Things to Do in Tohoku, Japan
The rugged, uncrowded northeast: samurai towns, festivals, mountain onsen and deep autumn colour.
91 destinations across 6 prefectures
Festivals in Tohoku
Namahage Sedo Festival
12 to 14 February 2027
Akita · Fire festival
Photo: Rarisan / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival
15 to 16 February 2027
Akita · Snow and ice festival
Hirosaki Sakura Matsuri
16 April 2027 to 5 May 2027
Aomori · Festival
© Rosino / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri
1 to 7 August 2027
Aomori · Lantern festival
Aomori Nebuta Matsuri
2 to 7 August 2027
Aomori · Lantern festival
© 秋田市 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
Akita Kanto Matsuri
3 to 6 August 2027
Akita · Lantern festival
Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri
5 to 7 August 2027
Yamagata · Dance festival
© 掬茶 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Sendai Tanabata Matsuri
6 to 8 August 2027
Miyagi · Lantern festival
© KANSEI / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Omagari Fireworks
28 August 2027
Akita · Fireworks festival
Suggested Itineraries
Places to Visit in Tohoku
Lake Inawashiro
Mirror of Heaven
Japan's fourth-largest lake, nicknamed the Mirror of Heaven for its crystal-clear waters reflecti...
Oga Peninsula
The Oga Peninsula juts dramatically into the Sea of Japan, famous as the home of the Namahage, fe...
Oirase Gorge
Oirase Mountain Stream
Pristine mountain stream flowing through ancient beech forest with countless waterfalls and moss-...
Senshu Park
Senshu Park (Kubota Castle Ruins)
Senshu Park occupies the hilltop ruins of Kubota Castle, the former seat of the Satake clan who r...
Sendai
Known as the City of Trees, Sendai is the largest city in the Tohoku region, famous for Date Masa...
Akiu Onsen
Sendai's Hot Spring Town: Its Ryokan, the Bus from Sendai and Rairaikyo Gorge
One of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts, set in a scenic river valley just 30 minutes from Senda...
Kakunodate
Known as the 'Little Kyoto of Tohoku', this beautifully preserved samurai district features centu...
Goshikinuma
Goshikinuma (Five Colored Lakes)
A series of volcanic lakes near Mount Bandai, the Five Colored Lakes display hues of cobalt blue,...
Zao Onsen
Snow Monsters and Acidic Sulfur Baths: Where to Stay and Bathe
A mountain hot spring town famous for spectacular snow monster formations in winter and the emera...
Tsuruga Castle
Tsuruga Castle (Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle)
Castle with a distinctive red-tiled roof, Tsuruga Castle is the symbol of Aizu's samurai spirit a...
Mogami River Boat Ride
A Scenic River Cruise Through a Forested Gorge
A relaxing hour-long boat ride down the Mogami River through a scenic gorge, accompanied by the b...
Lake Tazawa
Lake Tazawa is Japan's deepest lake at 423 meters, its waters maintaining a deep cobalt-blue colo...
Sendai Tanabata Festival Area
Japan's Most Spectacular Star Festival Celebration
One of the three great Tohoku festivals, held every August along Sendai's covered shopping arcade...
Hirosaki Castle
Original Castle with Japan's Finest Cherry Blossoms
One of Japan's twelve original castles, surrounded by 2,600 cherry trees that create a legendary ...
Dewa Sanzan
Dewa Sanzan (Three Sacred Mountains)
The three sacred mountains of Dewa -- Haguro, Gassan, and Yudono -- have been a center for yamabu...