Visit Akita, Iwate, and Aomori in Tohoku. Learn about the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and about the reconstruction that followed.

Locations Visited Akita - Iwate - Aomori  5-nights trip
Learning Themes Traditional culture Natural environment Japanese food Crisis management

Highlights

Koiwai Farm
Spending in the lush green land of Tohoku area
Ishinomaki (Miyagi)
Visit and learn about Tohoku earthquake

Sanriku coast

Nebuta
Learn about Japanese culture in the area where traditions are still alive

Akita and Aomori

Akita Airport Namahage Museum Oga Shinzan Folklore Musuem Oga Shinzan Shrine Oga Hot Spring Akita city Kakunodate Lake Tazawa Koiwai Farm Ofunato Ofunato Tsunami Museum Miyako Miyako station Kuji station Hachinohe station Hirosaki Castle The Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE Aomori Airport

Itineraries

Day 1

Morning

Akita
Arrive at Akita Airport

Arrive at Akita airport.
After that, Proceed to Oga peninsula in Akita prefecture by bus.

Afternoon

Oga Peninsula (Akita)
Experience Akita's traditonal custom “Namahage”

Visit Namahage Museum, Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum, and Oga Shinzan Shrine. Learn about the history of Akita and the folklore of Namahage.

Traditional culture
Namahage
Namahage
Oga Peninsula (Akita)
Stay in traditional hot-spring hotels to learn about Japanese hot spring culture.

Check in at a hotel in Oga Hot Spring.

Natural environment
hotel Oga Hot Spring (Hotel)

Day 2

Akita City
Engage in an exchange with a local school

Visit and enjoy an exchange with a school in Akita City.

Lunchtime
Lunchtime
hotel Akita (Hotel)

Tourist Spot

Day 3

Morning - Early Afternoon

Akita City - Kakunodate - Lake Tazawa
Learn about nature in Tohoku & the culture of living with nature.

A walk along Kakunodate's historic streets.
After that, take a boat tour around Lake Tazawa and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Traditional culture Natural environment

Afternoon - Evening

Lake Tazawa (Akita) - Koiwai Farm (Shizukuishi, Iwate)
Experience Japanese agriculture

Experience agriculture at a farm in Koiwai Farm in Shizukuishi, Iwate prefecture.

Japanese food
Koiwai Farm
Koiwai Farm
hotel Shizukuishi (Hotel)

Day 4

Morning

Shizukuishi - Ofunato (Iwate)
Proceed to Sanriku coast damaged by tsunami

Proceed to Ofunato in Iwate prefecture by Akita Shinkansen (Bullet train) and Bus.

Tourist Spot

Ofunato

Afternoon

Ofunato (Iwate)
Learn about the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and about the reconstruction that followed.

Visit  Ofunato Tsunami Museum, and learn about Tsunami and Great East Japan earthquake (March 11, 2011).

Crisis management
Ofunato - Miyako (Iwate)
Proceed to Miyako

Proceed to Miyako City by bus.

On the way, View seaside areas damaged by tsunami from car window.

Crisis management
hotel Miyako (Hotel)

Tourist Spot

Day 5

Morning

Miyako sta. - Kuji sta. (Iwate) - Hachinohe sta. (Aomori)
Ride on the Sanriku Railway that a symbol of recovery from the Great Earthquake

Ride on the Sanriku Railway from Miyako station to Kuji station.

Change to the JR Hachinohe Line, and proceed to Hirosaki in Aomori prefecture.

Crisis management
Sanriku tetsudo railway
Sanriku tetsudo railway
Hachinohe - Hirosaki (Aomori)
Explore Japan's Castles in Hirosaki

Proceed to Hirosaki City.
And that, Visit Hirosaki Castle.

Traditional culture
Hirosaki castle
Hirosaki castle
hotel Hirosaki (Hotel)

Day 6

Morning

Aomori City
Learn about Japanese culture through matsuri (Japanese traditional festivals)

Learn about the grand festival in Tohoku, the “Aomori Nebuta Matsuri,” at Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE.

Traditional culture
Nebuta
Nebuta

Afternoon

Aomori
Depart from Aomori Airport on a flight headed home

Map

Akita Airport Namahage Museum Oga Shinzan Folklore Musuem Oga Shinzan Shrine Oga Hot Spring Akita city Kakunodate Lake Tazawa Koiwai Farm Ofunato Ofunato Tsunami Museum Miyako Miyako station Kuji station Hachinohe station Hirosaki Castle The Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE Aomori Airport
place Akita Airport
place Namahage Museum
place Oga Shinzan Folklore Musuem
place Oga Shinzan Shrine
place Oga Hot Spring
place Akita city
place Kakunodate
place Lake Tazawa
place Koiwai Farm
place Ofunato
place Ofunato Tsunami Museum
place Miyako
place Miyako station
place Kuji station
place Hachinohe station
place Hirosaki Castle
place The Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE
place Aomori Airport