the official website, so definitely check out the link in the description down below. The pass comes with a 7-day, 14-day, or 21-day option. Actually, in another video, we tested out the 14 days. So, if you want to check that out and see how it went, please check out the other video. But without further ado, let’s get this trip started. Let’s go. [Music] Hey guys, it’s Emma. Not in the studio, but actually in Hokkaido right now. I’m currently on the JR Seno line, which is going through eastern Hokkaido. And the nature going by is absolutely insane. I’m keeping my eyes out for Ezodia and red crown cranes. I’m not sure if I’m going to see them, but I am heading to an area where I’m going to be canoeing and hopefully I’ll be able to see them there. But for now, just going to look out the window, enjoy the nature, sit back and relax. [Music] Hokkaido is full of amazing outdoor activities. Last time I was here, I got to try kaying in Kuchan. But this time, I’m going to try canoeing in Lake Kush. Tada! Let’s go. Lake Kushau is the largest caldera lake in Japan and also the biggest freshwater lake in the country that completely freezes over in winter. The views here are stunning, and I can vouch for it. Being there, it was insane. Look at that water. So beautiful. [Music] Hi. Crazy. It feels like I’m on a safari. [Music] That was so so beautiful. The water was incredibly clear. I honestly didn’t have to work hard at all. It was just beautiful. There was so much to look at. I can’t believe we saw so much nature and the deer and like there was a rare bird as well. It was just awesome. So much fun. But now we’re going to be heading to a place that’s a little bit steamy. So, let’s go. Hey, Emma, where are we right now? We are at Mount Eor, which is an active volcano, and we’re Yeah, we’re in eastern Hokkaido, by the way. Just huge vents that you can basically go up to. There’s so much steam coming out, and the smell is super intense. But yeah, it feels like I’m in a different world right now. There’s just it’s like a desert and you can see so so far. I definitely haven’t seen anything like this anywhere close to Tokyo in a very long time. Oh, it’s just like it’s just seeping out of the ground. That’s so cool. It also feels like I don’t know something a little wrong like walking up to an active volcano, but it’s just so amazing. I’m I’m in I’m in awe. [Music] I was getting a little bit hungry out there. So, luckily they do have a rest stop right next to all of the vents and it’s called Mochumoku Base. And they have a few little snacky items that you can get kind of themed with all the sulfur and a lot of it is egg related. I decided to get on tamago and they’ve been steamed in the vents and they actually have a really cool interesting way to get the shell off. I’ve never done this with this method by the way. You wrap up your little egg. I hope this is right. That’s what it says. Gonna break the shell. Maybe I’ll start using this method at home. Okay, looks good. And then I’m going to peel the tape off. You can do it. I believe in you. Actually, that’s pretty amazing. And the perfect little egg. Look at that. There you go. M. It’s a delicious, fresh, wonderful egg. A nice little snack after hiking through so much uh egg scented sulfur. Another interesting thing that I got is this amazing soft cream that they have which has a soft boiled egg just right next to the soft cream. I’ve never seen this before. I really wanted to try it just to experience it cuz this feels very unique. All right, I’m going to break the yolk. Oo, I mean it is beautiful mentally. It’s egg and ice cream. It’s going to be good. It works. It actually works. They did it. Okay. Honestly, the egg adds a completely different texture. The yolk almost becomes a little bit more solid than the ice cream itself. And it has this kind of chewy, silky extra added texture on top of the soft ice cream. And it really actually makes a huge difference. I’ve never seen this anywhere else in Japan. So, if you want a very unique experience, I recommend coming to Mount Eong. Also, this rest stop, I will say, is amazing. They have these really comfortable chairs behind me called Mochamoku Theater, where it’s just huge glass windows, beautiful view, and you can kind of lie back. It’s like watching cinema, but really it’s just nature. It’s really, really nice. I’m going to finish this ice cream. I’m feeling a bit tired cuz it’s been a long day full of activities. So, I’m really looking forward to getting to the hotel. See you soon. [Music] All right, it’s time to check into the hotel for tonight. And I’m staying at a place called Sui Kazida. And I mean this area is famous for onsen. So this is going to be the perfect place for me to rest and relax in a hotring after a long day full of activities. So let’s go in and uh see what they have. [Music] I just got inside the hotel room and something super interesting is I was a little worried cuz there’s this light going through it and people can see. But you just press this door here and a whole separate door closes so you do get your privacy. I love that. All right, let’s go in. First up on the right, we have the bathroom. Super beautiful. We have two massive sinks, which I love. I love a double sink bath in here. So, yeah, if I don’t feel like going to an onen for whatever reason, I do have a bathtub here. Thank you very much. On the left when we go in, we have Oh my goodness. Beautiful bedet. O, it’s glowing. Walking through. Lots of nice indirect lighting