Regions / 地方

Tōhoku 東北

山と祭りの里

Japan's rugged north — samurai strongholds, blazing summer festivals, and a coastline still rebuilding after tragedy.

東北

北海道東北関東中部関西中国四国九州沖縄

Capital

Sendai 仙台

Area

66,952 km²

Climate

Cool winters with heavy snow · mild summers · cherry blossoms late April

Best season

Apr–May (cherry blossoms) · Aug (Nebuta festival)

Overview 概要

Tōhoku is Japan's less-traveled north — six prefectures of rice paddies, apple orchards, and mountain ranges that isolated the region for centuries and gave it a strong, independent identity. Sendai, the largest city, is known as the "City of Trees" for its tree-lined boulevards. Summers bring some of Japan's most spectacular festivals, from Aomori's Nebuta floats to Akita's Kantō festival, while winters blanket the region in snow that feeds its many onsen towns. The 2011 earthquake and tsunami devastated much of the Pacific coast, and the region's ongoing recovery is part of its story today — coastal towns like Ishinomaki and Rikuzentakata welcome visitors interested in both memorial sites and renewal.

Must-see highlights 見どころ

Interactive — drag, click a photo, or press ←→ Space to let it wander on its own, Enter to enlarge, S to hear the name, 1–9 to jump

WHAT YOU'LL SEE この順に

01 / 05

Regional cuisine 郷土料理

6 dishes — a waterfall of cards with the full text; tap any photo to see it full size. Jump here with F

01 Gyūtan (Sendai Beef Tongue) 牛タン Grilled, thinly sliced ox tongue; Sendai's signature dish, usually served with barley rice and oxtail soup.

02 Wanko Soba わんこそば Iwate's bottomless soba tradition, where servers keep refilling your bowl until you cover it to signal you're done.

03 Kiritanpo きりたんぽ Akita specialty of mashed rice formed around a skewer and grilled, then simmered in a hot pot with chicken and vegetables.

04 Sasa Kamaboko 笹かまぼこ Leaf-shaped grilled fish cake, a Sendai souvenir staple.

05 Aomori Apples 青森りんご Japan's top apple-producing prefecture, prized for their size and sweetness.

06 Zunda Mochi ずんだ餅 Mochi covered in a sweet mashed edamame paste, another Sendai specialty.

Festivals & events 祭り

4 festivals, and two seasons to plan around — jump here with M, on to the game with G

01 Nebuta Matsuri

ねぶた祭

Early August — Aomori's iconic festival: giant illuminated warrior floats paraded through the streets

02 Akita Kantō Matsuri

秋田竿燈まつり

Early August — performers balance long poles hung with dozens of lit lanterns on their palms, shoulders, and foreheads

03 Sendai Tanabata

仙台七夕まつり

Early August — star festival famous for enormous, elaborate paper streamers hung throughout the city

04 Hanagasa Matsuri

山形花笠まつり

Early August — Yamagata dancers in flower-decorated straw hats parade through the streets

冬 / Fuyu

12月–3月

December to March

Some of the heaviest snowfall on earth buries the mountains here — Zao's juhyō "snow monsters" and steaming onsen towns are worth the cold. Pack for it.

夏 / Natsu

7月–8月

July and August

Festival season: Nebuta, Tanabata and Kantō light up the short northern summer. Nights cool off fast in the mountains, so bring a layer for the evening events.

Let's play 東北で遊ぼう

8 rounds — Tōhoku food, places and festivals, every round with a photo. Press Start, then answer in English. Listen with the speaker button any time.

ROUND 1/08

SCORE 0

STREAK 0

TIME 15

First run

Getting there アクセス

Sendai is Tōhoku's main hub, roughly 90 minutes from Tokyo on the Tōhoku Shinkansen — making it an easy day trip or gateway before heading further north. The Shinkansen continues on to Morioka, Akita, and Aomori, so most of the region is reachable without a car. That said, coastal areas and smaller onsen towns often have limited train service, and renting a car opens up far more of the region, especially in Iwate and Yamagata. Sendai Airport also has direct flights from other parts of Japan and a few international routes.