Geography
The Tōhoku (東北) region of Japan is in the northeastern section of Honshu, Japan’s largest island. The Tōhoku region is comprised of six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata, Miyagi, and Fukushima. Much of the region is covered with scenic hills and mountains. Most people live in the lowland area that is more inland as much of the coast is not useful for seaports. Because there is a lack of water access, there is a greater need for roads and rails for the transportation of both goods and people. As expected, the climate is generally colder than most of Japan (save Hokkaido) and it snows a lot. According to Accuweather, Aomori City, in Aomori prefecture, is the snowiest city in the world! However, despite the plethora of snow, the region does have 4 distinct seasons throughout the year.
Cities and Population
There are several large cities in Tōhoku. Sendai is the largest with almost 1.05 million people. Other core cities in descending population size are: Iwaki, Kōriyama, Akita, Morioka, Aomori, and Hachinohe. The population of Tōhoku has been declining since 2000, even though Sendai’s population has grown. This is due to larger declines in Aomori, Iwate and Akita Prefectures.
Prefectures
Aomori
Aomori is the northern most prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. It’s capital is Aomori city and is known for its snowy winters. Some attractions include: Hirosaki Castle, Lake Towada, Mount Iwaki, and Shimokita Hanto.
Akita
Akita Prefecture is located on the upper west coast of Japan. Its capital is Akita city. The prefecture is known for it’s rice farming and sake. The people of Akita are also known to drink more sake than anywhere else in Japan. Some attractions include: Nyuto Onsen, Kakunodate city, Hachimantai, and Lake Tazawa
Iwate
Iwate Prefecture is located on the Pacific coast of Japan and is the second largest prefecture in size. Its capital is Morioka. Iwate is known for its beautiful scenery, especially its coasts. Some attractions include: Sanriku coast, Appi Kogen ski resort, Chusonji/Motsuji Temple, and Kitakami river
Yamagata
Yamagata Prefecture is located partly on the eastern coast of Japan. Its capital is Yamagata. The area is known for its rural beauty and agricultural products. Some attractions include: Mt. Zao, Dewa Sanzan, Ginzan Onsen, and Yamadera Temple.
Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture is located on the Pacific coast of Japan. Its capital is Sendai, the largest city in Tōhoku. The city of Matsushima has a bay with hundreds of small islands covered in pine tress and is famous for being one of the three most scenic views in Japan. Some attractions include: Aoba Castle, Naruko Gorge, Akiu and Naruko Onsen.
Fukushima
Fukushima is located at the bottom of Tōhoku on the Pacific coast side. Its capital is Fukushima city. In 2011 an earthquake and subsequent tsunami caused a nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. There are still parts of the surrounding area that are no-entry zones. Some attractions include: Oze National Park, Tsuruga Castle, Mt. Bandai, and Ouchijuku.
Natural Beauty of Japan
Tōhoku encapsulates much of what makes Japan so scenically beautiful. It has so many attractions and views that center on nature and it makes for a wonderful place to visit that isn’t the hustle and bustle of Tokyo. Although tourism in the area is increasing, the region is not given nearly the attention it deserves from tourists, but that is part of what makes it so nice to visit. If your looking for a slower pace more natural view, then a road trip in the Tōhoku region of Japan is highly recommended!
