47 Best Sights in Tohoku, Japan

Founded in AD 850, this temple's highlight is its Konjikido (Golden Hall), which was completed in 1124. The first Ou Fujiwara lord, Kiyohara, commissioned many temples and pagodas during his reign, perhaps as many as 40, not to mention residences for 300 priests. Nearly all were destroyed by fire except for Konjikido, and it is the only structure in Chuson-ji that remains unchanged. More than 3,000 objects have survived and are now kept in the treasure house (Sankozo Museum). It's a 20-minute walk from JR Hiraizumi Station or a 10-minute bus ride.

Ginzan Onsen is known for its unique landscape and distinguished Taisho period (1912–26) architectural design. A flood once destroyed the village in the valley, but it sprung back up with 14 ryokan. A magnificent wooden four-story ryokan from there is depicted in Miyazaki's animated film Spirited Away. Hanagasa dance shows take place many Saturday evenings from May to October. From Yamagata, take a train to JR Oishida Station, then hop on the Hanagasa-Go bus bound for Ginzan Onsen (45 minutes).

On the outskirts of central Morioka near Mt. Atagoyama is a district where a dozen temples are clustered. In addition to the main temple, this is home to a hall last rebuilt in 1851 that houses 500 statues of Buddha's disciples that were carved between 1731 and 1735, in a time of severe famine and increased religious devotion. Each is unique, and if you look hard, you will see disciples laughing, chatting with their neighbors, eating, drinking, and even napping. The grounds are beautiful and serene. It is a bit out of the way, but if you enjoy wooden architecture, you will not be disappointed, even if you just stopped at the gate.

If you have a car, a day trip to the uppermost "hook" of the Mutsu/Shimokita Peninsula could make for a very interesting adventure. A 30-minute drive north of Mutsu takes you to Osore-zan, which literally means "Scary Mountain." On the ash-gray shores of the Lake Usori caldera, an otherworldly landscape awaits, with boardwalks that lead over sulfur pools and past shrines to the dead. They say this is where heaven and hell meet. In that way, or perhaps because there are baths on-site for soaking, it can be a very pensive kind of spot with the typical and beautiful scenery. It's a memorable day at the end of the world.

Yamadera is like something conjured out of the ethereal mists of an ancient Japanese charcoal painting. Built in the year AD 860, Yamadera's complex of temples including Risshaku-ji, is perched high on the upper slopes of Mt. Hoju (Hoju-san), from where you get truly divine vistas in any season. Just inside the temple-complex entrance is Konpon Chudo, the temple where the sacred Flame of Belief has burned constantly for 1,100 years. Near Konpon Chudo is a statue of the Japanese poet Matsuo Basho (1644–94), whose pithy and colorful haiku related his extensive wanderings throughout Japan. During a visit to the temple, he wrote, "Stillness ... the sound of cicadas sinks into the rocks" and buried the poem on the spot.

The path continues up many steps—nearly 1,100 of them, well tended though they may be. At the summit is Oku no In, the hall dedicated to the temple founder, Jikaku Daishi. But if you've come this far, keep going. Of all the temples hanging out over the valley, the view from Godaido is the best. The path becomes crowded in summer and slippery in winter.

South of Mt. Iwaki are the Shirakami Mountains, a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to the world's largest virgin beech forest. The area is truly pristine and great for hiking. If you don't have a car, take a Konan bus from Hirosaki Bus Terminal or Hirosaki Station bound for Tsugaru Touge from June to October, getting off at Tashiro (55 minutes) and walking about five minutes to the visitor center, where you should pick up current information, or at Aqua Green Village, Anmon (90 minutes) to get to the Anmon Falls. If you want to see the Mother Tree—the forest's largest, and presumably oldest, tree—get off at the last stop, Tsugaru Toge (two hours, 10 minutes); the tree is a five-minute walk from there. Only a few buses run daily and only at certain times of the year, so check with the visitors' center or your hotel to be sure of departure times and bus stops. Also note that the road beyond Aqua Green Village only opens around July each year.

