Once desolate after the earthquake and tsunami, this land is now emerging as a stunning tourist destination in Japan.

Buzz

Ngày cập nhật gần nhất: 1/5/2026

Content

Formerly desolate after the earthquake, this land is now becoming a beautiful tourist destination in Japan.

You'll be utterly amazed to find that this land, once ravaged five years ago by an earthquake and tsunami, leaving tens of thousands dead, is now one of Japan's most beautiful tourist spots.

Formerly desolate after the earthquake, this land is now becoming a beautiful tourist destination in Japan.

Five years ago, a dual catastrophe - tsunami and earthquake - struck Japan, devastating many areas. Among them, the Tohoku region of Japan bore the brunt, claiming tens of thousands of lives, turning fertile land into a 'dead land.'

Now, whenever someone searches Tohoku on Google, the first keywords or images mostly relate to the earthquake or tsunami event, without knowing that, just after 5 years, this seemingly ravaged land has become so beautiful. From flowers, trees, roads, to houses, everything is fresh and vibrant, as if no historical catastrophe ever swept through.

If you don't believe it, take a look. These are the images captured by a group of Vietnamese exchange students after their exploration journey in Tohoku. They, too, were utterly astonished by how Tohoku's scenery now differs completely from what they had seen before.

In our first leg, our group of 5 stumbled upon a warehouse in Sakata city. This is considered the oldest and largest rice warehouse here, dating back to 1893. You'll be mesmerized by the romantic scenery here. We almost joked that if any couple came here for wedding photos, it would be fantastic. The rows of Zelkova Serrata trees planted around this warehouse are over 150 years old. These trees help regulate the temperature inside during the summer. And the interesting thing is that this place is where the legendary Oshin film was shot.

Next up, our ride took us to witness a Maiko performance. Perhaps you're curious about what Maiko is, right?

Unlike the widely known Geisha, Maiko are apprentice Geisha, typically aged between 15 and 20. These Maiko undergo rigorous training, usually under the guidance of a seasoned Geisha. The training process is arduous and lasts for many years. Maiko are trained in the minutest details, from eating and walking to makeup.

If you've made it to Tohoku, you must visit the mesmerizing jellyfish companions shimmering in the Kamo Aquarium. Hundreds, no, tens of thousands of jellyfish of various kinds are concentrated here. You can admire them through a gigantic tank, illuminated with colorful lights, feeling like you're standing in the sacred land of the famous Avatar movie.

Due to its immensely captivating beauty, the Kamo Jellyfish Aquarium is one of the most famous aquariums, attracting the highest number of visitors in Japan (according to Japan Times 2012 data).

Having arrived in Japan, especially in the Yamagata region, seafood is a must-try. Unlike Vietnamese seafood, most seafood here comes from cold seas, with very distinctive and different preparations. One interesting thing here is that since the Yamagata Sea is located to the west, we can enjoy a rather romantic sunset over the sea.

The next day, our ride took us along the coast of Yamagata, Japan. Unlike Vietnam, it's still a bit chilly here for beach bathing at this time, so most locals go diving or sailing. Our stop is the majestic Hakusanjima island. A characteristic red bridge connects to the island. And the natural scenery here has officially captivated all the participants.

Now, here comes the extremely enticing part. Especially for the ladies or those who are enchanted by the 'divine' cherry fruits, pay close attention to this next destination. The ripe, juicy cherries hanging on the branches as if waiting to be picked will make you fall even more in love with this land. Especially when you know that the cherries in Yamagata are classified as the highest quality in Japan. So, when it comes to their color, shape, and flavor, it's hard to describe how delicious and tempting they are. The only thing you can do is to pick as many dreamy cherries as you can and slowly savor them.

During cherry season, the traditional cherry-pit spitting festival attracts thousands of participants. Just eat and spit the cherry pits as far as you can. This is truly an experience you can't miss when traveling to Japan at this time of year.