Best of Tohoku region

Tōhoku's Essential Journey

Tōhoku’s landscape is defined by the primeval beech forests of Shirakami-Sanchi and the sacred volcanic peaks of the Dewa Sanzan. This collection spans the spiritual heart of northern Honshū, from the golden Konjikidō at Chūson-ji to the mythical gates of the afterlife at Mount Osore. It includes the feudal history of the Date clan at Sendai Castle, the emerald Okama crater on Mt. Zao, and the scenic pine-clad islands of Matsushima Bay.

らんで / CC BY-SA 4.0

Shirakami-Sanchi

Shirakami-Sanchi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Tōhoku region of northern Honshū, Japan.

竹麦魚(Searobin) / CC-BY-SA-3.0

Chūson-ji

Chūson-ji is a Buddhist temple in the town of Hiraizumi in southern Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

Nerotaso / CC BY-SA 3.0

Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land

Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land is a grouping of five sites from late eleventh-…

Mt. Zao

Active volcanic cluster featuring the Okama crater lake, known for its changing emerald waters. In winter, the slopes are famous for "snow monsters," which are trees heavily encrusted in ice and snow.

Batholith / Public domain

Lake Towada

Lake Towada is the largest crater lake in Honshū island, Japan. Located on the border between Aomori and Akita prefectures, it lies 400…

Osore Yama

Active volcanic area on the Shimokita Peninsula and home to Bodai-ji temple. Traditionally considered a gateway to the afterlife, the site features a desolate landscape of sulfurous vents and the shores of Lake Usori.

鳴子峡

A 100-meter-deep ravine carved by the Ōya River, featuring dramatic rock formations and the Ofukazawa Bridge. It is a prominent site for viewing autumn foliage, typically peaking between late October and early November.

Mt. Yudonosan

The most sacred of the three Dewa Sanzan mountains. The shrine centers on a steaming red rock formation rather than a building. Pilgrims visit barefoot, and photography within the sacred grounds is strictly prohibited.