Tōhoku Region

Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima

Joyful Train Resort Shirakami

The Ultimate Guide to the Joyful Train: Resort Shirakami

There are plenty of “joyful trains” in Japan, but have you ever boarded one with live performances? Resort Shirakami (リゾートしらかみ) is the only joyful train in Japan with live performances, including shamisen (Japanese guitar), puppet plays, and Japanese folk tales told in the Tsugaru dialect (津軽弁)! The beautifully designed joyful train runs from Aomori to […]

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Where to Shop for Souvenirs on Nanukamachi-dōri Street

If you plan to visit Japan’s most picturesque train line, the Tadami Line, you will most likely take a brief stop somewhere near Nanukamachi-dōri Street. The street that isn’t far from Tadami Line’s starting point, Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, is deal for a break before or after exploring Aizu’s stunning nature. In addition to the tasty food,

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Aomori-ken-at-Aomori-Museum-of-Art-Aomori-Japan

2-Week Itinerary in Japan’s Stunning Tōhoku Region

Planning a trip to Japan but want to escape the crowds of Tokyo and Kyoto? Look no further than the Tohōku Region. The Northeastern part of Japan is renowned for its stunning natural beauty. With two weeks in Japan, you will have enough time to experience a land of ancient samurai towns, breathtaking landscapes, and

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View from Cafe Rokugatsu no Shika Morioka Iwate Japan

Rokugatsu no Shika: A Cozy Cafe Close to Morioka Castle Park

Close to Mont Ceri. Morioka, Rokugatsu no Shika (自家焙煎珈琲 六月の鹿) is another cafe near Sakurayama Shrine (櫻山神社) that opens early to serve breakfast and to satisfy your coffee cravings. In fact, we reckon the coffee at Rokugatsu no Shika is better! After all, it is a coffee shop specialising in home-roasted, flannel drip coffee. Even

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Morioka-Sansa-Odori-Festival

The Best Guide to What Are the Top Festivals in Morioka

As a city with a long history, there are a couple of representative festivals in Morioka that you could consider joining. During the festivals, the city is packed with visitors. Yatai stalls selling every kind of festival food you could hope for also fill the approach of the shrines that hold them.

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Lake-Gosho-Park-Rape-Blossoms-Morioka-Iwate-Japan

Lake Gosho Park: A Scenic Hidden Spot for a Family Day Trip

Gosho Lake (御所湖), south of Morioka Handi-Works Square, is a top spot in Morioka to adore Mt. Iwate’s magnificence. It is a huge dam lake created by damming the Shizukuishi River (雫石川). When the weather conditions are right, Mt. Iwate is reflected on the surface of the vast lake, creating a breathtaking view.

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Michinoku-Hydrangea-Garden-Ichinoseki-Iwate-Japan

Michinoku Hydrangea Garden: Japan’s Best Hydrangea Spot

If you visit Ichinoseki in June or July, ensure Michinoku Hydrangea Garden (みちのくあじさい園) is on your itinerary. On the garden’s vast land of around 150,000㎡, 40,000 hydrangeas of 400 types are growing in the cedar forest. When the flowers reach full bloom, countless hydrangeas will cover the slope of the mountain, making it the best

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Tadami Line from Kaneyama Fureai Hiroba Kaneyama Fukushima Japan

A Guide to the Attractions Along the Scenic Tadami Line

Tadami Line (只見線) is Japan’s most scenic local train line that runs between Aizu-Wakamatsu City (会津若松) in Fukushima Prefecture and Uonuma City (魚沼市) in Niigata Prefecture. No matter when you visit the Tadami Line, you will be amazed by the natural scenery of the Japanese countryside landscapes that haven’t changed much since a few centuries

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Koike Confectionary Store: The Most Famous Awamanjū Shop

One of the top specialties in the Aizu region is Awamanjū (あわまんじゅう), a slightly chewy bun filled with red bean paste. While manjū is a common traditional sweet that can be found across Japan, Awamanjū is only sold in Aizu, where it originates. Speaking of Awamanjū, Koike Confectionary Store (小池菓子舗) is the most famous shop

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Nanukamachi Station and the Sightseeing Bus Haikara-san Aizu-Wakamatsu Fukushima Japan

The Best Guide to the Must-Visit Spots on Nanukamachi-dōri

In Aizu-Wakamatsu City, if you want to walk on a street lined with buildings from over a century ago, head to Nanukamachi-dōri Street (七日町通り). The 800-meter-long street stretching west from Nanukamachi Station (七日町駅) was a busy street in Aizu from the Edo period to the early 20th century. Historical warehouses and Western-style buildings are carefully

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