For frequent travellers to Japan, the Tohoku region (東北地方), or the Northeast region, is an area worth visiting for its scenic beauty and lower tourist footfall compared to other major cities like Tokyo and Osaka.
I love to travel to more remote, off the beaten track areas as they are less adulated by commercial tourism and the Tohoku region ticks all the boxes for me. The region consists of six prefectures: Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata. Sendai is the largest city in the region and its population is just slightly over 1 million, with the other core cities having a population of just 200,000 to 300,000.
If you are looking for a stunning, lesser visited destination to go to during the next cherry blossom season, look no further than Japan’s Tohoku region. From the beautiful scenery to the relaxing onsen ryokan (hot spring hotels), Tohoku has something for everyone.
Here are some must-see experiences I have curated for you to enjoy during your visit:
1. Hitome Senbonzakura (View of a Thousand Cherry Trees), Shiroishi
Address: Ogawara, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture 989-1201
How to get there: (1) 3-minute walk from Ogawara Station on the Tohoku Main Line, or (2) 20-minute drive from the Murata Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway
Website: https://discoversendai.travel/places/hitome-senbonzakura/
Begin your journey by admiring the view of a thousand cherry trees along the Shiroishi Riverbank at Hitome Senbonzakura. This scenic location is a popular spot for both locals and tourists alike.
Go up the bridge to get a bird’s eye view of the area, capturing the passing train, traffic and the flowing river. Thereafter, head down to the free public park alongside the river to admire the beautiful plants and flowers that stretch for a distance.
2. Funaoka Castle Park, Shiroishi
Address: Tateyama, Funaoka, Shibata, Shibata District, Miyagi Prefecture 989-1606
How to get there: 15-minute walk from Funaoka Station on the Tohoku Main Line
Website: https://visitmiyagi.com/events_festivals/cherry-blossoms-at-funaoka-castle-park/
Enjoy the beauty of the cherry blossoms at Funaoka Castle Park. It is in the same area as the Hitome Senbonzakura and you can visit more attractions together ih the same day.
This park is located on the top of a hill, which provides an excellent view of the city and the surrounding area.
There is a cute little vertical train that takes you up to the top of the hill, giving you an awesome view of the area on the way up. From the top, you can then take a slow stroll down to enjoy the scenery at a leisurely pace.
3. Shiogama Shrine, Shiogama
Address: 1-1 Ichimoriyama, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture 985-8510
How to get there: About a 15-minute walk from Hon-Shiogama Station on the JR Senseki Line
Website: http://www.shiogamajinja.jp/about/access.html
Shiogama Shrine (鹽竈神社), is a large Shinto shrine complex at the center of Shiogama City. Believed to be over 1,200 years old, it is historically one of the most important shrines in the Tohoku region and deemed as the protector of fishermen and safe childbirth.
In the past, devotees have to climb up 200 uneven stone steps to get to the shrine. You can still attempt it now for the experience, but thankfully, there is a faster way to get to the shrine now.
Shiogama Shrine is also one the best spot to view cherry blossoms in Miyagi city, with over 300 cherry trees planted around its grounds.
4. Vintage Candy and Toy Shop, Shiogama (Yamadaya)
Address: 10-29 Motomachi, Shiogama City, Miyagi Prefecture
How to get there: 10-minute walk from Hon-Shiogama Station
A short walking distance from the shrine, this vintage toy store has been untainted by time and is still being run and managed by the same old lady for ages. It is popular with locals and have been visited by Japanese celebrities who caught the nostalgic wave.
Candies and kids toys can be bought from the shop from as low as just 50 yen (about S$0.50) apiece. You can mix and match whatever you want and no order is too small, making it ideal for the little ones to have a blast of a time at the store.
While on the way to visit this vintage candy and toy shop, do check out the other local stores in the area as well for a flavour of local shopping in Shiogama.
5. Fruit picking at JR Fruit Park Sendai Arahama, Sendai
Address: 2-17-1 Arahamashin, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 984-0034
How to get there: At Arai Station (Tozai Line), head to bus platform no. 2 and get on the bus bound for the Earthquake Heritage Arahama Elementary School, then get off at the “Earthquake Heritage Arahama Elementary School” bus stop. The facility is a 5-minute walk away.
Website: https://stbl-fruit-farm.jp/arahama/
Indulge in some fruit-picking at JR Fruit Park Sendai Arahama, where you can pick fresh fruits and enjoy a delightful picnic in the park. Depending on which season you visit, there will be different seasonal fresh fruit available for picking.
Strawberries were in season when we visited and we indulge ourselves with as much strawberries that we can stomach!
