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Exploring Tohoku immerses you in deep appreciation of its art, unique culture, cuisine, and the spectacular scenery of each season in Japan's Tohoku region.
Top 15 Activities You Can't Miss in Tohoku, Japan
Located in northern Honshu, Tohoku encompasses the prefectures of Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima, offering a charming blend of distinctive culture, beautiful four-season landscapes, and unique experiences, now more accessible with the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Visit the Ancient Village of Ouchijuku
Situated in Shimogo, Minamiaizu, Fukushima, the Edo-era village of Ouchijuku offers a glimpse into ancient Japanese lifestyle with its inns, souvenir shops, and traditional cuisine. Stroll down its unpaved main street to explore folk art like pottery and textiles.
Ouchijuku is enchanting throughout the year, transforming into a snowy paradise in winter. The Ouchi-juku Yuki-matsuri snow festival, held mid-February annually, is a must-experience event.
Ouchijuku's culinary offerings are irresistible, featuring delights such as konnyaku skewers in soy sauce, miso-flavored steamed cakes, rice cakes, kiritanpo rice, and the signature 'Takato Soba' noodles eaten with a leek instead of chopsticks.
Experience the Tadami Line No. 1 Railroad Bridge
The secluded Oku-Aizu region of Fukushima boasts dense forests, steep cliffs, and snow-capped mountains. On misty days, visitors can witness a 'sea of clouds' phenomenon enveloping the valleys.
The Tadami Bridge, known as the Tadami Line No. 1 Bridge, is one of Fukushima's most beloved scenic spots. A short walk from Michi-no-eki Mishimajuku, it is beautifully nestled among pristine mountains and green valleys, reflecting on the Tadami River below.
The Tadami Railway, connecting Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in Fukushima to Koide Station in Niigata, traverses one of Japan's most picturesque routes, offering passengers stunning views of unspoiled landscapes.
Savor the Awa-manju Steamed Buns - Fukushima's Delicacy
Visiting Fukushima, one cannot miss the irresistible Awa-manju buns in Yanaizu, encircling the ancient Fukuman Kokuzo Bosatsu Enzoji Temple with a history of 1200 years.
Awa-manju are traditional sweet buns with a soft yellow shell made from millet and glutinous rice flour, filled with finely ground bean paste, predominantly red bean. These buns can be enjoyed at various local specialty shops, including the renowned Koike Confectionery, the oldest and most famous in Fukushima.
Admire the Nearly 1,000-Year-Old Ginkgo Tree at Shingu Kumano Shrine
Located in Kitakata City, Fukushima, Shingu Kumano Shrine features a large outdoor Nagaotoko prayer hall built in 1055, a national cultural treasure with nearly a millennium of history, preserving Heian-era architecture, including both man-made and natural treasures.
A highlight of the shrine is the majestic ginkgo tree, nearly 800 years old, that turns a brilliant yellow in mid-November, offering an unforgettable experience as you walk through its golden leaves.
Visit the Vibrant Goshiki-numa Lakes
The Goshiki-numa, a cluster of five colorful lakes, is located in the Bandai-Asahi National Park in Urabandai, formed by the eruption of Mount Bandai in 1887.
The lakes' waters change hues from deep red to emerald green to cobalt blue, depending on the light intensity, due to the abundant volcanic minerals and algae.
Savor Renowned Yamagata Beef at Sagoro Restaurant
Yamagata beef, one of Japan's premium wagyu brands, is famed for its marbled texture, thanks to the region's hot summers and cold winters.
Just a five-minute walk from Yamagata Station, Sagoro Restaurant, established in 1910, is the go-to place for top-quality Yamagata beef, known for its sukiyaki, shabu shabu, and steak.
Explore Yamadera Temple and Tarumizu Ruins Complex
Yamadera Temple, also known as Risshakuji, is a prominent historical landmark in Tohoku, situated on Mount Houju in Yamagata Prefecture. It offers stunning views of the valley below and serene rural life.
A path of 1,051 steps leads to the central Okunoin temple, surrounded by forests. Reaching the top presents a majestic view of the entire valley.
