Take a tour of Tohoku: 7 Must-try activities
The Tohoku Region (東北地方 Tōhoku chihō) covers a vast swathe of Japan so large it can be hard to know where to start on your adventure north of Tokyo (東京). But when you get here, it’s great to hunt out those hidden off-the-beat spots and even meet the local people themselves along the way.
Joining one of the tours introduced below can help take care of this for you—helping you get the most out of your Tohoku trip.
1. Oirase Gorge Ice Fall Tour, Aomori
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
See a new side of Aomori Prefecture (青森県 Aomori-ken) with this range of night- and day tours in the Oirase Gorge (奥入瀬渓流 Oirase keiryū) region. This spectacular remote region is a Tohoku autumn highlight, but the cold winter brings the additional promise of frozen waterfalls and icicles to admire. This Japanese National Treasure is superb for taking photos at any time of year, but the night illuminations are even extra special. The comfort of a warm bus ride and tour guide explaining the area and individual illuminations outside makes for a special winter treat.
Oirase Gorge Ice Falls Tour (奥入瀬渓流氷瀑ツアー)
Address: 60 Okuse, Towada, Aomori 034-0301 (how to get there)
Access: Take a 1-hour bus ride using the Towada Kanko Dentetsu bus from the bus stop near the East Exit of the station. Followed by a 5-minute walk from the Kanchogaidori bus stop.
Nearest station: Hachinohe Station (八戸駅)
Date: Mid-December–Early March (Depending on weather conditions, etc.)
Admission fee: ¥3,000 (Adult), ¥1,500 (Child)
2. Hachimantai Backcountry Ski Tour, Iwate
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
Hachimantai (八幡平) is a mountainous region in north-west Iwate Prefecture (岩手県 Iwate-ken), bordering Akita (秋田県 Akita-ken) and Aomori Prefecture. The slopes here promise unrivalled opportunities for both skiers and snowboarders alike to enjoy powder snow. The area promises a diverse topography and panoramic views—don’t miss the frosted trees, also known as “Snow Monsters”, (樹氷 Juhyo) as you fly by. For a change of pace, jump in a Snowcat and try cat skiing to take your backcountry adventure to the next level, before relaxing in a local hot spring resort.
Hachimantai Cat Skiing Trip
Address: Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture (岩手県八幡平市)
Pick-up: Hanamaki Airport (盛岡花巻空港) and Morioka Station (盛岡駅)
Package: 2 night / 3 day trip, 2 Cat ski days, 1-to-4 guide/client ratio, max 8 guests
Price (Early bird 10% discount):¥144,000
(Note: Best for strong intermediate to advanced level riders/skiers. All prices stated will be subjected to tax)
3. Tour a Sake Brewery: Otokoyama in Kesennuma
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
It’s not hard to come across good Japanese sake (酒) when you get to Japan—it is stocked just about everywhere. However, I recommend taking the opportunity to explore the incredible history and culture that goes into its production.
Otokoyama Honten (男山本店), founded in 1912, is a traditional sakegura (酒蔵 sake brewery) in the port city of Kesennuma (気仙沼市 Kesennuma-shi), on Miyagi Prefecture’s (宮城県 Miyagi-ken) east coast. It’s famous for numerous brands, not least the acclaimed, international contest winner, ‘Sotenden’ (蒼天伝). Although the wider business was hugely impacted by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, the main sake brewery itself emerged unscathed—even recommencing their brewing the very next day! Join a sake tour here not just to learn about the sake fermentation process itself, but witness the brewer’s passion in person and community’s resolve for recovery as it continues to fight to bounce back.
Otokoyama Honten (男山本店)
Address: 3-8 Irisawa, Kesennuma-shi, Miyagi,988-0083
Nearest station: Kesennuma Station (気仙沼駅)
Opening hours: 8:30am–5:00pm (closed on Sundays)
Tour availability: May–August (Monday–Saturday, closed Sundays and holidays)
Tour duration: 30-40 minutes
Admission fee: ¥1,000
Tel: +81 226-24-8088
4. Become a Mountain Monk in Dewa Sanzan, Yamagata
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
If you ever came across cult-fave ‘Monkey’ on late-night British TV a few decades ago, you might fondly recall Tripitaka et al on their pilgrimage west. This could be the closest you get to recreating that vibe. Dive into Dewa Sanzan (出羽三山) in rural Yamagata Prefecture (山形県 Yamagata-ken) and dress up in traditional white robes (白装束 shiroshouzoku)—the same worn by the local Yamabushi (山伏) mountain monks, before embarking on your own sacred pilgrimage.
