Tohoku

Hirosaki Castle stands in the middle of Hirosaki city. It is a very important castle because it has one of the only 12 original main keeps which exist in Japan. It is one of the best places to view the cherry blossoms in Japan.

Hirosaki is known as Sakura city, and you can enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms around Hirosaki Castle between late April – early May. You will also find a samurai district and the Neputa festival theme park in Hirosaki.

Along with Lake Towada-ko, Oirase river has been designated as a special scenic spot and a natural monument of Aomori.

The city of Aomori is located at the base of the Tsugaru-hanto Peninsula, and is the political, economic, and cultural center of the Aomori prefecture.

Most people who are researching their trip to Japan will come across the Nakasendo route, with especially Tsumago and Magome highlighted as beautifully preserved old post towns that are worth a visit. If you are interested in Japan’s history and want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Edo Period, you should also consider adding Ouchijuku to your itinerary.

Aizuwakamatsu Castle, also known as Tsuruga Castle, is a traditional fortress located in the center of the city of Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture. It now houses a museum and, at the top, a lookout point with views of the entire city.

Aizu is an area that represents the western third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The main city in the area is Aizu-Wakamatsu. The city is especially known for its delicious sake and a long history of samurai culture.

Tenshochi, a municipal park in Kitakami, is located by the Kitakami River and renowned as one of the Three Best Cherry-Viewing Spots in Michinoku

Out of the 33 lakes, Aoike is the most famous one because of its beautiful color. ‘Ao’ means blue and ‘ike’ means pond, so it means Blue Pond, which is an apt name as it looks like blue ink was dropped into the water.

Hiraizumi flourished for nearly one hundred years, during a peaceful era of prosperity. However, hostility from the court in Kyoto and the beginnings of Minamoto no Yoritomo’s reign in Kamakura eventually dragged Hiraizumi into the violent political disturbances of the late twelfth century.

With a roughly one-million strong population, Sendai is by far the largest city in the Tohoku Region. It is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture. There are several reasons to include Sendai in your Japan itinerary, and Aoba Castle Park is one of them!

Matsushima, a short train ride from Sendai on the northern Pacific coast, is considered one of the three most scenic spots in Japan.

The people who practise on Dewa Sanzan are called ‘yamabushi’, and they are probably the most rigorous and stoic people in the history of Japan. They are no strangers to physical and mental endurance, as they undertake long pilgrimages under harsh natural circumstances, train under ice-cold waterfalls and extended fasting.

Yamadera is a temple located in the mountainous northeastern part of Yamagata City and it is one of the prominent temples in the Tohoku region. It was founded over a thousand years ago as a branch temple of the Enryaku-ji of Kyoto, as a branch temple for the Tendai school of Buddhism.

Yamagata City is a centrally located town within a short distance of famous sightseeing areas like Mt. Zao with its onsen, hiking spots, and winter sports area and Yamadera.

Akita is not on the top of the list for destinations within Japan for the average foreign tourist, which is in part due to its remote location. However, for nature-lovers and those interested in history, it is certainly worth the trek up north! There are three areas that most (local) tourists have on the top of their list if they come to Akita.

Oga Peninsula, in the western part of Akita, juts out into the Japan Sea in the shape of an ax. Along its coastline are fantastic views of crags and boulders, and it is noted for its beautiful sunsets.

The city’s heyday was in the 17th century, which is when Akita was the capital of the region under the feudal system. Nowadays it is a green city with a large park, which makes it a pleasant city to live in harmony with nature. Senshu Park is where the castle of the lord used to stand, which is why there is a moat around the park