Tohoku

Tohoku Offers the Perfect Spring Itinerary!

TOHOKU is treasured all-year-round, but the spring season is among its most major highlights. With impressive collections of cherry blossoms roaring into life, not to mention a long-winding heritage, delicious local specialties, and infectious culture abound, Tohoku serves up fun-filled sightseeing guided tours without equal!

If water sports have drawn you to Tohoku, you'll not be disappointed! With many scenic lakes and gentle rivers now brimming with the glow of spring foliage, there are tons of cool outdoor activities perfect under the blistering sun of the season. You can go canoeing on Lake Towada, for instance, or try out diving, stand up paddleboarding, and surfing. Additionally, choose to spend some time at the Hirosaki Castle in Aomori, which is famed for its history and the spectacular sakura in its ancient garden.

Let loose at popular onsens or hit the streets of Sendai town to discover its hidden alleyways "Yokocho" and be part of the local drinking traditions. If that sounds like something you'd love to do, you'll also appreciate the beer tasting and sake brewery tours of Tohoku. Beyond the beverage, the Tohoku region also lets you in on other famous cultural experiences, including ceramic pottery, traditional Japanese Lacquerware making, taiko (Japanese drumming), and chopsticks making. More unique traditional experiences involving native customs include kokeshi doll making and panting.

Lovers of Japanese cuisine will have their fun too. Embrace sake tasting and food tours with cooking classes featuring specialties like fugu, oysters, kamaboko, Kiritanpo hotpot with Hinai chicken, and buckwheat soba noodles!

What do people do for fun in Tohoku during spring? It certainly has something to do with the many beautiful cherry blossoms going around this time of year. For one, you can head over to Fukushima, where the Miharu Takizakura (a weeping cherry tree) puts on a dazzling show that looks like a waterfall of sakura. This tree is considered the country's most beautiful cherry blossom, and it has been around for more than a millennium! The Aizu-Wakamatsu castle provides more sakura viewing within the same prefecture. Iwate's Kitakami Tenshochi Park and the Kajo Park in Yamagata should also feature on any worthy sakura to-do list of Tohoku.

What else you say? Well, we're only just getting started! Have you ever been on taxi sightseeing tours in Tohoku? Or ridden across the lush spring landscape on cycling tours in Tohoku? They are among some of the world's best and make up an experience you shouldn't get left out on. The same goes for guided sightseeing tours and trekking tours in Yamagata that take visitors around Tsuruoka City and Mt. Haguro and also cruising tours through green rivers and lakes.

With lots of Edo history on offer and so many spring activities and cultural experiences than you can count with both hands, Tohoku ensures your Japan spring and summer holidays are full of excitement and adventure. Let Activity Japan lead you to your heart's desire!