Travel to northeastern Japan and indulge in the delights of the palate and serene landscapes

The Tohoku region of Japan is an off-the-beaten-path travel destination. Though not heavily hyped by the media, it boasts tranquil and lesser-known scenic beauty... Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures are picturesque and steeped in history. Two travel enthusiasts embarked on in-depth journeys through Fukushima, Iwate, and Miyagi, savoring a variety of unique local cuisines from the Tohoku countryside, enjoying the pleasures of the palate and the serene beauty of small towns.

Now, let’s follow in the footsteps of these two travel enthusiasts as we explore the three prefectures of Tohoku and experience a different side of Japan.

Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and traversed by the Ou Mountains to the west, endowing the prefecture with abundant marine and agricultural resources. Its historical legacy has also left behind numerous cultural sites. Visiting here allows you to appreciate both the charm of history and culture and enjoy authentic, delicious local cuisine.

Fukushima Prefecture · Aizu-Wakamatsu City

With a history of over 700 years, Aizu-Wakamatsu is a charming city full of historical character. It was once the castle town of the prominent Aizu Domain and is known as the last stronghold of the samurai. Many of the city’s buildings retain their original appearance, and strolling through its streets can make you momentarily forget the sense of time.

Aizu lacks skyscrapers and appears simple and unadorned. Shichijo Street in the city flourished immensely during the Meiji era as a key transportation hub, but unfortunately, as the focus of urban development shifted and the population declined, so did the number of tourists. However, time has also bestowed upon Shichijo a serene tranquility. Today, Shichijo has few shops and no bustling crowds, offering instead a peaceful, lived-in street atmosphere that allows visitors from afar to find moments of reflection.

Akabeko isthe mascot ofAizu-Wakamatsu City. Its head can bob up and down and sway from side to side,and its adorable appearancemakes it very endearing. Locals believe it can ward off evil and bring protection.

Fukushima Prefecture · Ouchijuku

Ouchijuku is one of the few remaining villages in Japan that preserves the look and feel of the Edo period. Nestled in a remote mountain area, its thatched-roof houses and streets remain just as they were in olden times. During the Edo era, it was famous for its many soba noodle shops, inns, and souvenir stores, though its prominence later declined. It wasn’t until the Showa era that it regained attention as a protected historical Edo-period village.

Ouchijuku still retains many thatched-roof dwellings. The soft, warm autumn sunlight bathes the thatched houses one by one, truly making it feel like you’ve stepped into an old Japanese post town. Wandering through here, you might feel as if you’ve traveled back in time.

The old town is rich in traditional Japanese folk culture, and some cute little ornaments can be bought as souvenirs.

Ouchijuku was once famous for its many soba noodle inns, so when visiting, you must try the local soba noodles.Negi soba is the most distinctive dish here. The owner of a restaurant called “Mizusawa-ya” in Ouchijuku places a single leek on top of the soba noodles in place of chopsticks, symbolizing a long and healthy life — growing as slender and long as the leek, even sprouting white flowers at the tips. Hence the fame of"negi soba"was born. A whole, long, tender white leek is placed atop a bowl of soba, and you can either eat the leek directly or tear it into small pieces to dip into your noodles.

Fukushima Prefecture · Kitakata City

Kitakata City is a municipality in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, known forits collection of over4000kura storehouses built between the Edo and Showa periods located in the outskirts. This areawas once Japan’s breadbasket, leading to the construction of many warehouses for grain storage. Even today,2000numerous storehouses remain, showcasing a variety of styles and exuding a strong sense of nostalgia.

Walking through the streets feels like stepping into a time machine, as the area has preserved the original appearance of the storehouses. Nowadays, however, many of the interiors have been repurposed as museums, art galleries, and restaurants.

Fukushima Prefecture · Koriyama

Lake Inawashiro in Kōriyama is located near the center of Fukushima Prefecture and is the4fourth largest lake in Japan, boasting water transparency that ranks among the best in the world. Formed by volcanic activity from Mount Bandai tens of thousands of years ago, the lake has acidic, oligotrophic water with sparse aquatic plants and algae, as well as no large fish. This helps maintain its clear and pristine water quality, reflecting the majestic beauty of Mount Bandai in all four seasons, hence it is also known as“the "Heavenly Mirror Lake."”.

Centered around Nagahama on the northern shore, visitors flock to Lake Inawashiro year-round to enjoy fresh greenery and wild birds in spring, camping, boating, and swimming in summer, crimson foliage in autumn, and the migration of Siberian white birds in winter. Each season offers unique charm.

Kōriyama City is located in the central part of Fukushima Prefecture, with the Abukuma River flowing from south to north through the city center. The city boasts a vast area and is the largest in Fukushima Prefecture. Its signature dish, maru-gyoza (round gyoza), features thick-skinned dumplings with plenty of vegetables in the filling, arranged in a ring shape on a pan for cooking. Once cooked, they are served in their circular form on a plate, releasing an inviting aroma and offering a delicious taste.

Now let’s talk about the Abukuma Cave, a massive limestone cave that stretches600meters and took eighty million years to form. Inside, there is a dazzling variety of stalactites and stalagmites, creating a dreamlike spectacle. The cave’s lighting enhances the already spectacular rock formations, making the overall visual experience even more stunning—it feels like a magnificent gift from nature, meticulously carved over millennia to reveal indescribable beauty.

The scenery outside Abukuma Cave is especially beautiful in late autumn, with a vibrant collision of colors that captivates the eye and makes you not want to leave.