There is also a decent farmer’s market in the park that features a cafe with hot food. Be sure to check it out if you are looking to grab some fresh local produce back.
6. Moroya Farm Kitchen, Sendai
Address: 6-12-2 Arai, Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 984-0032
How to get there: Right in front of Arai Station on the Tozai Line
Treat yourself to an exquisite lunch of seasonal vegetables at Moroya Farm Kitchen. The fruits and vegetable served at this restaurant are all harvested locally from surrounding farms, featuring the freshest seasonal produce available.
7. Tsutsujigaoka Park, Sendai
Address: 1 Gorin, Miyagino Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 983-0842
How to get there: 2-minute walk from Tsutsujigaoka Station on the JR Senseki Line
Website: http://www.city.sendai.jp/ryokuchihozen/mesho100sen/ichiran/041.html
To get the local cherry blossom experience, take a leisurely walk around Tsutsujigaoka Park to soak in the atmosphere. You will witness children playing in the local playground, teens playing sports in the park and family and friends, gathered around for a picnic or chat, while admiring the cherry blossom trees.
The park is famous for its azalea gardens, and is an excellent spot for cherry blossom viewing, both for locals and tourists in Sendai. On selected days, musicians will play in the park as well and there will be food and snack kiosks to cater to the crowd.
8. Sendai Jump Shop and Pokemon Center Tohoku
Address: PARCO Sendai Main Bldg. 8F, 1-2-3 Chuo, Aoba Ward, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture 980-8484
How to get there: 3-minute walk from the West Exit of JR Sendai Station
Website: https://www.pokemon.co.jp/shop/pokecen/tohoku/
Sendai is the most populous city in the Tohoku region and as such, it has its own flagship Sendai Jump Shop and Pokemon Center Tohoku!
For manga and anime fans, you won’t want to miss these retail outlets which are located side by side. There are some Tohoku exclusive merchandise at both stores, do check them out with the sales staff there.
9. Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima
Address: Watari, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture 960-8141
How to get there: 15-minute local bus ride from Fukushima Station
Website: http://www.hanamiyamakoen.jp/
Hanamiyama Park started out as a privately owned garden by a resident in Fukushima. Due to the beauty of the garden, owing to the care and attention put into maintaining it by the owner, locals flocked to the area to view the plants and flowers, especially during the cherry blossom season.
The owner then decide to selflessly open it out to the public for viewing and enjoyment. Be sure to check out the sea of yellow flowers near the entrance for some highly instagrammable shots.
10. Original Enban Gyoza Manpuku, Fukushima
Address: 1-24 Chugencho, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture 960-8105
How to get there: 19-minute walk from JR Fukushima Station
Website: https://enban.hp.gogo.jp/pc/index.html
This non-descript gyoza restaurant is very popular with the locals and after trying their gyozas, I can understand why. The gyoza are crispy on the outside, with a very thin layer of skin that is airy on the inside with light, fluffy meat and vegetable fillings. Love it and I can eat at least two whole plates of these.
For those who prefer dumplings that are not fried, they are available on the menu too.
11. Miharu Takizakura, Miharumachi
Address: 296 Sakurakubo Taki, Miharu, Tamura District, Fukushima Prefecture 963-7714
How to get there: 20-minute bus ride from Miharu Station
Website: https://miharukoma.com/
View the majestic Miharu Takizakura, one of the three great cherry trees of Japan, located in Miharu-machi.
It is said that most of the other thousands of weeping cherry blossom trees in the region descended from this one tree.
12. Umbrella Sky display at Hotel Listel Inawashiro, Inawashiro
Address: Listel Park, Kawageta, Inawashiro, Yama District, Fukushima Prefecture 969-2696
How to get there: About 15 minutes by free shuttle bus from Inawashiro Station on the Ban-Etsusai Line
Website: https://www.listel-inawashiro.jp/access/
The images speak for themselves. This is an attractive not-to-be-missed for those who are looking for the perfect instagrammable shots in Tohoku.
Be sure to visit the Umbrella Sky display at Hotel Listel Inawashiro for a variety of Instagrammable backdrops, props and shots.
13. Stay at Ashinomaki Onsen
Address: 984 Shitadaira, Ashinomaki, Otomachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 969-5147
How to get there: 5-minute drive from Ashinomaki Onsen Station on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line
Website: https://www.ookawaso.co.jp/
It is not official, but fans of the hit manga and anime series, Demon Slayer, have been discussing online that Ashinomaki Onsen is where the backdrop for an important battle scene in the manga/anime was based off.
Check out the uncanny similarity between the two.
The Demon Slayer inspiration aside, the hotel features a fantastic indoor and outdoor onsen as well as a very beautiful traditional interior that is worth a stay, just for the experience. The food is pretty good too!
