30 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Tohoku

If you want to visit Tohoku, known for its seasonal natural beauty, spring and fall are recommended.
There are many famous cherry blossom spots, and in spring you can enjoy different styles of cherry blossoms depending on the prefecture and location.
While peak bloom times vary slightly by prefecture, cherry blossoms are generally in full bloom across the region from early to late April.

In fall, Tohoku’s grand natural landscapes are colored by autumn leaves.
With mountains and valleys draped in fall colors, mountain roads where you can enjoy autumn leaves while driving, and beautiful lakeside foliage, there are so many different spots that choosing where to go can be difficult.
Be sure to experience these spectacular views at least once, where cherry blossoms and autumn leaves let you fully enjoy the beauty of Tohoku’s nature.

Each prefecture in Tohoku has its own airport, and the Shinkansen also runs from Tokyo to Aomori, making travel from the Tokyo metropolitan area smooth and convenient.
If you are heading to an area with an airport, Tohoku is accessible in under 2 hours.
Airports such as Aomori Airport, Hanamaki Airport, and Sendai Airport also handle international flights, making access from overseas convenient as well.
In particular, Sendai Airport in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, the largest city in Tohoku, can be reached from various countries and serves as the gateway to the region.

The main transportation options in Tohoku are trains and buses.
Public transportation is generally well developed in most areas, so sightseeing is usually easy and convenient.
However, in remote mountainous areas, rail service may not be available and buses may run infrequently, so renting a car can be a more efficient way to get around.

A famous scenic spot selected for two stars in the Michelin Green Guide, Oirase Gorge is the approximately 14km stretch of the Oirase River flowing from Nenokuchi on the shore of Lake Towada to Yakeyama.
Designated as both a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument by the national government, it features many highlights such as waterfalls, clear streams, giant rocks, and steep cliffs.

Lake Towada stretches across Towada City in Aomori Prefecture and Kosaka Town, Kazuno District, in Akita Prefecture.
It is a caldera lake formed by the eruptive activity of Towada Volcano that began Approx. 200,000 years ago, ranking 12th in surface area among Japan’s lakes and 3rd in maximum depth at 327m.
Together with Oirase Gorge, which flows out from the lake, it is designated as both a Special Place of Scenic Beauty and a Natural Monument by the national government.

This castle served as the residence of the Tsugaru clan and the seat of the Hirosaki Domain government during the Edo period.
In the Meiji era, it was designated for preservation under the castle abolition order and was later opened to the public as Hirosaki Park.
The original castle tower was struck by lightning and burned down in 1627, but the current keep rebuilt in 1810, along with three turrets and five gates, still remains.
These nine structures are designated as Important Cultural Properties by the national government.

Mt. Hakkoda is the collective name for a group of mountains rising in southern Aomori City and is one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains.
Centered on Mt. Odake at 1,585m, 10 peaks including Mt. Takadadake, Mt. Idodake, and Mt. Akakuradake are known as the Northern Hakkoda Mountains, while six peaks including Kushigamine are called the Southern Hakkoda Mountains.
The area around Tamoyachidake, where the Hakkoda Ropeway’s terminal station “Summit Park Station” is located, is filled with alpine plants in bloom and dotted with many ponds and marshes, offering beautiful scenery.

Shirakami Sanchi is the collective name for a vast mountain area spanning northwestern Akita Prefecture and southwestern Aomori Prefecture, covering Approx. 13ha.
Within the area are some of the world’s largest primeval beech forests, which have been barely affected by human activity since ancient times.
Because it is home to a wide variety of plant and animal life and preserves a valuable ecosystem, it was registered as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1993.

In Kakunodate Town, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture, the historic townscape has been preserved and is designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government.
Within this area are six samurai residences that have remained since the Edo period.
The street lined with black wooden fences is called Bukeyashiki Street, and the townscape, colored by weeping cherry trees and other greenery, offers a different kind of beauty in each season and reflects a charm shaped by history.

Mt. Kanpuzan, located at the base of the Oga Peninsula, is a mountain with an elevation of 355m.
At its summit is the Kanpuzan Revolving Observatory, a spectacular viewpoint with nothing blocking the view despite its relatively low elevation.
Inside are a restaurant, souvenir shops, and exhibition halls on each floor, featuring displays on the history of Wakimoto Castle to the south of Mt. Kanpuzan and the Oga Peninsula and Ogata Geopark that includes this area.

Oga no Namahage is a traditional event passed down on the Oga Peninsula that is designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the national government and also registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.
At the Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum, which uses a typical curved-roof farmhouse of the Oga Peninsula, you can experience the powerful Namahage performance up close, presented in accordance with old customs.

