Top 5 reasons to visit Tohoku and why it should be in your travel bucket list

Imagine living with nature and doing nothing else but these: relaxing in an open-air hot spring bath looking out on the ocean, watching the volcanic crater lake’s mystic beauty as its water changes its hues with the sunshine, and admiring the pink cherry blossoms with black samurai residences as the backdrop.

The list of things to do in Tohoku is just endless.

When international travel is back, visit Tohoku, an under-visited world-class destination in Japan for sightseeing and adventure.

Here are five reasons to visit Tohoku and why this scenic region should be at the top of your travel bucket list.

1. Tohoku is one of the greenest places on earth, with more open space than in most other places in Japan. 

Tohoku is an expansive region. With a total area of about 67,000 square kilometers, Tohoku offers a massive space for relaxation and physical distancing.

Seventy percent of the region is covered with forest, three percent higher than Japan’s 67% forest-to-land proportion. Interestingly, at a 67% ratio, Japan ranks third in the world in terms of forest-to-land proportion.

Tohoku’s population per square kilometer is only 129 vs 337 nationwide. Britannica reported Tohoku occupies nearly one-fifth of Japan’s total area but has less than one-tenth of the country’s total population.

Less than 2% of visitors to Japan travel to this region, according to Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization.

2. Tohoku is a world-class destination for outdoor adventure.

Tohoku’s natural delights range from crater lakes such as Okama and Goshikinuma to sacred mountains such as Dewa Sanzan and Yamadera, calm dream beaches such as Jodogahama and unique islands like Kinkasan.

Tohoku’s newest national park, the scenic and dynamic 1,000-km Michinoku Coastal Trail, opened in 2019 on the Sanriku Coast. It was a finalist in the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Tourism Awards 2020.

The mountainous Towada-Hachimantai National Park and the UNESCO-listed primeval beech forest, Shirakami Sanchi, are now ready to welcome international visitors, with websites and signs in English language.

It is no wonder National Geographic featured Tohoku in its list of Best trips to take in 2020.

3. Tohoku is where you can enjoy ultimate relaxation in onsen, Japan’s famous hot springs baths.

Of all the great reasons to visit Tohoku, onsens are what make the region more special. This volcanic region is known for an array of open-air hot spring baths in unique settings. 

Deep in the scenic mountainous area of Towada-Hachimantai National Park lie Nyuto Onsenkyo (a popular hot spring area home to seven hot spring inns) and Matsukawa Onsen (a small hot spring resort where you can enjoy a secret cloudy bath).

If you prefer gazing at stunning ocean views while enjoying a hot spring bath, head to Koganesaki Furofushi Onsen (featuring a gourd-shaped seaside open-air bath) and Minamisanriku Onsen (overlooking the vast panorama of the Pacific Ocean).

4. Tohoku, the historically isolated region, is more accessible than ever.

Shinkansen bullet trains debuted in Tohoku in the 1970s, connecting it with Tokyo megapolis. The bullet trains have expanded their service areas across Tohoku, making the region more accessible.

Since 2016, Shinkansen trains connect Tohoku with the northern island of Hokkaido through an under-sea tunnel across Japan Sea.

This year, Tohoku will complete the 359-km Sanriku Expressway on the long-isolated Sanriku Coast by the Pacific Ocean. It will connect the northern port city of Hachinohe with Sendai, Tohoku’s biggest city.

For slower travel across Tohoku, several new scenic trains are now in service.

Luxury sleeper train Shikishima, which means “four season island” symbolizing the seasonal natural beauties of Tohoku, debuted in 2017. It lets travelers see all of Tohoku in ultimate comfort. 

Tohoku Emotion, the region’s gastronomy train, runs on the most beautiful part of the Sanriku Coast in northern Tohoku. It serves exquisite meals prepared on the train with fresh local ingredients.

For a greener travel, rent an electric car at rental car outlets located at all major train stations. Charge stations for electric cars are available across Tohoku.

And if you want to feel and breathe Tohoku’s pristine air, explore Tohoku’s serene landscape on a bike. Bicycle rentals are available in many places.

5. Tohoku is a place of hope and an icon of resilience in 2021. 

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the historic 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Sanriku Coast and nearby areas of Tohoku. The region has remarkably recovered like its symbol, a phoenix.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, now scheduled for 2021, is dubbed the “Reconstruction Games” to celebrate and showcase Tohoku’s revival. Yet another reason to visit Tohoku.

The Olympics torch relay will start in Tohoku and go through some of Japan’s most beautiful villages in the region. The International Olympics Committee calls the flame a “beacon of hope to the world and light at the end of the tunnel”.

Tohoku, the best-kept secret of Japan tourism, now ready to take center stage

Japan’s northeastern region of Tohoku encompasses six prefectures: Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata.

Limited transport, harsh climate, and heavy snowfall historically isolated this rural region. Such limited influence from the outside world has allowed Tohoku to develop a unique culture with its own distinct traditions. 

After a decade of government-led efforts to make it an international holiday destination, this best-kept secret of Japan tourism is now ready to take center stage.

Still looking for reasons to visit Tohoku?

With a long list of sights to see and things to do in Tohoku—from lush landscapes to serene winter wonderlands, one-of-a-kind spiritual experiences and world-class outdoor adventures—this scenic region is worth including in your 2021 travel bucket list. 

All images: credit to Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization 

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