14. Aizu samurai residences, Aizu-Wakamatsu
Address: 1 Innai, Ishiyama Higashiyamamachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0813
How to get there: 15-minute drive from the Aizuwakamatsu Interchange on the Ban-etsu Expressway
Website: http://bukeyashiki.com/
Explore the Aizu samurai residences, which provide a fascinating glimpse into the life of samurai in the region in ancient Japan.
15. Tsurugajo Castle
Address: 1-1 Otemachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0873
How to get there: 10 minutes by bus from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station
Website: http://www.tsurugajo.com/
Tsuruga Castle (鶴ヶ城) was first built in1384 and changed hands many times between the different rulers of the Aizu region.
The castle was rebuilt as a concrete reconstruction in the 1960 and is now a modern reconstruction of an ancient Japanese castle, offering a bird’s eye view of the surrounding area from atop.
The castle is also a must-visit attraction during the cherry blossom season when approximately 1,000 cherry trees offer a magnificent display within the castle’s grounds.
For those who like to gain an appreciation of Japanese tea culture or chado, visit the Rinkaku Tea Rooms for some freshly-prepared matcha green tea. This tea house on the grounds of Tsurugajo was vital in the spread of this traditional art. If Ujisato Gamo, the lord of the castle about 430 years ago, had not helped Rikyu’s son, tea ceremony as it is known in Japan might not exist today.
16. Nanukamachi Street, Fukushima
Address: 2 Nanokamachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 965-0044
How to get there: At Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, take the “Haikarasan” sightseeing bus and get off at the “Nanokamachi Chuo” bus stop. Nanukamachi Street is a 1-minute walk away.
Website: https://fukushima.travel/destination/nanokamachi-dori-street/230
Nanukamachi Street in Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima, is a popular attraction in the area with its retro streetscape.
From traditional Aizu lacquerware to scented candles to traditional and modern confectionary shops, you can spend some time shopping here, strolling down the retro street and shops.
A key attraction is the Station Café at Nanukamachi Station which sells coffee made using subterranean river water from Mount Bandai and also serves as an exhibition space as well as a tourist information centre.
In the local temple in the area, you will also find a building that once stood inside the main citadel of Tsuruga Castle.
17. Nicchu Line Weeping Cherry Blossom
Address: 2 Oshikirihigashi, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture 966-0000
How to get there: 5-minute walk from Kitakata Station
Website: https://fukushima.travel/destination/nicchu-line-weeping-cherry-blossom/51
End your journey by viewing the Nicchu Line Weeping Cherry Blossom, which is known for its magnificent beauty and is a must-see for anyone visiting the area.
The trees stretches for miles and you can easily get Instagrammable shots from any section of the whole walking area.
18. Ponshukan, Sake Vending Machine, Niigata Station
Address: 1-96-47 Hanazono, Chuo Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture 950-0086
How to get there: 1-minute walk from Niigata Station
Website: http://ponshukan-niigata.com/
For just 500 yen (~S$5), you can get five tokens to get up to five shots of sake from different vending machines at this interesting sake vending machine shop.
Can’t decide which sake to get? There is an AI generator in the machine that can help you decide, based on the answers you input on your mood and preferences.
Tohoku is also home to several beautiful onsen ryokan, including Hotel Matsushima Taikanso, Surikamitei Otori, Ookawaso, and Fujiya. These hot spring hotels offer an authentic Japanese experience, with traditional Japanese-style rooms, kaiseki cuisine, and stunning views of the surrounding scenery.
Details and pictures of each are available below.
Surikamitei Otori, Iizaka Onsen
Address: 24-3 Nakanouchi, Iizaka, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture 960-0201
Website: https://www.surikamiteiohtori.com/
Ashinomaki Onsen, Ookawaso
Address: 984 Shitadaira, Ashinomaki, Otomachi, Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture 969-5147
Website: https://www.ookawaso.co.jp/
Iwamuro Onsen, Fujiya
Address: 693 Iwamuroonsen, Nishikan Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture 953-0104
Website: https://www.hotel-fujiya.co.jp/
The Tohoku region is home to untainted rural landscapes and historical treasures, outdoor summer adventures and endless powder snow in the winter. The people there are full of warmth and resilience, having survived the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck in 2011. The area have since rebounced back and tourism will also help to bring more economic activities to the region.
As such, Tohoku is an excellent destination for cherry blossom season, with a variety of experiences to enjoy, from cherry blossom viewing to relaxing at an onsen ryokan. With so much to see and do, Tohoku should be at the top of your list for your next vacation.
