From Singapore, Manila & Bangkok
Plan Your Trip
Tohoku is closer than you think. Here is everything you need to arrive prepared and leave changed.
Getting Here
Fly in. Step onto the Shinkansen.
Singapore
~9 hrs flight + 2 hrs train
SIN → NRT/HND → Shinkansen → Sendai
Daily direct flights on JAL, ANA, Singapore Airlines
Manila
~4 hrs flight + 2 hrs train
MNL → NRT/HND → Shinkansen → Sendai
Daily direct flights on Philippine Airlines, ANA
Bangkok
~6 hrs flight + 2 hrs train
BKK → NRT → Shinkansen → Sendai
Multiple daily flights on Thai Airways, ANA, JAL
When to Come
Every season has its reason
Spring
Late April — Early May
Cherry blossoms peak in Hirosaki. Crowds are a fraction of Kyoto. Cool, clear days.
Summer
Late July — August
Nebuta Festival (Aomori, early Aug). Lush forests. Warm but manageable heat.
Autumn
Mid October — Mid November
Foliage peaks ahead of the rest of Japan. Sake season opens. Harvest meals.
Winter
January — February
Zao snow monsters. Ginzan Onsen buried in snow. Japan's most atmospheric landscape.
● = recommended intensity for first-time Tohoku visitors
Suggested Itineraries
Routes through the north
5 Nights
First-timer
Tokyo → Sendai → Matsushima → Ginzan Onsen → Yamadera → Tokyo
UNESCO heritage, the iconic onsen village, and mountain temples
7 Nights
Deep Tohoku
Tokyo → Sendai → Hiraizumi → Kakunodate → Nyuto Onsen → Hirosaki → Aomori → Tokyo
Samurai towns, gold temples, mountain hot springs, and the deep north
10 Nights
Connoisseur
Tokyo → Sendai → Matsushima → Oirase Gorge → Towada → Aomori → Hirosaki → Kakunodate → Tazawako → Nyuto Onsen → Hiraizumi → Sendai → Tokyo
The complete Tohoku circuit — forests, festivals, onsen, and ancient gold
Custom itineraries available — contact us via Instagram DM or email.
Before You Go
Six things to know
Transport
JR Pass
Purchase before you leave home. A 14-day JR Pass covers all Shinkansen travel within Tohoku and between Tokyo and Tohoku. Essential for multi-city itineraries.
Logistics
Sendai as your base
Sendai (仙台) is Tohoku's largest city — well-connected by Shinkansen from Tokyo (1.5 hrs) and with direct flights from some Asian cities. Most ryokan are 1–2 hrs away.
Accommodation
Book ryokan early
The finest ryokan — Ginzan Onsen, Nyuto Onsen, Naruko Onsen — sell out 3–6 months in advance for peak seasons. Book before your flights.
Money
Cash still matters
Rural Tohoku is cash-preferred. Many onsen towns and small restaurants do not accept credit cards. Keep ¥50,000–100,000 in cash for countryside travel.
Transport
Rent a car outside cities
Tohoku's most beautiful places — Oirase Gorge, Towada Lake, Oga Peninsula — are best reached by rental car. International licences are accepted.
Packing
Temperature swings
Tohoku is colder than Tokyo year-round. Winter temperatures can reach −15°C at mountain onsen. Summer evenings are cool. Always bring layers.
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Before Everyone Else Discovers Tohoku
Seasonal guides, hidden experiences, and stories from the field — delivered quietly.