Hi all.
This will be our second trip to Japan after hitting the obvious spots back in 2024. Going for a more chill vibe this time, less city more rural, mountains, onsen, and! amazing food, of course, in the Tohoku region. We’ll be there from 3-17 November. It’s our 20th wedding anniversary present to ourselves so I’m interested in any recommendations for peak experiences!
After typing this out, I feel like there is a lot of pick up and drop off of hire cars. But when I was planning it out, it seemed like it was more difficult travel time-wise (with lots of long driving days) and expensive to hold on to the car the whole time and pay one way fees. I’m interested in anyone else’s experience with this.
The itinerary is meant to be flexible to account for the unpredictable weather conditions and our energy levels on the day.
Keen to get some feedback. Thanks all!
Day 1 – Nov 3 (Arrival Day)
- Arrive at Narita around 5:30pm
- Staying in Ueno. Dinner at Ameyoko Market.
Day 2 – Nov 4 (Tokyo to Yamagata)
- Morning: Bargain glasses shopping for visually impaired husband
- Lunchtime: Shinkansen to Sendai (Ekiben lunch)
- Pick up hire car in Sendai drive to Yamagata
- Looking for recommendation for yummy dinner in Yamagata.
- Stay: near Yamagata station. Dinner nearby.
Day 3 – Nov 5 (Yamagata prefecture drive)
- Spend day driving around western side of Yamagata prefecture including a trip to Mt Haguro, Mount Gassan if conditions allow.
- Stay: near Yamagata station.
Day 4 – Nov 6 (Yamagata to Zao Onsen)
- Early visit to Yamadera
- Mt Zao ropeway and Zao Onsen area
- Stay at ryokan in Zao area. I have ideas for accommodation but always willing to hear recommendations. Kaiseki dinner and onsen. Nice.
Day 5 – Nov 7 (Sendai to Aomori)
- Late morning: Drive to Sendai, return car.
- Shinkansen from Sendai to Aomori
- Afternoon/Evening: Explore Aomori (Ferry museum, Nebuta museum etc.)
- Stay: Near Aomori station (not Shin-Aomori).
Day 6 – Nov 8 (Aomori to Hirosaki)
- Morning: Furukawa Fish Market Nokke-donfor breakfast, a bit more Aomori sightseeing (walking distance from station)
- Pick up hire car and drive to Hirosaki.
- Hoping to catch the Foliage and Chrysanthemum festival at Hirosaki Castle.
- Stay: Hirosaki
Day 7 – Nov 9 (Western Aomori by car)
- Day driving in west Aomori
o Lake Jusan area
o Tachineputa Museum (if open)
o Mount Iwaki viewpoints
- Stay: Hirosaki
Day 8 – Nov 10 (Oirase and Towada by car)
- Early start
- Oirase Gorge walks
- Lake Towada
- Optional Hakkoda foothills only if weather is favourable
- Return to Hirosaki before dark
- Stay: Hirosaki
Day 9 – Nov 11 (Hirosaki to Morioka)
- Drive Hirosaki to Shin Aomori and return rental car
- Shinkansen to Morioka
- Sakurayama Shrine
- Ishiwarizakura
- Castle park area
- Stay: Morioka near station
Day 10 – Nov 12 (Morioka and Akita by car)
- Pick up rental car
- Drive to Kakunodate
- Samurai district walk
- Dakigaeri Valley
- Stay: Morioka
Day 11 – Nov 13 (Southern Iwate by car)
- Hiraizumi:
- Chūson ji
- Mōtsu ji
- Geibikei Gorge
- Stay: Morioka
Day 12 – Nov 14 (Morioka to Fukushima)
- Return rental car at Morioka Station
- Shinkansen Morioka to Fukushima. Pick up rental car
- Sight see drive in Fukushima mountains
- Continue to Tsuchiyu Onsen area
- Overnight: Onsen ryokan in Tsuchiyu (TBD)
Day 13 – Nov 15 (Fukushima to Tokyo)
- Morning: Onsen
- Afternoon: Drive to Fukushima, return hire car, shinkansen to Tokyo.
- Stay: Ueno
Day 14 – Nov 16 (Tokyo)
- Currently no plans. Would love to have a great omakase sushi dining experience in Tokyo.
Day 15 – Nov 17 (Departure Day)
- Flight departs at 8:00pm
by Extra-Journalist1157