For walking among the splendid and vast virgin beech, pine, and cedar forests deep in the heart of Tohoku, you could not pick a better destination than Towada-Hachimantai National Park. The mountains afford sweeping panoramas over the park's gorges and valleys, crystal clear lakes like Towada-ko, gnarled and windswept trees, and volcanic cones. The park straddles Aomori, Iwate, and Akita prefectures, and sprawls over 330 square miles (855 square km). Hot springs and tiny villages lost in time are secreted here, and the fresh tree-scented air promotes a feeling of true wilderness. Most facilities are closed between mid-November and April and can be restricted due to bear activity.

The grand mausoleum of Masamune Date, the most revered daimyo of ancient Sendai, was made in the style of the Momoyama Period (16th century), where figures of people, birds, and flowers are carved and inlaid in natural colors. Looking like the world's fanciest one-story pagoda, there is so much gold leaf that in the right light it practically glows. Having burned during the firebombing in 1945, Zuihoden was reconstructed beginning in 1974. During the excavation, Date's well-preserved remains were found and have been reinterred in what appears to be a perfect replica of the original hall. The mausoleum is a 10-minute walk uphill from the Zuihoden stop; it's well worth it as it's a delightful change from other ancient architecture.

While it was the Akita Bank building from its construction in 1912 until 1969, this excellent example of Meiji-era architecture was sure to please anyone interested in how modernization and new materials affected the aesthetics of design in the first half of the 20th century. Now, the museum also showcases the amazing works of local artists and craftspeople in wood, metals, paper, and other materials. If you're planning to come here and the nearby Performing Arts Heritage Center, get the combo ticket for both venues for only ¥370.

If you are not in town for Akita's famous Kanto Festival, this museum is the next best thing. Try balancing one of the poles topped with paper lanterns on your palm—local veterans will coach you, but it's more difficult than it looks. There is also an informative video about this and other Akita festivals. Your ticket also includes entry to the former residence and kimono-fabric shop of the Kaneko family, along a corridor beside the entrance. Don't miss the bats carved above the sliding doors.

The main reason for many who visit this museum is to see the building, designed by the renowned Tadao Ando, lover of stark concrete. The museum's highlight is the enormous Annual Events in Akita, painted by local artist Fujita Tsuguharu (1886–1968) in just 15 days. The painting of three local festivals merged into a single scene was rendered on one of the world's largest canvases at the time, measuring 11 feet by 66 feet. The museum regularly hosts other temporary exhibitions relating to art reflecting life in Akita.

A visit to this miso and soy sauce business, still located in the historic home of the Ando merchant family, is a treat for both the eyes and the taste buds. Beautiful seasonal flower arrangements and artifacts decorate the tatami rooms, while the unusual redbrick storehouse has some fine painted screens. Wander around and see what's in the storehouses. You can try the water they use to make their products flowing just outside the building and can find free miso soup and pickles to try inside.

Aomori might be on the water, but it is not a beach town. However, nestled in between the Wa-Rasse museum building and a showcase of Aomori's food and goods, called A-Factory, is a small, almost tongue-in-cheek, sandy beach utterly dominated by the giant bridge overhead. The beach is a good spot for a photo, and the adjacent A-Factory can be a good spot to pick up lunch or gifts to take home. Following the boardwalk, you can also access the Aspam building.

This contemporary arts museum houses a collection of works by Munakata Shiko (1903–75), Nara Yoshitomo (1959–), and Terayama Shuji (1935–83). Another highlight is three of Marc Chagall's backdrops created for the ballet Aleko (the fourth belongs to the Philadelphia Museum of Art). Unlike many museums in which gift shops are near the entrance and packed with people, the shop here sits quietly in a corner that you have to go looking for. Outside, don't miss the statue of Aomori-ken (ken sounds like both the words for prefecture and dog) waiting in front of his food dish.

Perhaps the most renowned of Kakunodate's well-preserved samurai houses is Aoyagi-ke, which functions as a museum and even a bit of a shopping center (there are many restaurants and gift shops located here). The house displays an extensive collection of swords, armor, guns, and silk kimono wedding gowns as well as all kinds of historical artifacts to pore over, such as farm implements and household items. There are even some weapons in exhibits where you can feel their weight. Many war documents, photos, and uniforms from the Sino-Japanese War (1894–95) to the Pacific War (1941–45) are also on display. History buffs will love it. The museum is a 15-minute walk northwest from JR Kakunodate Station in the bukeyashiki district.

