Because of residing in Tohoku, northern Japan, I’ve the chance to discover this particular land with majestic mountains and rugged coastlines. Tohoku’s large cities, usually Sendai – the capital of Miyagi Prefecture, are full of recent facilities however nonetheless have a pleasant ambiance like that of a small city. In Tohoku, my favourite season is winter. In winter, Tohoku’s surroundings is roofed with white snow, as lovely as popping out of a fairy story. In case you come to Tohoku in winter, don’t overlook to study concerning the delicacies. Strive having fun with luxurious meals with Matsushima oysters, snow crab, fugu pufferfish, hen hotpot and kiritanpo nabe rice or go down the road to seek out gyu-tan grilled beef tongue and plenty of different distinctive delicacies!
Tip: Make the most of the handy JR East (Tohoku Space) move to discover the world of snow and winter life within the Tohoku area! Ticket JR East Go (Tohoku Space) offers you 5 days of limitless journey on JR trains and sure bus routes, from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori.
Go to cute foxes in Miyagi
First, go to Sendai metropolis, Miyagi prefecture. Sendai is a crucial transportation hub that can assist you discover the Tohoku area as a result of the town is a part of the vacation spot community of Shinkansen bullet practice traces connecting Tokyo to Hokkaido. When my pals come to Sendai, I at all times take them there Zao Fox Village. We’ll use the JR East Go, get off at Shiroishizao station after which take a taxi for about 20 minutes to Zao Fox Village. This is among the cutest locations you’ll be able to go to with about 100 cute naturally raised foxes. Watching mischievous foxes with orange fur operating round within the snow or holding a bit of fox in your arms will soften your coronary heart.
Sendai is legendary for gyutan-yaki grilled beef tongue. To organize this scrumptious dish, beef tongue will likely be incubated first to deliver out the flavour, then seasoned and grilled over charcoal. Sendai has about 100 eating places specializing in gyutan-yaki.
Return in time in Fukushima
Once I first got here to the traditional village of Ouchi-juku, I believed it was a film set! Throughout the Edo interval (1603-1867), Ouchi-juku was primarily a put up city serving vacationers. Immediately, greater than 30 historical buildings from this era are nonetheless preserved intact. Ouchi-juku’s principal road is lined with lovely conventional homes with thatched roofs. The village scene appears extra magical than ever within the winter snow. The homes and streets are coated with white snow just like the picture on a Christmas card. Many elderly homes at the moment are used as craft outlets or eating places. Within the village there are additionally a number of conventional inns serving vacationers. I extremely suggest staying in a single day to expertise the nice and cozy hospitality of the locals and benefit from the romantic ambiance of the village at night time. You should utilize your JR East ticket to take the shinkansen to Aizu-Wakamatsu station. Then, switch to the Aizu Line of the Aizu Railway, get off at Yonokami Onsen Station and take a taxi the brief distance to the village.
When visiting Fukushima, don’t miss the native specialty, Kitakata ramen, one of many three hottest sorts of ramen in Japan. This noodle dish has a scrumptious soy sauce-based broth, typically served with a number of inexperienced onions (negi), fish desserts, char siu pork and different components. The noodles are thicker than different sorts of ramen, making a dish that’s each scrumptious and filling on a chilly winter day.
See the winter “cherry blossoms” in Aomori
Have you ever missed the spring cherry blossoms? Go to Hirosaki Park in Aomori to see the gorgeous Winter Cherry Blossom Lighting occasion. As an alternative of normal flowers, you’ll be able to see snowflakes lit up by mushy pink lights. The fragile snowflakes masking the branches of the cherry tree look no completely different from flowers. Your entire scene is illuminated with pink lights, making a magical body with the cover of “pink snow timber” reflecting on the water floor of the moat subsequent to Hirosaki fort.
This lighting occasion is often held from early December to late February. You’ll be able to stroll to the park from Hirosaki station or take the Dotemachi loop bus, priced at 100 Yen from Hirosaki bus station. JR East passes apply to the JR Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo to Shin-Aomori station and the JR Ou principal line to Hirosaki station.
After your go to to Hirosaki Citadel, heat your self up with a mouth-watering senbei-jiru cake soup. Southern Aomori is thought for its wheat and buckwheat. Senbei-jiru was created when locals broke up crackers comprised of wheat and salt into their soup. The broth and components will fluctuate relying on the area and even the household. Crispy bread like al-dente pasta, is the spotlight for a scrumptious bowl of soup. Across the Hachinohe space – the hometown of this soup, there are greater than 200 eating places serving senbei-jiru.
Go to the fairy story snow competition in Akita
Yokote Kamakura Competition in Akita has a historical past of almost 450 years to honor the water god. About 100 kamakura igloos will likely be arrange round Yokote city. Native youngsters get pleasure from candy sake and rice desserts within the evenings in illuminated snow huts. You’ll be able to stroll from Yokote Station to Yokote Citadel and see this lovely snow competition scene. Don’t miss the candle-lit mini igloos alongside the best way at Yokote Minami and Janosaki Kawara Elementary Faculty. For me, one of the best half was visiting the igloos and tasting amazake (non-alcoholic candy sake) and grilled rice desserts home made by cute infants. I in all probability took a thousand footage! So bear in mind to cost your telephone earlier than going! Yokote Kamakura Competition is held on February 15 and 16 yearly. The competition space is a few 10-minute stroll from Yokote Station on the JR Ou principal line, and fewer than an hour from Akita Station. JR East tickets apply to the JR Tohoku Shinkansen high-speed practice departing from Tokyo to Akita station.
Hopefully, with my options, it is possible for you to to get pleasure from a memorable winter in Tohoku!