When most travelers picture Japan, Tokyo’s neon lights, Kyoto’s temples, or Osaka’s street food come to mind. But just a few hours north of Tokyo lies a region that feels like a different world: Tohoku.
Few international visitors make it here — which is exactly why it feels so special. Imagine soaking in a mountainside hot spring as snowflakes drift silently around you, or walking through summer streets glowing with lanterns as taiko drums echo into the night. This is not the Japan of guidebooks. This is the Japan that locals treasure.
Nature Untouched
Tohoku’s landscapes are breathtaking year-round. From the glassy lakes of Aomori and the dramatic coastline of Miyagi, to fiery autumn leaves and endless fields of spring cherry blossoms, nature here feels vast, raw, and alive. Unlike crowded tourist spots, you’ll often have entire trails or viewpoints almost to yourself.
Culture and Festivals
What makes Tohoku unforgettable isn’t just the scenery — it’s the spirit of its people. Festivals like Aomori’s Nebuta Matsuri or Akita’s Kanto Festival aren’t staged shows for tourists. They are living traditions, carried proudly by local communities. Join the crowds, feel the rhythm of the drums, and let yourself be swept into the energy.
Food with Soul
Every region of Tohoku tells its story through food. Try freshly caught seafood in Sanriku, hearty miso ramen in snowy Yamagata, or sip smooth sake brewed with pure mountain water. Meals here aren’t just about taste — they’re about connection to the land and the people who make them.
Easier Access Than You Think
Despite its “hidden” reputation, Tohoku is surprisingly easy to reach. High-speed trains from Tokyo will have you in Sendai, the region’s largest city, in under two hours. From there, local trains and buses make it simple to explore villages, mountains, and coastlines.
Tohoku is Japan as you’ve never seen it: warm, authentic, and wonderfully undiscovered.
If you’re looking for more than just another trip to Tokyo or Kyoto, step off the beaten path. Discover Hidden Japan North — and let Tohoku change the way you see Japan.