Dewa Sanzan refers to the mountainous region encompassing three sacred mountains of Mt. Haguro (羽黒山 Haguro-san), Mt. Gassan (月山) and Mt. Yudono (湯殿山 Yudono-san). It provides the backdrop to a traditional pilgrimage journey taking in multiple sightseeing spots along the way, including the 3-star Michelin ranked cedar tree-lined path and a five-storied pagoda. For the ultimate experience, stay in temple lodgings (宿坊 shukubo) and try the local monk diet (精進料理 Shojin Ryori)—a diet that uses seasonal vegetables and wild mountain plants. It’s just one reason why local Tsuruoka City (鶴岡市 Tsuruoka-shi) has been designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2014.
Three Mountains of Dewa (出羽三山)
Address: 2-60 Nishiki-machi Tsuruoka-shi, Yamagata 997-0031
Nearest station: Tsuruoka Station (鶴岡駅)
Access: bus ride from station to each of the Dewa Sanzan
Opening hours: 9am–5pm (Closed on Year-end and New Year Holidays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays)
Admission fee: ¥5,000
5. Kiritanpo Training from Akita Experts
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
Kiritanpo (きりたんぽ) is a local favourite of Akita Prefecture—taking mashed, kneaded then pounded rice that is skewed onto a stick. This tradition originated in the northern area of Odate City (大館市 Odate-shi), but is now a renowned dish around Akita and famous around Japan.
Head to the source of this much-loved food, by learning from the local experts in Odate itself. Under guidance from the staff at Youki-na-Kaasan (陽気な母さん), learn how to make this local dish yourself using freshly prepared ingredients. After the hard work is done, try the dish yourself in a traditional hotspot style, as well as grilled with miso (味噌) paste—definitely a highlight to enjoy during the colder, winter months.
Cheerful Mother’s Shop (陽気な母さんの店)
Address: Ienoushiro-97-1 Magata, Odate, Akita 018-5603
Nearest station: Ōtaki-Onsen Station (大滝温泉駅)
Opening hours: 9am–4pm (March), 9am–5pm (April onwards)
Admission fee: ¥2,500
6. Night-Time Izakaya Tour in Sendai
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
Sendai (仙台市 Sendai-shi), the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, can be considered Tohoku’s major regional hub—it is the largest city in terms of population and considered a gateway to the rest of Northern Japan. This is even more true for visitors arriving directly via Sendai Airport, with routes all around Asia.
Sendai’s nightlife has much to promise given the variety of restaurants and bars here, as well as the cuisine choice on offer—Miyagi is a powerhouse for seafood, be it Matsushima (松島) oysters or scallops/hoya from over in Ishinomaki City (石巻市 Ishinomaki-shi).
You can’t beat experiencing a traditional izakaya (居酒屋 Japanese-style pub) though, with the local Hesono-o izakaya going above and beyond with this foodie tour. Watch the skilled chefs demonstrate how to cut local bluefin tuna, before you try your hand at making sushi in an intimate workshop setting, then enjoy a dinner paired with local Tohoku sakes. This is basically three special experiences all rolled into one, and shouldn’t be missed. Tour available in English, Chinese and Japanese.
Back-alley Bar Hopping in Sendai
Address: 3-chōme-11-5 Kokubun-chō, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0803
Nearest station: Sendai Station (仙台駅), Kotodaikoen Station (勾当台公園駅)
Opening hours: 9am－9pm (closed on public holidays) (Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, tour is currently suspended until further notice)
Admission fee: starting from ¥10,000
7. Horaiya Factory Tour
(Image credit: 東北観光推進機構)
Miso is arguably one of the best Japanese ingredients out there. From humble miso soup to more inventive offerings like Hoba-yaki (朴叶烧), it is the one ingredient that keeps surprising the more you get to know it.
Up in Fukushima’s Koriyama City (郡山市 Kōriyama-shi), take the chance of exploring a miso koji factory itself. Horaiya Honten (宝来屋) has over 100 years’ history making koji (糀), a fermented rice using Aspergillus oryzae mould. This koji is the key ingredient in many of Japan’s traditional fermented foods like miso, mirin, sake and amazake. On this tour, discover how miso paste is made and then take home your own as a souvenir. English and Chinese guidance is available for these tours.
Horaiya Koji Miso Factory Tour (工場見学案内)
Address: 54-2 Kanaya Kawakubo, Tamura-machi, Koriyama-shi, Fukushima 963-0725
Nearest station: Koriyama Station (郡山駅)
Opening hours: 9:30am–3pm (Mondays–Fridays)
Admission fee: Free
Tel: +81 24-943-2380 (reservations required)
(Note: Tours are held once per day)
This article is adapted form Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization.
Header image credit: 東北観光推進機構
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