Tohoku Area, Japan 2025 Preface

 

JR East Pass for Tohoku Area

The Tohoku Area (東北地方, Tōhoku-chihō), also known as Northeast Japan, is a distinct geographical and historical region that makes up the northern portion of Honshu, Japan's largest island. Have been Tokyo and Osaka/Kyoto. Time to explore areas outside of these two.

The Tohoku region is formally defined as comprising six prefectures (ken). With JR's multi-days unlimited rides, it is a bargain to cover some of the area before a deep dive exploration. Above is a five days paass. Enough to cover Aomori, Sendai, and Fukushima. Since it is Nov, it is likely to see the foliage somewhere along the line.

Tohoku's definition is rooted in its geography, climate, and history, which distinguish it from the rest of Japan:

• Geography: It is dominated by the Ōu Mountains (奥羽山脈), the longest mountain range in Japan, which runs north-to-south and divides the region into an eastern Pacific side and a western Sea of Japan side. This rugged topography historically made travel difficult and contributed to unique regional development.

• Climate: The region is known for its harsh and heavy snowfall in the winter, especially on the Sea of Japan side, which has shaped the culture, architecture, and lifestyle.

• Historical Name: Historically, the region was often called Michinoku (みちのく), which roughly means "the end of the road" or "the country deep down the road," reflecting its remote location relative to the ancient imperial capital regions of Kyoto and Nara.

• Culture: It is famous for its distinctive traditions and festivals (matsuri), such as the Nebuta Festival in Aomori, the Kanto Festival in Akita, and the Tanabata Festival in Sendai.

• Economy: It is often referred to as the "rice granary of Japan" due to its expansive rice cultivation.

The plan is to enter from Narita, Tokyo; train to Sandai the 2nd day; Aomori the 3rd; Matsushima the 4th; Koriyama the 5th; Nikko the 6th; and back to Tokyo. I'll divide the trip in several blogs. So each blog is short and easy to view.

First night stay in Saitama because it is cheaper (outside of the urban area) and close to the Omiya - the train station we will start the 2nd day. Dinner is tuna tail (below) in a nearby diner. The full set is 900 yen! Very tasty and special.

Tuna tail

Picu up some dessert nearby.

The second day, pick up the rice balls in front of the train station before getting on the train.

Plum, Kelp, and Fish eggs

Ticket from Omiya to Sendai

Although Shinkansen seats do not always require a reservation, it is highly recommended on most routes for a peace of mind.

Thought: There are direct flights from TPE to Sendai. But I prefre Narita. It is also possible to get on the train from Tokyo to Sendai the 1st day if you only have limited days. The JR ticket office at the airport is where you can pickup your pass and all the reservations you made in advance (isn't that wonderful!).

Continue to the next part Day 2.