An aquarium located along the west coast of the Oga Peninsula.
Fish from the seas around Oga and other popular marine animals welcome visitors.
Right at the entrance is the “Oga Sea Large Tank,” a massive aquarium recreating the sea of Oga with Approx. 2,000 fish from around 40 species.
Its tunnel-like shape lets you look up at the fish from below, making you feel as if you are walking on the ocean floor.

Lake Tazawa is Japan’s deepest lake, with a depth of 423.4m, and is a scenic spot in Akita Prefecture known for its breathtaking cobalt-blue surface, earning a place among Japan’s 100 Scenic Views.
In 2022, the moon rising over Lake Tazawa was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Moon Views, adding yet another layer of charm. In the evening, the sky turns crimson, and at dusk, purple, with the changing colors reflected on the lake’s surface creating a view well worth seeing.

A limestone cave is a cavern formed over a long period of time by water eroding limestone.
One of Japan’s three great limestone caves, Ryusendo Cave is a natural cave located at the foot of Mt. Ureira, with a total known length of 4,088m, of which 700m is open to the public.
Its highlights include the mysterious space created by nature and the underground lakes formed by water springing from within the cave.

Founded in 850, this temple houses more than 3,000 National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties.
It is also registered as a World Heritage site.
There are several buildings within the grounds, but the most famous is Konjikido Hall, where the building and Buddhist statues shine in gold, drawing visitors with a beauty like a single work of art.

Jodogahama is a rocky cove facing the Sanriku Coast and is one of Japan’s representative scenic spots.
It is said to have gotten its name around 1680, when the monk Reikyo was so impressed by its white rocky shore, beautifully clear sea, and otherworldly complex landscape that he exclaimed it looked just like the Pure Land paradise.
Its intricately shaped coastline, created by the dynamic forces of sea and land, offers overwhelming scenery that lets you feel the greatness of nature’s power.

Located at the foot of Mt. Iwate and spanning Shizukuishi Town and Takizawa City, this vast farm operates in a variety of fields including dairy farming, forestry, food production, and tourism.
On its 3,000-hectare grounds, it raises Approx. 2,200 cows and produces rich, high-quality raw milk, which is used to make and sell many in-house branded products such as butter, cheese, and yogurt.

A gorge rising along the Satetsu River, a tributary of the Kitakami River that runs north to south through Iwate Prefecture.
Formed by erosion, its cliffs reach heights of 50m to 100m and continue for Approx. 2km.
This dreamlike landscape, dotted with unusual rocks, caves, and waterfalls, is counted among Japan’s 100 Scenic Views and is also designated as a Historic Site, Place of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monument by the national government.

A famous scenic spot counted among Japan’s Three Scenic Views, alongside Amanohashidate in Kyoto and Miyajima in Hiroshima.
The magnificent Pacific horizon and the scenery created by more than 260 lush islands of various sizes have captivated people since the Heian period.
Its daytime views are beautiful, of course, but the scenery at sunrise and sunset is beyond words. The changing beauty of each season, from cherry blossoms in spring and fresh greenery in summer to autumn leaves and snowy winter landscapes, continues to enchant visitors.

Naruko Gorge features sheer cliffs reaching 100m deep that continue for Approx. 2.5km.
Its sharply cut white cliffs are covered with deciduous broadleaf trees such as maples and mizunara oak, and in autumn these trees turn red and yellow, creating a beautiful, picture-like scene.
Crossing Ofukasawa Bridge over Naruko Gorge lets you fully appreciate the height of the gorge and the surrounding scenery.

Along the Shiroishi River flowing through southern Miyagi Prefecture, Approx. 1,200 cherry trees bloom all at once in spring along an embankment stretching Approx. 8km.
The blue of the clear stream, the pale pink of the cherry blossoms, and the white snow remaining on the Zao mountain range rising in the background.
Praised for its picture-like beauty created by this color contrast, it was selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots and came to be known as Hitome Senbonzakura.

Zao Okama is a crater lake located in the highest central area of the Zao mountain range.
Surrounded by three mountains, Mt. Kattadake, Mt. Kumanodake, and Mt. Goshikidake, it is a lake with a diameter of 325m and a circumference of Approx. 1km.
Because the color of its water changes to deep green, blue, emerald green, and other shades depending on the season, time, weather, and temperature, it is also called Goshikiko, or “Five Color Lake,” making it a mysterious and fascinating spot.