Fish, shellfish, preserved seaweed, and fish eggs—in short, all manner of marine organisms—are hawked by hundreds of vendors in this seafood market that has more than seafood. It's one block east of JR Aomori Station, in the basement level of a modern building with distinctive crimson pillars below the city library. You can also find a meal inside the market in what might be your most casual and haphazard—but certainly fresh—meal in Japan.

Thirty-three of the Soto Sect's Zen temples line up along Zenrin-gai (Zen Forest Street), at the end of which Chosho-ji temple punctuates the stand of trees. The Tsugaru clan's family temple was originally built in Ajigasawa in 1528 but was moved here in 1610 to protect Hirosaki Castle. The elaborate gate, meant to shake off greediness and complaining, is alone worth a visit. Five-hundred statues depicting Buddha's disciples, in a rare and very raw setting, each one with a unique face, guard the quiet temple building.

From Godaido Temple it's a short walk across a pedestrian bridge to the islet of Fuku-ura. For the ¥200 toll, you can break away from the crowds and enjoy a walk around this natural area with views across the bay. A stroll around the entire island should take less than an hour.

The surreal Geibikei Gorge is a slightly decrepit, definitely kitschy tourist attraction. You board a gondola at the local river, and your gondolier will sing in classic Japanese style as he maneuvers farther into the echoey gorge. Your destination is an upriver sandbar, where you disembark for a stroll, and for a nominal fee you can throw kiln-fired clay divots (undama) into a crack in a cliff across the river (each divot has a character on it, and if you chuck it in the hole, that fate is in store for you). You can feed the river fish—they aggressively follow the boat and jump for joy at handouts. Those fish are also available roasted and fried where you disembark. The trip takes 90 minutes, and boats depart approximately once an hour from 8:30 am to 4 pm most days depending on the season.

Just beyond the plaza and boat pier in Matsushima is a small temple originally constructed in 1609 at the behest of daimyo Masamune Date. The temple is on a tiny islet connected to the shore by two small arched bridges. Animals representing the zodiac are carved in the timbers and facing each sign's corresponding direction.

If you're interested in pottery, go to this pottery village on the outskirts of Yamagata. It's a bit out of the way but definitely worth a visit if you are spending time in Yamagata. This small enclave of traditional buildings and farmhouses is a step back in time. About six pottery families each specialize in a particular style. You can take pottery lessons and have your handiwork fired, glazed, and, two to four weeks later, mailed back home. The actual hours of any particular one of the potteries are erratic, so definitely check ahead with the tourist information office at JR Yamagata Station before heading out.

Guarded by deep moats, over which a red wooden bridge crosses in a picturesque curve, Hirosaki-jo is atop a high stone base in what is now Hirosaki Park. The original castle, completed in 1611, was set ablaze 16 years later by a lightning bolt. The present one, of a smaller scale, dates back to 1810. In spring more than 5,000 somei-yoshino cherry trees blossom, while in fall the changing maples dot the landscape. A snow-lantern festival with illuminated ice sculptures is held in the park (which remains open all year, even when the castle is closed) in early February. With the castle seemingly perpetually under some kind of reconstruction, you're bound to be able to catch a glimpse of craftspeople in action. The stone walls, in particular, are a fascinating kind of puzzle. From the main station, you could walk to the castle grounds in about 30 minutes, passing plenty of shops along the way. Otherwise, take the Dotemachi Loop bus (¥100) to the Shiyakusho-mae stop.

Making use of a historic, brick structure originally belonging to a sake brewer, this museum hosts exhibits showcasing local artists, events celebrating art in the region, and gives you the opportunity to see what is becoming more common in this land of earthquakes—adaptive reuse of a landmark. While most of the exhibitions are constantly changing, the building and the grounds can be their own attraction.

