Travel Akita with “Mikka” and take the inland line to see the Aoni tree ice

Japan, with its distinct four seasons, is gearing up for the vibrant cherry blossom season. This wave of sakura front will gradually move northward from the southernmost Okinawa. Although the beauty of spring cherry blossoms can already be seen from mid- to late March, Japan’s “back garden”—the Tohoku region—still offers snow-covered landscapes like a silver-white world until the end of March. Especially in Akita Prefecture, located in a heavy snowfall zone, the season is in full bloom with brilliant, thick snow.

To promote Akita’s snowy scenery and winter tourism events, Mikka the Akita Dog, the head of the Akita Office in Taiwan, shared her secret snow-viewing spot “Take the Inland Line to See the Aoni Tree Ice” in the newly launched travelogue “A Little Snow Trip.” She also visited the filming location of the Korean drama IRIS, which enjoys extremely high ratings in Korea, exploring the romantic scenes of the lead actors Lee Byung-hun and Kim Tae-hee. The newly trending Akita sightseeing landmark “Ugo Town” has also made it onto Mikka’s travelogue, allowing readers to experience the buzz around the new hotspot of vintage houses and manga culture.

The ultra-popular Korean drama IRIS filmed in Akita last year. After airing in Korea, its viewership rating soared to nearly 40%, setting a new record and sparking a surge in Korean tourists visiting Akita. This March, IRIS is set to premiere in Japan, and the charm of the male lead Lee Byung-hun and female lead Kim Tae-hee is expected to ignite another wave of Akita tourism. Taking advantage of her local insights, Mikka the head of the office gives everyone an exclusive look at the IRIS filming locations, taking you deep into the romantic spots left by the lead characters: from the romantic date at the Crane’s Hot Spring mixed bathing facility, to the scene where they embrace tightly in front of the Tatsuko Statue at Lake Tazawa, and even the room at the Lake Tazawa ISCHIA Hotel where they stayed and filmed, all of which have been preserved just as they were during shooting, including items used by actor Lee Byung-hun. Guests can view these by staying overnight.

The Akita Inland Railway is a famous sightseeing train in Japan, running from Yonesaka in the north to Kakunodate Station in the south. It is hailed as one of Japan’s most beautiful and pristine scenic railways. The small retro-style train, consisting of only two cars, travels daily through the fields, plains, and mountainous areas of Akita Prefecture. The Aoni Station along the route leads to the Aoni Ski Area, where you can see the tree ice. The Aoni tree ice, visible until the end of March this year, is accessible by taking the Akita Inland Line.

Recently, Ugo Town in Akita Prefecture has become a hot spot, thanks to a young man named Takahiro Yamauchi who used a manga beauty marketing strategy to promote local tourism, attracting a large number of young visitors. Takahiro Yamauchi not only paired manga beauties with the nationally treasured historic residence of the Suzuki family to create postcards and posters, but also launched Akita rice packaged with images of manga beauties, achieving astonishing promotional results. For more information about Akita, visit the “Mikka Diplomacy Project.”

→Click here: Return to the Attractions homepage

→Click here: Read more travel news

Read more: Taste Akita’s Dreamy Native Chicken (Provided by Tripass Attractions)