Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Overview
Stretching out above Tokyo is the fabled Tōhoku (東北; Northeast) – starring Miyagi, Yamagata, Iwate, Fukushima, Akita and Aomori Prefectures – where ice monsters and river imps inhabit the imagination (but hopefully not the onsen). Hugging the west coast is Niigata Prefecture, a skiing and hiking wonderland that also includes the rugged and remote island of Sado-ga-shima.
Attractions
Must-see attractions
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The 2446 stone steps through ancient cedars to Haguro-san's summit (419m) have been smoothed by centuries of pilgrims. The climb, taking up to two hours,…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Accessible from July to September, Gas-san (1984m) is the highest of Dewa Sanzan's sacred mountains. From Hachigōme (八合目; eighth station) the route passes…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Accessible from May to October, Yudono-san (1504m) is the spiritual culmination of the Dewa Sanzan trek. Coming from Gas-san it's a short walk from the…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The 'Temple of Standing Stones', more commonly known as Yamadera, rests atop a rock-hewn staircase weathered over the centuries by unrelenting elements…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
High in the hills above Kesennuma, this local art museum houses the largest collection of photographs and artefacts in existence relating to the 2011…
Kakunodate Cherry-Bark Craft Center
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Inside this elegant building you'll find exhibits and demonstrations of kabazaiku, the craft of covering household or decorative items in fine strips of…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
The under-visited beach at Shirahama (白浜) is a real find for open-water swimmers and beach bums due to its clear-blue water, shallow entry and…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Jagged, green-fringed cliffs plunge into the deep-blue Pacific Ocean along this 8km stretch of coastline known as the Kitayamazaki coast. Stunning in…
Plan with a local
Articles
Latest stories from Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Filter by interest:
CyclingJapan’s Bandai-Asahi National Park offers a world of outdoor adventuresSep 8, 2021 • 5 min read
Wildlife & NatureExploring Japanese traditions in the ‘Deep North’ region of TohokuFeb 27, 2020 • 5 min read
Wildlife & NatureHow the Oku-Matsushima Trail in Japan made me fall in love with hikingJan 30, 2020 • 6 min read
Wildlife & NatureSee the animal life thriving around Fukushima's exclusion zoneJan 15, 2020 • 1 min read
Build a memorable collection
Get to the heart of Northern Honshū (Tōhoku) with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.
Japan $29.99
Pocket Tokyo $14.99
Pocket Kyoto & Osaka $14.99
