1000 Torii, a 1000 Year Tree and Timeless Calligraphy: In and around Aomori

1000 Torii, a 1000 Year Tree and Timeless Calligraphy: In and around Aomori

Aomori was where the trip truly began. Meeting up with three Swiss friends kicked off the two-week road trip across Tohoku. Long drives, beautiful nature and shrines, calligraphy, and surprise encounters replaced trains and crowds, setting the tone for everything that followed.

Tokyo, Chichibu, Kawagoe – starting off the trip

Tokyo, Chichibu, Kawagoe – starting off the trip

One day after arriving in Tokyo, I again visited Chichibu with two friends. This time we stayed at a ryokan with a private open-air rock bath and gorgeous dinner. On the way back Kawagoe offered Edo-era streetscapes, sweets shops and a calm shrine.

Planning a 3 Week Tohoku Trip with a Group

Planning a 3 Week Tohoku Trip with a Group

November is one of the best months to travel in Japan, especially outside major cities. With autumn colors appearing in the mountains and winter slowly approaching at higher elevations, it is an ideal time to explore rural regions beyond the usual routes. This article is the start to a series that explores travelling Japan’s North in autumn.

Back on the Road: New Stories from Japan’s North

Back on the Road: New Stories from Japan’s North

There has been a long break on this blog once again. Over the past two years, Tabimonogatari has been more dormant than I intended, even though the experiences that usually end up here have very much continued in the background.

Feeling Morioka (Tohoku in Winter 5/5)

Feeling Morioka (Tohoku in Winter 5/5)

In no time we reached day 5 of our New Year’s vacation. We spent the whole day in Morioka and returned with fulfilled wishes and filled bellies to Tokyo in the evening.

Descending into the Dragon Cave (Tohoku in Winter 4/5)

Descending into the Dragon Cave (Tohoku in Winter 4/5)

On the fourth day, we visited Ryusendo Cave in Iwaizumi, one of Japan’s largest limestone caves. In the evening, we enjoyed memorable sashimi dinner in Morioka.

Onwards to the Pacific Shore in Hachinohe (Tohoku in Winter 3/5)

Onwards to the Pacific Shore in Hachinohe (Tohoku in Winter 3/5)

In just a few hours, we traded snow-covered mountains for the icy Pacific coast. Hachinohe, known for its fishery, welcomed us with serene moments at Kabushima Shrine and a taste of fresh seafood.

A Unique Onsen in Yamagata’s Mountains (Tohoku in Winter 2/5)

A Unique Onsen in Yamagata’s Mountains (Tohoku in Winter 2/5)

As a highlight of this trip we reserved a room in a secluded mountain ryokan high up in Yamagata’s mountains. The inn’s 4×4 minibus picked us up at the last stop of the public bus line. The unpaved mountain road at the end was so steep, most cars would have had trouble to climb it.

Aizu-Wakamatsu (Tohoku in Winter 1/5)

Aizu-Wakamatsu (Tohoku in Winter 1/5)

Our five day trip to Tohoku began with the sunrise over Tokyo’s skyline. Aizu-Wakamatsu checked all our boxes as a travel destination: called the Samurai city, the city was home to Samurai for a long time; until the Boshin war in 1848. We also looked forward to visiting Higashiyama Onsen, seeing the local crafts including lacquerware and of course the local cuisine and sake.

Winter vacation in Tohoku

Winter vacation in Tohoku

Happy 2024! Having transitioned into the New Year with Japanese customs, we began our 2024 with a vacation in the Tohoku region. Five prefectures in five days.