Iwate Prefecture

Morioka City · Koishi Farm

The expansive Iwate Prefecture is a major agricultural and forestry hub in Japan, and the120year-old integrated farm——Koishi Farm is situated at the foot of Mount Iwate. At the farm, you can try your hand at milking cows, herding sheep, and horseback riding, as well as sample local specialties such as egg omelets, grilled lamb, and soft-serve ice cream. In winter, it serves as a venue for the“Iwate Snow Festival,”attracting large crowds and lively festivities. In spring and autumn, the blooming cherry blossoms and colorful foliage create breathtaking views.

The farm is perfect for family outings.~

Morioka City · Jōseki Site Park

Located in the northern part of the Kitakami Basin in central Iwate Prefecture, Morioka City is the administrative, economic, and cultural center of the prefecture..Morioka developed as a "jōkamachi" (castle town) centered around Morioka Castle, which was built between the 16 th and 17 th centuries. The ruins of the castle have now become the present-day Morioka Castle SiteRuinsPark. In11October, the park is ablaze with autumn leaves—vivid red maples and golden ginkgos.……

Morioka · Food

Morioka is known in Japan as the "City of Noodles," and its three most representative noodle dishes are soba (buckwheat noodles), ja ja men (spicy Chinese-style noodles), and reimen (cold noodles). Reimen originated from Pyongyang in the Korean Peninsula. Korean residents in Morioka, longing for their hometown cuisine, introduced Korean cold noodles at their barbecue restaurants, which eventually evolved into Morioka’s reimen. Chewy, sticky, elastic, and refreshingly cold, reimen is especially popular in the summer.

Daitōen’s Maesawa beef is one of Japan’s most renowned types of beef and a specialty of Iwate Prefecture. The selection process is extremely strict: only Japanese Black cattle are used; calves must have birthplace registration with the Japan Cattle Traceability Association; the fattening period must be at least one year; and there must be a comprehensive individual cattle identification and traceability system. In short, the standards are rigorous, and the meat is exceptionally delicious—how can you visit Iwate without trying Maesawa beef?

Iwate Prefecture · Hanamaki City

Hanamaki is a park city in central-western Iwate Prefecture, centered around a hot spring area scattered along the Taishō River and Yunodani valleys, tributaries of the Kitakami River.

The main attractions in Hanamaki are Hanamaki Onsen and the Kenji Miyazawa Memorial Museum.

Hanamaki Onsen gushes forth from the valleys along the Ou Mountains.11There are [number missing] hot springs here. With one of the largest scales in northeastern Japan, comfortable facilities, and enduring popularity since ancient times, the hot springs here have a unique charm.

Beyond the hot springs, Hanamaki is also famous as the birthplace of20the early 20th-century fairy tale writer Kenji Miyazawa.

Kenji Miyazawa’s numerous poems and fairy tales, known for their clear linguistic sensibility, unrestrained imagination, and profound insight into civilization, remain beloved by many readers. Within Hanamaki City, there are sites such as the Kenji Miyazawa Memorial Museum and the Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village, built based on his stories.

Iwate Prefecture · Ōshū City

Naruko Gorge is located in Ōshū City, Miyagi Prefecture. It is a V-shaped grand canyon formed by river erosion, with a depth of100metersVand2.5kilometers of sheer cliffs and clear streams. The mountains are home to various tree species such as maple and pine. From10late [month missing] to11early [month missing], the mountains are ablaze with spectacular autumn foliage, accented by green and golden hues. Streams, waterfalls, canyons, and walking paths make this a truly enchanting destination.

The Naruko Onsen Village is located in northern Miyagi Prefecture in Japan’s Tohoku region. Surrounded by mountains and blessed with scenic beauty, this hot spring village boasts a rich variety of spring qualities, with nearly400springs in total. Most ryokan (Japanese inns) have their own private springs. Out of Japan’s11types of hot spring qualities,9are found in the Naruko Onsen Village.

Miyagi Prefecture0?/span>Sendai

Many people come to know Sendai through Lu Xun.In “Mr. Fujino,” he wrote: “Sendai is a small town; it’s very cold in winter; and there were no other Chinese students.” Follow in the footsteps of Lu Xun and visit Sendai.

Sendai · Matsushima

“The finest scenery in Japan, comparable to Dongting Lake and West Lake,” Japanese haiku master Matsuo Bashō once praised Matsushima. The bay is dotted with charming islands, offering views of the representative beauty of a Japanese bay across all four seasons. Matsushima also features historical sites imbued with the culture of the Date clan, such as Zuigan-ji Temple, Godaidō Hall, Entsu-in Temple, Tenrin-in Temple, and Kanrantei Pavilion.

The autumn leaves at night are stunningly beautiful.~

Matsushima also has abundant cultural tourism facilities. Popular spots include the Matsushima Aquarium, the Mutsu Idate Masamune History Museum, the Belgian Music Box Museum, and the Fujita Kohei Glass Art Museum.

Kyoto’s elegance, the fashion of Tokyo and Osaka, the beauty of Mount Fuji, the romance of Hokkaido… These may already be well-known as Japan’s iconic travel destinations. But when you walk tirelessly through bustling cities, immersed in neon lights and nightlife, you might not realize that just beyond lies a tranquil world of quiet branches and perched birds—offering a completely different kind of charm.

If you’re already drawn to Japan’s Tohoku region, if you’re struggling to find more travel information, or if you want to explore more detailed travel guides, then you must not miss the Japan National Tourism Organization’s exciting journey, “A Weekend in Japan.” Experienced by8travel enthusiasts who explored deeply, it takes you across Kyushu and Tohoku, experiencing the most authentic local food and scenery. Search “A Weekend in Japan” on Baidu now to learn more travel information.