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🇯🇵 Japan Region Guide · 2026

Tohoku — North main island東北

North main island · onsen · summer festivals · Main cities: Sendai · Aomori · Akita · Iwate

About Tohoku

The Tohoku region

North main island · onsen · summer festivals. Covers 6 prefectures · main cities: Sendai · Aomori · Akita · Iwate. One of Japan's 9 regions, with its own distinctive charm — culture, food, climate, and destinations that show you a side of Japan most travellers never see.

Prefectures · 6 in this region

All 6 prefectures in Tohoku

Every prefecture in the Tohoku region — we'll review them all · click for individual prefecture guides

Aomori (青森)

AOMORI · Capital: Aomori

Nebuta Festival Aug · Hirosaki Castle sakura · apples

🔜 Coming soon

IWATE · Capital: Morioka

Wanko soba · Hiraizumi UNESCO · Geibikei Gorge

🔜 Coming soon

Sendai (仙台)

SENDAI · Miyagi's capital

City of Trees · grilled beef tongue · Tanabata · gateway to Matsushima

✓ Full city guide

AKITA · Capital: Akita

Kamakura snow huts Feb · Akita dogs · sake

🔜 Coming soon

Yamagata (山形)

YAMAGATA · Capital: Yamagata

Zao Onsen ice trees · Mt Zao · Yonezawa beef

🔜 Coming soon

Fukushima (福島)

FUKUSHIMA · Capital: Fukushima

Aizu samurai town · Ouchi-juku · Kitakata ramen

🔜 Coming soon

Region 101

Tohoku at a glance

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Population

8.3 million

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Area

66,900 km²

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Transit

Tohoku Shinkansen · JR East

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Best season

Summer Jul-Aug (festivals) · autumn foliage

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Signature food

Gyutan beef tongue · sake · wanko soba

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Weather

Summer 20-30°C · Winter -5 to 5°C

FAQ

FAQ · Tohoku travel

How many days for Tohoku?

5-7 days for 4 main prefectures · JR East Tohoku Pass good value

Why Tohoku?

Summer festivals (Nebuta/Sendai Tanabata/Akita Kanto in Aug) · best autumn foliage in Japan · quieter onsen than Hakone

English widely spoken?

Workable in Sendai · countryside needs Google Translate

Ready to plan your Tohoku trip?

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