Tohoku

Tohoku Guides

Ginzan Onsen, Zao, Sendai, Yamadera — Tohoku in every season. (19 in-depth guides)

Sendai Travel Guide 2027: Matsushima, Aoba Castle, Zuihoden & Gyutan

Tohoku's gateway and City of Trees — Matsushima of the Three Views, Date Masamune's Aoba Castle ruins and Zuihoden, Jozenji-dori, gyutan and zunda.

Tohoku

Hirosaki Castle Keep 2027-2028: Last 2 Sakura Seasons

The keep now returns to its base in March 2027, not November 2026, with steelwork around it and the inner moat still dry until FY2032.

Tohoku

Yokote Kamakura 2027: New Dates, and Bonten Did Not Move

Yokote's kamakura moved to February 12-13 for 2027, a four-year trial through 2029. Bonten stayed fixed on the 16th and 17th, so the overlap day is gone.

Tohoku

Hirosaki Neputa 2027: Times, Seats & the Aug 7 Clash

Fixed August 1-7 every year, so 2027 runs Sun 1 to Sat 7 August. Hirosaki Neputa parades at 10:00 in the morning on the final day — not at night.

Tohoku · Oirase

Oirase Gorge Buses 2026: Timetable, Winter & 2027 Car Ban

Buses run until Nov 11 from Aomori and Nov 17 from Hachinohe, then stop for winter. The 2026 timetable and fares, the reservation-only winter buses that ran last season, and the 2027 car ban planned for Oct 25–31.

Tohoku · Zao Okama

Zao Okama Crater Lake: Opening Times & Access 2026

Okama opens in two layers: the Echo Line from April 24 to November 4, 2026, and the Highline 7:30–17:00, cut to 16:00 from October 13. Two buses, a free shuttle, the Katta Lift and the ropeway myth.

Tohoku · Festival

Aomori Nebuta Festival 2027: Dates, Seats & Joining In

Fixed dates every August 2–7, so 2027 runs Mon 2 to Sat 7 August. Haneto dancers need no registration — seat prices and sales timing, costume rules and the Wa Rasse closure trap.

Tohoku · Matsushima

Is Matsushima Worth It? Three Views Bay Guide 2026

Zuiganji rose to ¥1,000 in April 2026 and closes at 16:00 in November. The 50-minute cruise, Entsuin’s Oct 24–Nov 23 illumination, oyster season and the station trap.

Tohoku · Winter

Zao Snow Monsters 2027: Ropeway, Ski & Onsen Worth It?

Snow monsters peak late Jan–Feb; the ropeway runs ¥4,400 round trip (verified). Is the light-up, skiing and onsen combo worth the trip?

Tohoku · Winter

5-7 Day Tohoku Winter Itinerary: Sendai to Snow Festivals

From Sendai through Ginzan Onsen, Zao snow monsters, Kakunodate and the Hirosaki/Yokote snow festivals — a 5-day core plus 7-day extension.

Tohoku · Aizu

Aizu-Wakamatsu & Ouchijuku Guide 2026: Thatched Town & Castle

Edo-era Fukushima — the thatched Ouchijuku post town with whole-leek soba, red-tiled Tsuruga Castle, the Byakkotai of Mt. Iimoriyama, and the transfers you need with no direct train.

Tohoku · Zao

Zao & Yamadera Guide 2026: Snow Monsters, Okama & Onsen

Snow monsters in winter, the emerald Okama crater in summer — the ¥4,400 Zao Ropeway, strong-acid Zao Onsen, plus Yamadera's 1,015 stone steps. What to see and exactly when.

Tohoku · Nyuto

Nyuto Onsen, Lake Tazawa & Oga Namahage: Akita Guide 2026

The milky open-air bath at Tsuru-no-yu, a ¥2,500 onsen-hopping pass across seven inns, Japan's deepest Lake Tazawa, and the Oga namahage demons — three hours from Tokyo by Akita Shinkansen.

Tohoku · Morioka

Morioka Travel Guide 2026: NYT No.2, Three Noodles & Koiwai

No.2 on the NYT 2023 list — wanko soba, reimen and jajamen, the castle ruins, Tatsuno Kingo's red-brick bank and Koiwai Farm, just 2h12m from Tokyo by Shinkansen.

Tohoku · Towada

Lake Towada, Oirase Gorge & Hachimantai Guide 2026

The 14 km Oirase Gorge foliage walk (peak late Oct), Choshi Otaki falls, the double-caldera Lake Towada, and Hachimantai's snow corridor and Dragon Eye pond — with the access plan for a place with no train.

Tohoku · Hiraizumi

Hiraizumi Guide 2027: Chusonji Golden Hall, Motsuji Garden & World Heritage

The World Heritage golden-age capital of the Northern Fujiwara — Chusonji's gold-leaf Golden Hall, Motsuji's Pure Land garden and the history of Yoshitsune.

Tohoku · Aomori

Aomori Travel Guide 2027: Sannai-Maruyama, Hakkoda & Oirase

Honshu's northern tip of Jomon heritage and gateways — the World Heritage Sannai-Maruyama site, year-round nebuta floats at Wa Rasse, Hakkoda and Oirase, plus Oma tuna and apples.

Tohoku · Kakunodate

Kakunodate Guide 2027: Samurai District, Weeping Cherries & Lake Tazawa

Akita's little Kyoto of Tohoku — the black-fenced samurai district, 162 weeping-cherry natural monuments, the riverbank cherry tunnel and Japan's deepest Lake Tazawa.

Tohoku · Ginzan Onsen