Shrines, museums, parks, and the spots in between, with the access details worked out.
Lake Tazawa, Semboku, Akita, is Japan's deepest lake at 423 meters, a caldera lake known for its clear blue waters and the golden statue of Tatsuko.
Semboku · AkitaBuilt between 1604 and 1607 under Date Masamune, this shrine showcases Momoyama-era architecture with an intricate main hall designated as a National Treasure.
Sendai · MiyagiOne of three major Kumano shrines in Japan, Kumano Taisha was established in 806 and is known as the Ise Shrine of the North for its significance.
Nanyo · YamagataThis Yonezawa park preserves castle ruins dating to the 17th century and features scenic views alongside cherry blossoms in spring.
Yonezawa · YamagataHirosaki Park features cherry blossom trees, a castle with moat, temples, shrines, and recreational activities including boating and picnicking.
Hirosaki · AomoriA gorge in Miyagi cut a hundred metres deep by the Otani River, walled with pale rock and walked by riverside paths from spring to late autumn.
Osaki · MiyagiSeven old farmhouses of the Nanbu type moved to a valley in Iwate and kept as a working village, with horses, paddies and a water mill.
Tono · IwateA limestone cave in Fukushima with 600 metres open to walk, holding an unusual range of formations, including a rare disc-shaped shield.
Tamura · FukushimaThe highest of the three mountains of Dewa in Yamagata, sacred to the moon god, with a shrine at the summit that opens only in high summer.
Tsuruoka · YamagataA Tendai temple of 860 built up a rock face in Yamagata, its halls reached by a stone stairway, and the place of Basho's poem about cicadas.
YamagataGuardian shrine of Aomori dedicated to the Three Goddesses of Munakata, with a sacred spring and historic remains including haiku stones by Matsuo Basho.
AomoriYamagata's main administrative center offering public services, local event information, and a gallery featuring works by regional artists and photographers.
YamagataTourist information center in Hirosaki, housed in a traditional Japanese building with a garden, offering maps, bookings, free Wi-Fi and news of local events.
Hirosaki · AomoriAlso known as Tsuruga Castle, this 14th century Fukushima fortress was destroyed in the 1868 Boshin War and later reconstructed as a museum.
Aizuwakamatsu · FukushimaAn ancient fortress built in 724 CE that served as the northern capital of the Yamato Empire and administrative center for Mutsu Province.
Tagajo · MiyagiA reconstructed fortress in Aomori Prefecture built in 1334 that controlled regional trade routes and served as a base for the Southern Court.
Hachinohe · AomoriHistoric post town restored to its Edo-period appearance with traditional thatched-roof houses lining its streets.
Shimogo · FukushimaSendai Toshogu Shrine, established in 1654 to honor Tokugawa Ieyasu, stands out among Japan's Toshogu shrines for its scale and beauty.
Sendai · Miyagi