in here. Have a little kitchenette, which is super nice. Can make some tea. Oh my gosh. So, we have a big space to just chill on the tatami. And then some western style beds over in the bedroom. Look at that. So, so beautiful. I’m so excited to just lie down and get a good night’s sleep here. Next, we’re going to be having some kaise. My favorite crazy food. Let’s go. Let’s go. Okay. I just put on my yucata to wear down to dinner which is something very comfortable that you get to wear around the orans. And I’m going to go to dinner. I don’t know about the shoulder pads though. I kind of like it without actually. I think it looks cute. Yeah, I think it looks cute without. Okay. Anyway, let’s go to dinner. Woohoo. [Music] All right. Here I am with my insane kiaki feast in front of me. There are so many wonderful things to choose from. So, I think I’m just going to dig in. But I wanted to say do not worry. Everyone on this shoot eats. So the people behind the camera as well. Right now we’ve got Sandy on camera. Hello. Uh Si is going to get to eat as well. So yeah. But first of all, I’m just going to dig in cuz someone’s got to hold the camera. Okay. I’ll try with some fresh sashimi cuz Hokkaido is known for its seafood, right? It’s so soft. That is so delicious. It’s that this might be the softest fish I’ve ever had. I think they’re right when they say that Hokkaido seafood is one of the best in Japan. This I think it’s cod. It’s a type of silver cod. Looks absolutely delicious. Oh my god. Slightly crispy skin. Like a sweet light exterior. Some kind of glaze. Super soft fish cooked perfectly all the way through. There’s just so much. This is the thing with kaiseki. I get so overwhelmed cuz there’s so much to look at and so much to see. So when I get overwhelmed, I take a drink of alcohol. If you guys haven’t had umeshu plum wine, get it with soda. It’s the sweetest slightly fermented candyike alcohol. It’s just absolutely wonderful. How about this? What’s that? It’s a shitty beef. It’s one of the main dishes. I guess I’ll just go straight in. [Music] Insane. I need you to give me silence and peace while I finish this mouthful cuz I just want to be in the moment. Oh, where to go now? It’s always such such an adventure. Maybe my chawan mushi. Chawan mushi is like a savory egg custard with seafood in it. And this one, it seems to have crabs legs in it. In my head, I saw these crabs legs and I was like, “Oh yeah, they’re fake.” Cuz I’m used to that. But we’re in Hokkaido and we’re in a fancy place. These are definitely real crabs legs. I got to switch my mindset up. Seems to be boiling enough. So, I’m going to dump all this fish in there. Wow, this is very luxurious, I will say. Here we go. Yeah, thank goodness I’m not eating this alone. I’d be in trouble. Okay, it’s time for the negi going in. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Let’s That’s the good stuff. That just sound like Come on. Come on. All right, it’s ready. Let’s try it. Oh my. That’s quite a lot. But you know what? It’s fine. I’m super excited for this takimos. It’s a very light and refreshing dish. Little lemony, light, dashy, soft fish, and really great texture from the negi. Absolutely wonderful. Well, I’m going to eat. The crew are going to eat [Music] If the weather is good, we recommend heading out early in the morning to see the sea of clouds from Lake Mushu. There are several viewpoints around the caldera that give you different angles of this beautiful view of nature. For more scenic views, the Limited Express Hokau is a great way to travel. It’s a popular choice for those heading from Sapuro Hokkaido to the Shinkansen network via Shin Hakodate. And much of the ride follows the coastline, making it a peaceful and scenic trip. [Music] [Music] Hello. I just arrived at the hotel that I’m staying at in Ali now. And I did the hotel check-in. It was really easy and smooth. The staff are really nice. The place is beautiful to be honest. And they have this lounge that I’m in currently. And also, they have snacks. They have free snacks. And since it’s Ali, their famous item is apples. So, I really want to get my hands on a little bit of apple juice, some apple snacks. They even have fresh apple slices. So, I’m going to pour myself a cup and then go out and just look at the view for a while. Woo! Oh, 100% aliy apple juice. All right, let’s head outside. Woohoo! Oh my gosh, what a beautiful day. There’s even a little beach down there. I just stepped into my beautiful hotel room, and it is bright. It is fresh, crisp, and clean. And the view is amazing. I get the same view that you have in the lounge. It is just beautiful. It’s pretty cool how this place is centered around wellness. They offer a variety of facilities like a spa, yoga studio, gymstyle fitness area, lounge, and onsen. There’s so much to do here. It’s the perfect place to stay and unwind after a day of outdoor adventures. I’m going to take my time today, try a few little activities, maybe go on the onen, but I will see you tomorrow for breakfast. Bye-bye. Good morning everybody. After a beautiful, luxurious sleep, I am at breakfast and I already have all of my things. They have a huge buffet selection here with lots of different options. And they also have things that are vegan friendly and gluten-free friendly, which is really cool. Over here, what I started off with was just a bunch of small items. Some fried potatoes, pasta, roasted vegetables, some scallops, good seafood in almi, and I also got some