8D7N Japan Tohoku
Day 01 – AOMORI AIRPORT – AOMORI
On arrival at Aomori Airport, head to Aomori and visit the
Auga Fish Market and the
Furukawa Fish Market for the freshest seafood from Aomori port, and create your very own seafood donburi whilst at the market. Also visit the
Hirosaki Castle in the nearby town of Hirosaki.
Day 02 – AOMORI [B]
From Aomori, train to the Mount Hakkoda region.
Mount Hakkoda (1,585m) is one of the first areas in Tohoku to get the autumn colours (from around late September to early October), and hence you may opt to ascend Mount Hakkoda via
Hakkoda Ropeway for spectacular panoramic views from the summit. Next, head to the
Oirase Stream and experience a tranquil ambience as you stroll along the stream with endless views of cascading waterfalls and colourful foliage. Walk around
Lake Towada, the largest caldera lake in Honshu, before returning to Aomori.
Outside of autumn, you may wish to train to Hachinohe to visit Hasshoku Centre for the freshest seafood and Kabushima for its picturesque hilltop Kabushima Shrine and black-tailed gulls. Kabushima is a national designated natural monument famous as a breeding site for black-tailed gulls.
Day 03 – AOMORI – MORIOKA [B]
Travel from Aomori to
Morioka on one of the Shinkansen – Japan’s well-known bullet train. From Morioka, head to the beautiful
Geibikei Gorge and see the tall cliffs and impressive rock formations. Whilst there, you may opt to take a very scenic boat ride on a traditional flat-bottomed boat steered by a boatman with a pole. Next, visit another beautiful gorge – the
Genbikei Gorge (not to be confused with the earlier totally different Geibikei Gorge) – and even walk along the rocks right to the edge of the gorge. Whilst there, try some delicious “flying dango” (mochi balls) where the food is actually conveyed to you via a rope and basket a la flying fox style. Time permitting, make your final stop at the
Chusonji Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site, before returning to Morioka.
Day 04 – MORIOKA – AKITA [B]
Travel from Morioka to
Akita on the Shinkansen. From Akita, visit the well-preserved and picturesque samurai town of
Kakunodate, famous for its unchanged Samurai architecture and the
shidarezakura (“weeping cherry trees”). Kakunodate is also a very popular cherry blossom viewing spot in the Tohoku region. After Kakunodate, continue on to
Nyuto Onsen resort spa town to soak in the milky natural hot spring waters that flow from deep beneath the virgin beech forest over the valley. The collection of onsens in this area exudes timeless beauty throughout the seasons.
Day 05 – AKITA – YAMAGATA [B]
Head to
Yamagata, and hike up to the famous
Yamadera (literally meaning “mountain temple” in Japanese) perched high up on the steep mountainside, and be rewarded with awesome views at the top.
Day 06 – YAMAGATA [B]
From Yamagata, visit the
Zao Mountains (1,841m) which is renowned for its ever-changing seasonal sceneries. Ride the
Zao Ropeway (reaching 1,703m at the summit station) in winter to experience the famous frozen trees popularly known as “
snow monsters“.
Outside of winter, you may wish to visit the famous Ginzan Onsen town, a picturesque remote hot spring town in the mountains of Yamagata Prefecture and famous for the view of the rows of wooden ryokans.
Day 07 – YAMAGATA – TOKYO [B]
Travel from Yamagata to
Tokyo on the Shinkansen. Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is the world’s most populous metropolis and a vibrant city of endless shopping, entertainment and dining. Enjoy Tokyo at your own leisure. From Shinjuku to Akihabara (a district dedicated to electronic goods) to the Imperial Palace and much more, Tokyo offers endless attractions and enjoyments – be it landmarks, shopping, entertainment or dining. If time permits and if you can wake up early enough, check out the Tsukiji Fish Market (Japan’s largest and busiest fish market) for fresh seafood and treat yourself to a delicious breakfast.
Day 08 – TOKYO – TOKYO NARITA/HANEDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT [B]
Head to Tokyo Narita/Haneda International Airport for your flight home.
Whether you prefer the above itinerary “as-is” or have it customised, if you will indicate the start/end dates of your intended travel and provide your contact details, we will get in touch with you to discuss the itinerary on a no-obligations basis on your part.