Direct descendants of the Ishiguro family open part of their residence to let people in to see Kakunodate's oldest samurai house. Tours around the house are led by locals explaining the ornamented doors, the impressive wood carvings, and the practical uses of the beautiful garden. Beyond the main house is a more modern structure (built around the late 1800s) that houses an armory, historical documents, such as one of the earliest texts on anatomy in Japan, translated from Dutch in the late 1700s are exhibited. They are also very proud to be the home of Kakunodate's largest tree, which is, indeed, quite impressive.

A brick hall among the cluster of samurai houses is both a museum and a workshop for the local cherry-bark veneer handicrafts that became the new source of income for samurai when they suddenly found themselves unemployed. Don't be put off by the imposing exterior of the Densho House—go right on in and watch masters at work. You can buy the products—often one of a kind—here, rather than from the shops. The Satake-Kita family armor and heavily Kyoto-influenced ancient heirlooms are exhibited in adjacent parts of the building. You can also learn about life in old-time winters, with displays of plaited-maple sleighs and some truly inventive and adaptive tools and togs for coping with snow.

The shockingly clear, blue waters of Tazawa-ko, Japan's deepest lake, surrounded by forested slopes create a breathtaking quality. According to legend, the great beauty from Akita, Tatsuko Hime, sleeps in the water's deep, disguised as a dragon. The lake never freezes over in winter because Tatsuko Hime and her dragon husband churn the water with their passionate lovemaking. The less romantic, scientific reason is that Tazawa-ko has been measured to a depth of 1,397 feet, which prevents it from freezing. Though clear enough to allow you to see a startling 300 feet or more down into it, the mineral-blue water is too acidic to support anything but one type of hardy fish (you can buy food to feed them near the statue of Tatsuko Hime or when renting a paddleboat).

A scenic 20-km-long (12-mile-long) two-lane road is perfect for biking. Bicycles can be rented at the bus station near JR Tazawako Station, but you can also take a bus (timed with the arrivals of trains) to the lake and rent bicycles there for a relaxing ride around it. In winter the Tazawa area is a popular downhill-skiing destination, and the deep blue of the lake is dazzling from the lifts and trails.

With an astonishing variety of artfully placed flowers and trees, shady groves, and streams made of repurposed moats, this expansive park is large and varied enough to get lost in. It's also a good place for a romantic walk. In 1597, the 26th Lord of Nambu had a fine castle built here, but that was all destroyed, leaving only the still impressive stone walls. (It was previously known as, simply, "Iwate Park," but you won't find it using Google maps without the new official name.)

A UNESCO World Heritage site, Motsu Temple's main buildings were destroyed by the fire that consumed much of the area in 1226. Nevertheless, its remaining Heian-Period Jodo Garden still provides beautiful scenery and gives unique views and rare glimpses at the foundations of its once-great structures. Even the new (1989) main hall was built to reflect the Heian roots of the temple.

Buses leave JR Tsuruoka Station and S-Mall in summer for the nearly two-hour trip (¥2,140) to the Gassan Hachigome stop. Make sure to check the schedules with the tourist information center as they change seasonally, don't necessarily run every day, and sometimes have expresses. From there you can hike three hours past the glaciers and wildflowers to the 6,500-foot summit of Gassan, literally Moon Mountain—the highest of the three holy Dewa mountains. From the top you can see the whole gorgeous gallery of mountains that is Yamagata, including one called Mt. Chokai—also known as Dewa Fuji for its perfect shape. These holy mountains, are, of course, littered with religious sites. It's not possible to climb without snowshoes and winter gear from November to late April or May.

The climb up Mt. Haguro begins at the red Zuishin Gate (Zuishin-mon), then goes up 2,446 or so stone steps to the summit. See if you can spot all the little engravings scattered here and there on the steps. The strenuous ascent cuts through ancient cedar trees that rise to dominate the sky. You'll pass a 14th-century pagoda before the steps. A tea shop is open in warmer months between late April through October. The trail is just over 1.7 km (about 1 mile) in all, and it may take you an hour or more to reach the 1,400-foot summit with its thatched-roof shrine, Dewa-Sanzan Jinja. Up to 12 buses a day make the 35-minute trip to Zuishin Gate and up to the peak of Haguro from JR Tsuruoka Station. It is possible to stay overnight on the mountain at the Sai-kan lodge, which is attached by a long stairway to Dewa-Sanzan Jinja.