wonderful granola and yogurt with they have honeycomb. So, I got a big old chunk of honeycomb and chucked it in there with, of course, some sliced apples. Got to wrap the apples while I’m here. They also have a place where you can have your pancakes freshly made in this little machine. And it’s really cute. My silly little pancakes on this giant plate with some soy milk whipped cream. I’m excited for those. And they also have a stand where you can get custom dishes and they can make it for you in front of you. So, I got some salmon toast and then also this eggs benedict. Looks so delicious. And finally, they have a fresh press orange juice machine, which was really cool. So, I got a little shot glass of uh of orange juice. Ah. Oh, that’s so good. Very nice and sweet. Of course, they have all different kinds of juices. They have milk and aliy apple juice, of course. But yeah, beautiful weather today. Excited to get started. But before that, I got to get my nutrition in and get started for the day. And I’m sad to leave this place, but I’m excited to explore a little bit of Almorti. Let’s go. Today, we’re going to be doing some hiking on a trail. But first of all, I wanted to try a little bit of local seafood at a place called Minato Shooador. Now, we’ve come to an area called Hachino, and it’s, you know, looks like a kind of small villagy kind of area. Yet, the line at Minato Shakodor is out the door and down the street. It is so so popular. And this is a weekday. So, I’m going to go try one of their famous items, which is a marinated uh flavored flounder bowl. It’s called Hiameiton. I’m super excited to try it. So, let’s go stand in that queue. Let’s go. [Music] Okay, it’s a little bit crowded. It’s a little bit crazy, but it’s a really fun atmosphere in here. And I just got my hiron, which has all of the beautiful sashimi pieces of flounder on top. a beautiful little golden egg yolk and a hot bowl of rice underneath. I also ended up getting a thing called sbe soup. Sbe jiru which has actual sbe in it. So sbe is like a cracker, a rice cracker. So first of all, I want to give this a go cuz I’ve never heard of it before. Think I get a nice little bit of sbe. There’s a glorious disc right here. M. That’s delicious. Really wonderfully chewy. I don’t know. Cracker. It’s not really I guess it’s a soaked cracker, but yeah, very chewy, very delightful, nice savory broth with lots of veggies and good stuff packed in. It’s delicious. But now on to the main attraction, my beautiful flounder bowl. They said because it’s already got flavor on it to not add any sauce to start off with. So, I’m just going to try this beautiful piece of flounder. M. Incredibly soft. Yeah, definitely a different flavor than salmon or tuna or any of the usual fish that I eat. It’s quite light, but nice with a little bit of flavor in addition. All right, I’m going to mix in with a little bit of egg yolk and wasabioo. Look at that. Here we go. M. Great kick from the wasabi. Really adds another little extra layer of flavor and punch. Really, really good. Yeah, this is going to be a great Philly meal before I go trekking today. and I’m so excited to see the places that we have in store. All right, I’m going to finish this up and we’re going to get on the road and we’re going to go to a place called Shark Station. Let’s go. The Miu Coastal Trail is a long-distance trail that runs along the Pacific coast, stretching from Hachino in Amodorei all the way down to S in Fukushima. What makes this trail so special is the number of spots where you can take in dramatic ocean views. From some of Japan’s most scenic cliffs to the rugged rear coastline and one of the world’s top three fishing grounds, there’s so much to see along the way. Okay, it’s time to start our journey on the Mitino Coastal Trail and it’s starting right here at Same Station in Hachino. Why is it called Same Station? There, who knows? What could it possibly be? Trail itself spans for about 1,000 km, which is quite long. So, we’re not going to be doing the whole thing, just a little bit of it. But, I want to show you the beautiful nature that’s along the way. So, let’s uh let’s get started. Here we go. [Music] So, I’m going to be showing you a few spots along the trail, but one of them, the first one is Kabushima Shrine. Now, you guys might have heard about this shrine before or seen it on social media cuz it’s a little bit famous. Let’s go up and see how it really is. Oh my god, there’s so many. They have rentable umbrellas. You just take it up there and then put it back for the next person. So, I didn’t really need to buy my own umbrella, but I guess on a busy day, they’re probably all gone. Good thing to know when visiting. All right, here we go. Let’s climb. So, clearly it is nesting season. I’m glad these birds aren’t attacking me. My goodness. Oh, there’s little babies everywhere. There’s little babies right there. Hello, everyone. Sorry. This is crazy. Still no poop. We’re doing well. Hello, everyone. Sorry. I’m very appreciative to them that they don’t attack me cuz I would not be okay. I I feel like I’m in I’m not supposed to be here, you know? Feels like I’ve been led into something really really special. I’m going to try to be as respectful as I can, not touch anything, and just witness this insane scene. I feel like I don’t even have enough words. This is beautiful. If you do come and visit, definitely make sure that you grab an umbrella before you come up here. Kabushima is located at the northernmost point of