Hidden in the forest to the right of Yamadera Temple is the Tarumizu Ruins, featuring numerous caves, rugged cliffs, and remnants of ascetic practices.
Learn Iaido Swordsmanship in Murayama
Murayama City in Yamagata Prefecture is the birthplace of Iaido, a unique Japanese martial art of swordsmanship.
Iaido focuses on self-improvement and precision rather than combat, emphasizing quick-draw techniques and reflexive cutting.
Visitors to Murayama can explore Iaido at Iai Shrine, starting with basic techniques using a wooden sword and advancing to practice with a real 1.3kg sword on straw tatamizutsu.
Join a Renowned Inaniwa Udon Making Workshop
In Akita, experience the art of Inaniwa Udon, known for its hand-stretched, thinner noodles served cold with sesame oil, green onions, fresh wasabi, grated ginger, and a flavorful dashi broth.
Sato Yosuke, a famous Inaniwa Udon restaurant in Akita, offers noodle-making workshops for 1,500 yen, allowing participants to create their own delicious noodles. Finished products are shipped within Japan in about a week.
Explore the Uchigura in Masuda
Masuda, located in southeastern Yokote, Akita, is renowned for its heavy snowfall. Where the Naruse and Minase rivers meet, Masuda was a bustling trade hub during the Edo period.
The town's center features a main street over 400 meters long, lined with more than 40 Uchigura. These buildings often have modest frontages but extend deeply, sometimes over 100 meters, marking a rich cultural past.
Experience Apple Picking in Tohoku's Orchards
Northern Akita's renowned orchards, especially in Kanayama, Odate, and the Fushikage area of Kitaakita, welcome visitors. Kagaya Kajuen orchard, known for its Fuji and Beni Akari apples exclusive to Akita, offers a taste of sweetness and a hint of tartness.
Learn to Make Akita's Famous Damako-nabe Hotpot
The Oga Peninsula in Akita draws tourists not only for its stunning natural landscapes but also for its rich culture and diverse culinary scene.
Damako-nabe hotpot, famous for its finely ground rice shaped into bite-sized balls and dipped in a unique broth made from burdock root, Japanese parsley, leek, and chicken, is a must-try specialty.
Experience making this dish at Ninigi Café, a place that combines a traditional inn, a cozy café, and a small farm.
Discover the Folk Tradition of Namahage
The Namahage ritual, a cultural folk tradition on the Oga Peninsula, involves local men dressing as Namahage demons on New Year's Eve, visiting homes to encourage children to behave by asking if there are any crybabies or lazy people.
If you can't visit Oga on New Year's Eve, you can still experience this tradition at the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum, where locals gather by the inori hearth to interact with Namahage in the Oga dialect.
Additionally, visit the modern Namahage Museum next door to learn more about the Namahage tradition in Oga and view 150 unique Namahage masks. Nearby, the Heian-era Shinzan Shrine hosts the annual Namahage Sedo Festival in February.
Join a Tour at the Takashimizu Sake Brewery
Founded in 1844, Akita Shurui Seizoh combines 12 breweries from the Edo, Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods to create the esteemed Takashimizu Sake brand.
Using special Akita-grown rice and natural spring water, Akita Shurui Seizoh produces a wide range of Sake varieties, including a special section for handcrafted ginjo sake.
There are three daily brewery tours and sake tastings available for visitors. However, note that tours and onsite purchases are currently paused due to COVID-19. For more details on visitation, please call 018-864-7331 in Japan.
Lunch with Hinai Chicken at Honke Abeya
At the Akita branch of Honke Abeya, indulge in dishes made from hinai-jidori, one of Japan's top three free-range chicken breeds. Signature dishes include grilled chicken skewers (yakitori), chicken and egg rice bowl (oyakodon), and chicken hotpot with Kiritanpo.
For more Tohoku travel information, click here: [Tohoku Japan](https://tohoku-japan.jp/).
Source: Mytour
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourFebruary 17, 2021
