Travel guides for Hokkaido and Tohoku region (Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima)
Discover Hirosaki Castle in Aomori — home to 2,600 cherry trees, one of Japan’s 12 original castle towers, and the famous hanaikada flower raft. This complete guide covers when to visit, how to get there, where to eat and stay, and everything first-time visitors need to know about Japan’s most breathtaking cherry blossom destination.
Ginzan Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture is one of Japan’s most beautiful and atmospheric destinations. This fairy-tale village of historic wooden ryokan, gas lanterns, and steaming hot springs is set deep in the mountains of Tohoku and transforms into a magical snow scene in winter. Our complete guide covers how to get there, where to stay, onsen etiquette for first-timers, the best seasons to visit, what to eat, day trip options, and a full budget breakdown for every type of traveller.
Discover Noboribetsu Onsen, Hokkaido’s most famous hot spring resort. This complete guide covers the nine spring types, Jigokudani Hell Valley, the best ryokan and hotels, kaiseki cuisine, getting there from Sapporo, the best times to visit, onsen etiquette for first-timers, and practical planning tips for an unforgettable Hokkaido hot spring experience.
Sapporo is the gateway to Hokkaido and Japan’s most underrated big city. This complete first-timer’s guide covers how to get there, where to stay, what to eat, the legendary Snow Festival, day trips to Otaru and Niseko, and a detailed FAQ. Includes prices in yen and USD plus seasonal advice for every month.
A complete first-timer guide to Furano and Biei in central Hokkaido — Japan’s most beautiful summer countryside. Plan a visit around the iconic lavender fields of Farm Tomita, Biei’s patchwork hills, the otherworldly Shirogane Blue Pond, the Panorama and Patchwork driving routes, where to stay, what to eat (Furano melon, Biei corn, soup curry, fresh dairy), and how to fit it all into a wider Hokkaido itinerary. Includes seasonal guide, practical tips, FAQ, budget breakdown, and the best ways to get there from Sapporo or New Chitose Airport.
Matsushima, one of Japan’s Three Views (Nihon Sankei), is a breathtaking bay in Miyagi Prefecture dotted with 260 pine-covered islands. This complete guide covers how to get there from Tokyo and Sendai, what to see including Zuiganji Temple and Godaido, the famous local oysters, the best time to visit, where to stay, and practical tips for first-time visitors.
Discover Iwate Prefecture: UNESCO World Heritage temples at Hiraizumi, wanko soba in Morioka, ancient folklore at Tono, and the dramatic Sanriku Coast.