the Tanisashi coast and is designated a national natural monument. It’s the only place in Japan where you can see blacktailed gulls or um Neko nesting up close. All right, that was crazy. But just before we start walking again on the way out, I found a pokea. So a utility hole Pokémon cover. This one is actually Wingal and Geodude, which is very very fitting. All right, let’s keep walking. Let’s go. After about a 50-minute walk, you’ll reach Ashi Zazaki Scenic overlook. It was once used as a military lookout during the final stages of World War II, and now it’s open to everyone, and the views of the Pacific are absolutely stunning. From here, it’s about a 25-minute walk to the next trail stop, Oscar Beach. And the reason this beach is famous is because of its squeaking sand. I don’t know if it’s the weather or because it rained recently, but not so much squeaking going on for us. A tiny bit, a tiny little bit. If I haven’t introduced him, by the way, this is my colleague Dai, one of the people traveling with us on this trip. But yeah, I don’t really mind about the squeaking sand, though, cuz this place is simply beautiful. It’s so It’s so so nice. The crashing waves, the lack of people as well. There’s like barely or no one here. I can see one person all the way in the distance. It’s really serene and beautiful and calming and a little bit fun. Really, really, really great spot. Super awesome. But yeah, it’s been a good day of adventuring. After this, we’re going to check into the hotel and also just go out to some isakaya, grab some good food and some good drinks and sleep well tonight. That’s that’s the goal. But yeah, we’re going to stay here for a little bit longer and enjoy the view, but see you soon. Bye-bye. Hatino has a long history as a port town. Here, alleyway or Yoko food culture grew in popularity with fishermen returning to town. These alleyways are now loved by locals, tourists, and business travelers alike. Goodbye. [Music] All right, guys. It’s time to finish up our drinks and head to the hotel and get a good sleep cuz tomorrow we’re going to be going to Sai and Miyagi Prefecture. I’m going to be checking out some trails and adventures over there. So, see you tomorrow. Sendai Miyagi Prefecture. In this area, the trail passes by several sites connected to the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. One of them is Adama Elementary School. At the time, 320 students, teachers, and local residents evacuated to this building, and the tsunami reached all the way up to the second floor. Today, the school is preserved as a memorial to share the lessons learned and raise awareness about the dangers of natural disasters. Since the Tohoka earthquake, this area has been able to rebuild so much. And actually, there’s some really great attractions close to the Adama Elementary School. One of them being this fruit park. They actually have 150 different varieties, over eight different kinds of fruits and vegetables. So, no matter what time of year you come, it’s going to be a good time. I happen to be here during the perfect season. It’s strawberry season, baby. So, I’m going to be going to pick some fresh strawberries. And boy oh boy, do I hope that they have condensed milk. [Music] They’re so big. And you get condensed milk. That’s the best thing. [Music] M. Oh my gosh. It’s like a whole meal. It’s so big and juicy. Look at that. Oh my gosh. It’s so fresh. I definitely feel that fresh strawberries taste different to like supermarket strawberries. So delicious. Let’s go on a hunt. We’re in the strawberry jungle. Another big one. Oh my gosh. Like, have you ever seen such a perfect strawberry? Don’t tell anyone, but usually I bring my own condensed milk to pick strawberries cuz they never give me enough. It’s so good. I was always surprised by how big it is, how juicy. Before I come into these, I always think I’m gonna eat 200 strawberries and then I eat one and I’m like that it’s like a roast turkey. It’s just the size of it, the the meat on it. Not that you want me to describe strawberries as having meat, but you know, it’s just like there’s so much to it that I get full so quickly and I’m always sad that I don’t get to eat as many as I thought I would. They’re just so good. [Music] Oh, that strawberry was so good. It was so delicious and juicy and sweet. And I wish I had it right now, but I don’t. Hey, it’s been fun going through Tohawker with you guys and showing you places along the trail, but there’s still some really cool spots to see. So, let me show you some extras. One of the most popular is the dragon eye. It only appears under the right conditions, but when it does, it’s super photogenic. In winter, Odas Gorge in Almorti turns into a natural ice sculpture garden with frozen waterfalls and icicles all around. We actually made a video about it before, but if you want to experience it for yourself, you can join a guided frozen waterfall tour. It’s the safest and best way to enjoy it. If you’d like to be more adventurous, you can take a helicopter tour in Fukushima to see Mount Bandai, Lake Inawashiro, and the Goshikuma ponds from above during any season throughout the year. [Music] Well, that wraps up our journey checking out lesserknown adventure spots through Hokkaido and Tohoku, places that are easily accessible using the Japan Rail Pass. But let us know in the comments down below which places you are interested in. And thank you so much for watching and we’ll see you in the next video. Bye. Okay. [Music] Did it do

