Oishida Festival Matsuri
The small town of Oishida goes all out during their Oishida Matsuri, a summer festival featuring fireworks and exuberant traditional dance.
Locations
Each prefecture, area, city and town all have their own unique characteristics. Explore each area's hidden wonders by its location here.
Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata City / Murayama Region
As capital of the prefecture and home to Yamagata’s largest metropolitan population, Yamagata City has no shortage of activities, cuisine, nightlife, and lodging accommodations, as well as a variety of sightseeing and historic points of interest to keep visitors busy. The Murayama region includes Yamagata city and other cities and many of this region’s top sightseeing locations are found here.
Sakata, Tsuruoka / Shonai Region
Blessed with towering mountains, vast open plains, and long stretches of rich coastline in Tsuruoka city and a highly influential historic port with delicious seafood and historical, cultural gems in Sakata city, the Shonai Region has an absolute treasure trove of hidden gems to explore.
Okitama Region
The Okitama Region is an area of southern Yamagata, consisting of the municipalities and surrounding agricultural lands of the Okitama Basin, cradled to the south, east, west by vast mountain ranges. Okitama is replete with not only the quintessential scenic and culinary charms of the pastoral Japanese countryside, but also pristine wilderness, as shown in cities in the region like Nagai City.
Mogami Region
The north of Yamagata Prefecture also has stunning gems to be discovered.
Ginzan Onsen
Ginzan Onsen is a picture perfect hot spring town nestled in the mountains in the deep countryside of Yamagata Prefecture.
Explore, Unwind, Connect: Discover Nature’s Wonders in Mogami
Explore nature’s wonders in the Mogami region of northeastern Japan on this 2-day, 1-night tour, including a riverboat cruise and trekking to an ancient forest.
Miyagi Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
Stretching along the Sea of Japan for over three hundred kilometers, Niigata Prefecture feels a world away from the crowds and rush of Tokyo. And yet, it is accessible by bullet train from Tokyo in just a little over an hour. Niigata is probably best known for snow and sake, but is also home to lesser-known attractions that make a visit here a fascinating journey for those seeking deep experiences and memorable moments off the beaten path.
Other prefectures
Samurai Armor Dressing Experience at Shiroishi Castle
Step into the world of samurai warriors and feel the spirit of history as you become a Sengoku warlord for a day.
Matsushima
There simply isn’t a view quite like this anywhere else in the country. Matsushima is more than simply a beautiful bay filled with stunning rock formations. The mainland town is also home to centuries of Buddhist culture, samurai history, and incredible seafood, making it a day trip from Sendai you won’t want to miss.
The Samurai Town of Shiroishi
Nestled at the foot of the Zao Mountain Range in southern Miyagi Prefecture is the historic castle town of Shiroishi, a community deeply tied to the legacy of the Katakura Clan and the samurai spirit of Japan’s feudal past.
Ishinomaki Culinary Adventure
On this private sea-to-table culinary adventure tour, experience the bounty of the Sanriku fishing grounds just off the coast of Ishinomaki for yourself! Fish, fry, flambe, and feast your way through this all-day immersive experience.
Nakajimadai
Nakajimadai is a beautiful beech forest and wetland area featuring easy nature trails. It is located at the base of Mount Chokai in Akita.
Private Performance: Hayakawa-ryu Suzunome Yatsushika Odori deer dance
Enjoy a private performance of the Yatsu Shika Odori deer dance, a folk performing art from the Kurihara Ichihasama area with a 400-year history, which has been registered as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Miyagi Prefecture.