Tohoku

During your trip to Kakunodate, Akita, enjoy viewing cherry blossoms and the townscape of Kakunodate Samurai Residences area. Kakunodate was built around 400 years ago and it prospered as a fortress city. The Kakunodate Samurai Residences, where Shidarezakura, a rare type of sakura, blooms in spring are lined with the former residences of samurais. A perfect harmony between the black fences of the residences and the colors of the cherry blossoms in spring or autumn foliage of the maples...

Nyuto Onsen Village is accessible from the Lake Tazawa area in Senboku City, Akita Prefecture. This hot spring village, tucked away in a secluded location, is one of the most famous hot springs in Japan, and offers baths of differing spring water quality depending on the accommodation. Here, we offer helpful information on trying the different hot spring baths.

Lake Tazawa, surrounded by abundant nature, is located close to the center of Akita Prefecture. It is Japan's deepest lake and is 20 kilometers in circumference. The beautiful azure lake water exudes a mysterious atmosphere, and the lake is famous for the legend of Tatsuko, a maiden of legendary beauty. Visitors have many options for enjoying this beautiful area, including driving, cycling, riding the ferry, skiing and visiting the many tourist attractions and historic sites.

A summer tradition to pray for a bountiful harvest, the Kanto Festival has been held since about 270 years ago and is one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region. Performers called Sashite parade the streets while forcefully holding up Kanto poles, which are long bamboo poles with 46 hanging lanterns and weighing 50 kilograms altogether. Around 260 Kanto poles are held up by the Sashites by their palms, foreheads, shoulders and lower backs with amazing skills. The stunning festival...

Every year between late May to mid-June, Kagami Pond located on Mount Hachimantai in Senboku City, Miyagi Prefecture, creates a rare natural phenomenon that takes on the appearance of a dragon eye. As a great amount of snow melting in spring pours into the pond, its center rises by buoyancy, which then starts to thaw in such a way as to resemble an eye of a dragon. You may be lucky enough to witness this mysterious vista only seen during this time.

Watari is a coastal town in the southern area of Miyagi Prefecture that is located at the mouth of the Abukuma River, the second largest river in the Tohoku region. Salmon caught in the river is a famous local specialty that has long been offered to shoguns as an autumn delicacy. Originating in Arahama in the town of Watari, Harakomeshi has plentiful cuts of fatty salmon and sparkling salmon roe (harako, also known as ikura) on top of rice cooked with salmon broth. As soon as you take a bite,...

Every year from August 6 to 8, the famous Sendai Tanabata Festival is held over three days in the city of Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Recognized as one of the three major festivals in the Tohoku region, the historical festival has been continued from the era of Masamune Date (1567-1636), the founder of the Sendai domain. A crowd of visitors from both around and outside of Japan fill the streets of Sendai during this period to enjoy the gorgeous Tanabata paper ornaments adorning the city.

Naruko Onsen is located at the center of the Naruko Onsen Resort, counted as one of "The Best Three Onsen of Northern Part of Japan". Japanese natural hot springs are said to have eleven kinds of spring quality, and Naruko has nine of them. Naruko Kanko Hotel will welcome guests with hot springs, cuisine, and hospitality.

Zuihoden is a mausoleum as the final resting of Date Masamune. It was designated a National Treasure in 1931 as a gorgeous mausoleum to convey the Momoyama cultural traditions, built by own will of Masamune, but it was burned down during World War 2 in 1945. The current building was reconstructed based on the building before burning. Besides Masamune’s Zuihoden, there are the Kansenden and Zennoden, which were built for the second and third generation of Date lords.

Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture is counted among Japan’s three most scenic spots and also a popular tourist destination. The sightseeing boat that goes all the way around Matsushima Bay from the Matsushima Sightseeing Boat Pier is highly recommended. In Matsushima, where about 260 large and small islands are scattered in the sea, there are cultural assets related to Date Masamune and the Date Clan culture remaining such as Zuiganji Temple, Entsuin Temple, Godaido Temple Hall, Kanrantei...

Izunuma-Uchinuma is a famous wintering site for Whooper swans in Japan, but come summer, it offers a breathtaking view of a blanket of flowering lotus blossoms covering the surface of the lake. The Lotus Festival is held during the peak period in which you can enjoy large pink lotus flowers blooming over the water. Take a boat ride tour through the lake to view the beautiful flowers up close.

“Wanko” in Wanko Soba is a dialect of Iwate Prefecture that means a wooden bowl. It is said that wanko originated from the fact that it served in small bowls in small amounts each time to serve a large amount of boiled in Morioka and Hanamaki, where there are a tradition of hospitality with soba. Visitors compete for the number of bowls with a server’s chants "Jan Jan, Don Don," while serving.