Join Emma on a 7-day adventure through the wild side of Japan—Hokkaido and Tohoku!
Canoe on Lake Kussharo, hike the Michinoku Trail, and try local dishes in Hachinohe. This nature-filled journey takes you to hidden hot springs, scenic coastal paths, and quiet countryside towns—all with the #JAPANRAILPASS .
*Visited in May 2025*

🚄 Links for More Info//
JAPAN RAIL PASS Official Website🎫 https://bit.ly/JapanRailPass_Official
7Days model course🗾 https://bit.ly/7days_modelcourse
How to Buy “JAPAN RAIL PASS” Video（*Available Soon）

#HOKKAIDO
Kayaking in Kussharo 🛶
https://bit.ly/Kayaking_Kussharo
Mt.Io MOKMOK Base 🌋
https://bit.ly/MOKMOKbase
Oyado Kinkiyu Hotel Annex SUIKAZURA ♨️
https://bit.ly/Onsen_SUIKAZURA
Lake Mashu 🦅
https://bit.ly/Lake_Mashu

#AOMORI
Relabo Medical Spa & Stay 🧖
https://bit.ly/Relabo_Hotel
Minato Shokudo 🐟
https://bit.ly/MinatoShokudo
Michinoku Coastal Trail 🚶‍♀️
https://bit.ly/MichinokuCoastalTrail
JR Same Station 🦈
https://bit.ly/Same_Station
Kabushima Shrine ⛩️
https://bit.ly/Kabushima_Shrine
Ashigezaki Scenic Overlook 🌲
https://bit.ly/AshigezakiScenicOverlook
Osuka Beach ⛱️
https://bit.ly/Osuka_Beach
Miroku Yokocho 🍺
https://bit.ly/Miroku_Yokocho

#MIYAGI
Sendai Arahama Elementary School🏫
https://bit.ly/Sendai_ElementarySchool
JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama🍓
https://bit.ly/JR_FruitsPark

#TOHOKU
Extra Tohoku Activities ⛰️⛄️🚁
https://bit.ly/Dragon_Eye
https://bit.ly/Frozen_Oirase
https://bit.ly/Helicopter_Tour

#AKITA
#FUKUSHIMA
#IWATE
#YAMAGATA
#Japanesetrip
#NatureInJapan

Follow us on social media!
Emma: @TokidokiTraveller
Video edited by TC ex staff Sandy
https://bit.ly/hideikeda

CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
0:18 JAPAN RAIL PASS
1:32 Senmo Line
2:14 Kayaking in Kussharo
3:23 Mt.Io
6:16 Oyado Kinkiyu Hotel Annex SUIKAZURA
10:38 Lake Mashu
10:53 Limited Express HOKUTO/JR Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station
11:15 Relabo Medical Spa & Stay
14:24 Minato Shokudo
16:43 Michinoku Coastal Trail
17:08 JR Same Station
17:43 Kabushima Shrine
19:45 Ashigezaki Scenic Overlook
20:04 Osuka Beach
21:16 Miroku Yokocho
21:56 Sendai Arahama Elementary School
22:30 JR Fruits Park Sendai Arahama
24:32 Extra Tohoku Activities

☆JOIN OUR NEW SURVEY COMMUNITY!☆ https://bit.ly/2Aeu1bb
☆Pocket WiFi & SIM Card Rental Japan – Sakura Mobile☆ http://bit.ly/sakuramobile

————————————
Follow our social media channels for live updates and behind the scenes:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tokyocreative.jp/
X: http://twitter.com/tokyocreatives
WEBSITE: http://tokyocreative.com/ (for business enquiries)
SHOP: https://store.tokyocreative.jp/