Tohoku Region
Tohoku is the rugged northern third of Honshu - deep mountains, remote hot springs, samurai towns, spectacular summer festivals and some of Japan's most beautiful, least-visited countryside.
Tohoku at a Glance#
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Tohoku is northern Honshu at its most traditional - mountains, onsen, rice country, and Japan’s greatest summer festivals.
Why go / don’t miss: the pine-dotted bay of Matsushima, the samurai town of Kakunodate, the retro hot-spring street of Ginzan Onsen, sacred Dewa Sanzan, and the huge Aomori Nebuta and Sendai Tanabata festivals.
Areas: Sendai (the regional capital); Aomori and Hirosaki in the far north; Yamagata and the Dewa mountains; and the Sanriku coast.
Getting around: the Tohoku Shinkansen links Sendai/Aomori to Tokyo fast; a car helps for onsen and mountains.
When to go: Aug for the famous festivals; autumn (Oct-Nov) for foliage; winter for snow and onsen.
Where to stay: Sendai as a base, or classic onsen ryokan in the mountains.
Dining: gyutan (grilled beef tongue) in Sendai, wanko soba, fresh seafood and sake - Tohoku is a top sake region.
Local tips: it’s big and rural - trains reach the cities but a car unlocks the countryside.
