Tohoku

Japan's Tohoku region boasts untouched rural landscapes, historical landmarks, exciting summer outdoor activities, and an abundance of powder snow during winter.

Japan's northeastern wilderness is a huge region encompassing six rural prefectures, bound together by custom, heritage and recent tragedy. The devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck in 2011 brought out the resilient nature of Tohoku's people, and local passion and pride are putting the area back on its feet. There's a lot to be proud of—dramatic landscapes, history-rich sites, craft sake and a host of outdoor activities like rafting, hiking and skiing. Much more rural than Tokyo yet more developed than Hokkaido, the Tohoku region makes for exciting excursions from the capital and memorable side trips on the journey to the northernmost region of Japan's main islands.