An ancient temple said to have been founded in the early 9th century as a Tendai Buddhist temple.
Its formal name, including the mountain name, is Matsushima Seiryuzan Zuigan Enpuku Zenji, and today it is a Zen temple belonging to the Myoshinji school of the Rinzai sect.
The existing buildings were completed by Date Masamune, and because they are valuable structures that preserve Momoyama art to this day, the main hall and kitchen quarters have been designated as National Treasures.

A hot spring town whose history developed alongside the mining of the Nobesawa Silver Mine, which flourished during the Edo period.
The vivid reliefs known as kote-e on the stylish exteriors of the ryokan are also worth seeing, and the hot spring district has foot baths and public bathhouses as well.
The spring water is a sulfur spring with a faint salty taste. It is also said to be effective for skin conditions, women’s health concerns, and sensitivity to cold.

Yamadera, a sacred mountain temple of the Tendai sect, is formally named Hojusan Risshakuji Temple.
It is a historic mountain temple founded in 860 by the priest Jikaku Daishi.
It is said that each of the 1,015 stone steps you climb erases one worldly desire. It has also long been revered as a temple that cuts bad ties and brings good ones.

Zao in Yamagata Prefecture is one of the largest mountain resorts in the Tohoku region. In winter, many visitors come for winter sports and to see the “snow monsters” formed when snow and ice build up on trees.
Snow monsters are created when ice and snow repeatedly accumulate on the leaves and branches of Aomori fir trees (scientific name: Abies mariesii) growing in the area. Because they form only under special conditions such as temperature, wind direction, and snowfall, they are a rare sight seen only in limited parts of the Ou Mountains.

Earthen-walled rice storehouses located in Sakata, which once prospered as a rice shipping port.
Fourteen buildings were constructed in 1893 by the former Sakai feudal family. Today, 12 buildings remain, and nine of them were used as rice storehouses capable of storing 10,800 tons of rice until the end of 2022. In 2021, the site was designated as a national Historic Site.

A 414m-high mountain located northwest of Mt. Gassan, the main peak of the Dewa Sanzan mountains.
A few minutes along the mountain path from Zuishinmon Gate, where the bus stop is located, stands a 29m five-story pagoda that seems to blend into the cedar forest.
It is said to have been founded by Taira no Masakado in 938 and is one of the few Buddhist structures remaining on Mt. Haguro, which once embodied the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism. In 1966, it was designated as a National Treasure.

Ouchi-juku is lined with more than 30 thatched-roof houses and preserves the atmosphere of an Edo-period townscape almost exactly as it was.
About 400 years ago, it flourished as a post town on the Aizu Nishi Kaido route, and today its traditional scenery is protected by residents based on the three principles of their charter: not to sell, not to rent out, and not to destroy.
Its precious townscape has been selected as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings by the national government.

A large hot spring amusement resort that families and couples can enjoy.
Centered around six theme parks using water from Iwaki Yumoto Onsen, it brings together entertainment such as dance stages, as well as restaurants and hotels, all in one place.
Since most of the facilities are indoors and use hot spring water, the resort has a tropical beach-like atmosphere regardless of the season or weather.

Lake Inawashiro, with Mt. Bandai rising to the north, is the fourth-largest lake in Japan.
With an area of Approx. 103 square kilometers and a depth of Approx. 93m, it becomes lively in summer with people enjoying swimming, boating, fishing, and other leisure activities.
Known for its clear, beautiful water, it is also famous for its colony of nationally designated natural monument mizusugigoke moss and as a place where swans migrate, and it has been designated as an area that preserves its ecosystem.

A castle known as a famous cherry blossom spot and a symbol of Aizuwakamatsu City. Its formal name is Wakamatsu Castle, and it is also sometimes called Aizu Castle or Aizuwakamatsu Castle. The castle tower, the only one in Japan roofed with red tiles, still conveys the beautiful appearance of the castle from the feudal era.
Inside the keep is the Wakamatsu Castle Keep Local History Museum, where materials related to the region’s history are displayed. From the keep, you can look out over the town of Aizu and Mt. Iimoriyama, where the Byakkotai made their final stand.

These ponds were created when a steam explosion in 1888 formed hundreds of lakes and ponds.
Among them, around 30 ponds of various sizes, including Bishamon-numa, Aka-numa, Midoro-numa, Ryu-numa, and Benten-numa, are collectively called the Goshikinuma Ponds. In 2016, they were awarded one star in the Michelin Green Guide.
The name does not mean there are only five ponds, but instead comes from the many different colors that can be seen in the water.