東北
Tohoku
14 destinations
Overview
Six prefectures of mountain ranges, samurai castle towns, hot spring valleys, and deeply traditional festivals that most foreign tourists skip entirely. Tohoku rewards the curious with empty shrines, local izakayas where you might be the only foreigner, and some of Japan's most dramatic winter landscapes. The Shinkansen slices through on its way north but most visitors don't stop.
Who it's for
Travellers on a second or third Japan trip looking to escape the Golden Route, history buffs, onsen seekers, and festival chasers.
Destinations in Tohoku
Where the destinations are
The map is for orientation - select a destination below to explore it.
Hiraizumi
平泉
Tohoku · Iwate
A UNESCO World Heritage town that was once the glittering capital of a northern Buddhist kingdom rivalling Kyoto.
Matsushima
松島
Tohoku · Miyagi
One of Japan's three scenic views - 260 pine-clad islands across a calm bay with an ancient Zen temple at their heart.
Sendai
仙台
Tohoku · Miyagi
Tohoku's largest city, the 'City of Trees', gateway to Matsushima and famous for beef tongue cuisine.
Nyuto Onsen
乳頭温泉
Tohoku · Akita
A cluster of seven isolated mountain hot spring inns deep in the Akita forest, legendary for their milky white waters.
Kakunodate
角館
Tohoku · Akita
The 'Little Kyoto of Tohoku' - a preserved samurai district of black-walled houses and weeping cherry trees.
Zao Onsen
蔵王温泉
Tohoku · Yamagata
A ski resort and onsen village famous for juhyo - trees encased in ice, forming otherworldly winter sculptures.
Hirosaki
弘前
Tohoku · Aomori
Tohoku's finest castle town with an original Edo castle and the most celebrated cherry blossom display in northern Japan.
Morioka
盛岡
Tohoku · Iwate
A castle city and Tohoku's literary capital, famous for three distinct noodle cultures and the wanko soba eating tradition.
Aomori
青森
Tohoku · Aomori
A lively northern city home to Japan's most energetic summer festival and the remarkable Nebuta Museum WA RASSE.
Akita
秋田
Tohoku · Akita
Akita Prefecture's capital, famed for the Kanto Festival of lantern poles, beautiful sake, and distinctive folk art.
Tono
遠野
Tohoku · Iwate
Japan's folklore capital - the land of kappa river sprites, zashiki-warashi child ghosts, and traditional magariya farmhouses.
Your JP Adventure
Plan a trip to Tohoku
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Plan a trip to Tohoku →Frequently Asked Questions
Guides for Tohoku
View more →Japanese Sweets (Wagashi) by Region: What to Look For Where
Discover Japan's finest regional wagashi sweets, from Kyoto's artistic namagashi to Hokkaido's butter confections. Your complete guide to what to seek where.
How to Navigate Sendai: The Subway and Loople Tourist Bus
Master Sendai's two-line subway and Loople tourist bus with this practical guide. Includes fares, day passes, route tips, and how to combine both systems efficiently.
Aomori and the Northern Tip of Honshu
Apple country, the wild Shimokita peninsula, and one of Japan's most spectacular festivals - Aomori is the underrated north of Honshu.