Things to Do in Tohoku, Japan

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

47 destinations across 6 prefectures

Festivals in Tohoku

Photo: Rarisan / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival

15 to 16 February 2027

Akita · Snow and ice festival

Hirosaki Neputa Matsuri

1 to 7 August 2027

Aomori · Lantern festival

Aomori Nebuta Matsuri

2 to 7 August 2027

Aomori · Lantern festival

Akita Kanto Matsuri

3 to 6 August 2027

Akita · Lantern festival

Sendai Tanabata Matsuri

6 to 8 August 2027

Miyagi · Lantern festival

Omagari Fireworks

28 August 2027

Akita · Fireworks festival

Suggested Itineraries

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Places to Visit in Tohoku

Temple

Iwate

Motsuji Temple

Motsuji Temple - UNESCO Pure Land Garden in Hiraizumi

A UNESCO World Heritage temple in Hiraizumi featuring one of Japan's finest Pure Land gardens fro...

Hiraizumi, Iwate, Japan

Attraction

Yamagata

Gassan

A Sacred Mountain with Summer Skiing and Alpine Meadows

One of the three sacred Dewa mountains, Gassan is unusual for offering summer skiing from April t...

Yamagata, Japan

Prefectures in Tohoku

Akita Aomori Fukushima Iwate Miyagi Yamagata

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