Culture History of Hiraizumi Andrew Checkley This quiet corner of Iwate was once the cultural and commercial heart of nearly a third of Japan.
Beauty & Spa Bears and Beer in Iwate Prefecture Nathan Palmer This hotel brewery complex has excellent cuisine, an idillic setting, hots springs and some superb locally brewed beers on tap...
10 Activities Akita's Lake Tazawa Jessee Lyman Lake Tazawa in Akita Prefecture is another stunning example of the natural beauty of northern Japan. Hiking, boating, eating, or..
Area Hirosaki A castle town turned small city, Hirosaki is bigger than the rural towns most frequent in outer Aomori, but smaller than the regional capital. You’ll have to go a fair way off the beaten track..
Activities Kamo Aquarium in Tsuruoka Rashaad Jorden Kamo Aquarium has grown in popularity—in large part due to its vast collection of jellyfish.
Accommodation Osawa Onsen, Hanamaki Aric Denfield Osawa Onsen, in the verdant hills of Iwate, is more than just a hot spring hotel, it's a retreat and a snapshot of Japan from..
7 Activities Zao is Snow Monster Paradise Josef Diermair One ski place I like a lot is Zao. Located in the north, on the border between Yamagata Prefectureand Miyagi Prefecture, it's..
11 Activities Ice Monsters in Zao Onsen Nicole Bauer Every winter, in the well-known ski resort Zao Onsen in Yamagata Prefecture, you can witness the creation of the very rare and truly..