Things to Do in Tohoku, Japan

The rugged, uncrowded northeast: samurai towns, festivals, mountain onsen and deep autumn colour.

48 destinations across 6 prefectures

Suggested Itineraries

Places to Visit in Tohoku

Osorezan (Mount Osore)
Temple
Aomori

Osorezan (Mount Osore)

One of Japan's three most sacred places, a volcanic landscape believed to be the gateway to the afterlife

Osorezan (Mount Osore) in Mutsu, Aomori is one of Japan's three most sacred places alongside Moun...

Mutsu, Aomori, Japan
Spa Resort Hawaiians
Amusement Park
Fukushima

Spa Resort Hawaiians

A tropical-themed resort and water park in Fukushima

Built over a natural hot spring, Spa Resort Hawaiians is a massive indoor tropical paradise in Iw...

Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
Shioyasaki Lighthouse photo
Landmark
Fukushima

Shioyasaki Lighthouse

A scenic lighthouse on the Fukushima coast with panoramic ocean views

Perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Iwaki, Shioyasaki Lighthouse is one of Japan'...

Iwaki, Fukushima, Japan
Michi-no-Eki Takata Matsubara and Tsunami Memorial Museum photo
Museum
Iwate

Tsunami Memorial Museum and Michi-no-Eki Takata Matsubara

Free tsunami-memorial museum and roadside station in Rikuzentakata

A combined roadside station and free memorial museum in the Takata Matsubara Tsunami Reconstructi...

Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan
Miracle Lone Pine photo
Landmark
Iwate

Miracle Lone Pine

The lone pine that survived the 2011 tsunami, kept as a monument

The single pine that survived the 2011 tsunami among Takata Matsubara's roughly 70,000 trees, pre...

Rikuzentakata, Iwate, Japan
Taro Kanko Hotel Tsunami Ruins photo
Historic Site
Iwate

Taro Kanko Hotel Tsunami Ruins

A tsunami-ruined hotel preserved as disaster heritage in Taro, Miyako

A six-story hotel on the Taro coast of Miyako, gutted to the fourth floor by the 2011 tsunami and...

Miyako, Iwate, Japan
Historic Site
Miyagi

Zuihoden

The ornate mausoleum of Date Masamune, Zuihoden is an example of Momoyama-period architecture wit...

Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
Park
Akita

Towada-Hachimantai National Park

Spanning Akita and Aomori prefectures, this national park encompasses the serene Lake Towada and ...

Towada, Akita, Japan
Temple
Iwate

Hiraizumi

UNESCO World Heritage Pure Land Buddhist Architecture with the Golden Hall

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hiraizumi was the political and cultural center of northern Japan i...

Hiraizumi, Iwate, Japan
City
Fukushima

Kitakata

Japan's Ramen Capital with Historic Kura Storehouses

Famous as one of Japan's three great ramen cities, with over 100 ramen shops serving the signatur...

Kitakata, Fukushima, Japan
Historic Site
Aomori

Grave of Jesus Christ

A remote village shrine claiming to be the final resting place of Jesus Christ

This curious site in Shingo Village preserves a local legend that Jesus Christ survived the cruci...

Shingo, Aomori, Japan
Temple
Yamagata

Yamadera

Yamadera (Risshaku-ji Temple)

A mountain temple with over 1,000 stone steps leading to panoramic views, Yamadera inspired Matsu...

Yamagata, Japan
Attraction
Miyagi

Zao Fox Village

Unique Park with Over 100 Free-Roaming Foxes

A one-of-a-kind sanctuary where over 100 foxes of six different species roam freely in a forested...

Shiroishi, Miyagi, Japan
Attraction
Aomori

Lake Towada

A pristine caldera lake straddling Aomori and Akita prefectures, renowned for its deep blue water...

Towada, Aomori, Japan
Onsen
Yamagata

Tendo Onsen

A Charming Onsen Town Famous as Japan's Shogi Capital

A relaxing hot spring town known as the production center of over 90% of Japan's shogi pieces. Th...

Tendo, Yamagata, Japan

Prefectures in Tohoku