Tohoku 2017 spring summer

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2017 Spring & Summer

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Tohoku

2nd Issue MCI (P) 112/12/2015

Explore Japan’s Rich Heritage in Tohoku’s Six Prefectures and Niigata

Sakura flow

Sakura flow from West to East, then North in the spring wind

Matsuri

Summer Festivals in Tohoku

Tohoku Cuisine

A Feast of Culture and Tradition

Tohoku Recommended Tours Maiko of Yamagata City.

www.wattention.com/tohoku-special

Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization http://en.tohokukanko.jp

Discover Authentic Japan Nature History Culture Cuisine

Explore Japan’s Rich Heritage in Tohoku’s Six Prefectures and Niigata Located in the northeastern part of Japan’s Honshu island, Tohoku is surrounded by the Sea of Japan, the Pacific Ocean and the Tsugaru Strait. Consisting of seven prefectures — Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata and Fukushima and Niigata —.

Despite progressive changes over the past centuries in Japan, Tohoku has retained a uniquely authentic feel by well preserving its traditional way of life and culture.

With a history that can be traced back to the 7th century, Tohoku is truly a hidden gem for those who appreciate a relaxed holiday in a pure and bucolic environment. Each attraction has a story to tell and every dish features a history to please the palate and the soul.

Contents

Wattention Tohoku

2017 Spring/Summer

03-04 Picturesque Tohoku: Spring Sakura flow from west to east, then north in the spring wind

05-06 Picturesque Tohoku: Summer Incredible summer festivals

07-08 Spring and Summer Travel Guide 09-12 Tohoku Heritage -Nature and worship「A journey of rebirth」- In the realm of the gods at Dewa Sanzan

-Pilgrimage of the 33 Kannon Buddha Temples- Aizu Culture through the eyes of a pilgrim Aizu

13-14 Discover Tohoku Cuisine

Publisher

Yasuko Suzuki / WATTENTION CO., LTD.

Associate Editor Yuka Suzuki

Editorial Team

Ilse Montald, Nancy Liu, Tabea Greuner, Cuauhtemoc Velazquez, Melissa Wullur, Takako Ishikawa, Megumi Feyen

Writer

Helen Oon

Language Consultant Joseph. M. Shiodah

Graphic Designer Kenji Ishida

Photographers

Chris Mollison, Michael Oon, Kenji Sugasawa, Tomoyo Nozawa Noboru Hanamura

Supported by

Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization http://en.tohokukanko.jp

Wattention CO., ltd Kurashima Shibuya Bld. 2-3-8-401 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 150-0002 Phone: 03-6418-5701 (main) 03-6418-5828 (editorial) Fax: 03-6862-6760 E-mail: info-tokyo@wattention.com HP: http://www.wattention.com

The Gono Line and Resort Shirakami (Aomori to Akita) The “Resort Shirakami,” a rapid train on JR Gono Line, is a great option for those heading for Shirakami Sanchi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through the windows, visitors can enjoy magnificent views of the sunset at Senjojiki, including the Furofushi Onsen, a hot spring overlooking the ocean and Fukaura, a fishing town specialized in tuna. https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/joyful/shirakami.html

Yoshitsune Legend Tohoku has lots of legends to tell, such as the tales of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a tragic hero in the samurai age. He was one of the most popular warriors of that era, having helped his brother, Minamoto no Yoritomo (the first shogun of the Kamakura Shogunate) to secure power in the 12th century. Although he died in despair in Tohoku’s Hiraizumi district after a fall-out with his brother, legend has it that he became immortal in death and is still spotted in various parts of Tohoku. Who knows? Maybe his spirit lies within the pages of this magazine!

"Minamoto no Yoshitsune" Woodprint 1851 Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Visit the Website "Exploration to the Deep North of Japan" http://deepnorthjapan.org/ You can design a personalized Tohoku trip on deepnorthjapan.org. Choose from various spots and restaurants and the program will generate your personal itinerary with a useful map. For those who like specific recommendations, there are plenty of model courses from which to choose.

English

5 Oga

Oga Peninsula Oga Peninsular Of Ogres and Onsens

● SAPPORO

Model tour

Find another Japan in Tohoku. Explore the seasonal beauty, history and food of Japan’s northeast.

Overview of Tohoku Trip

Seasonal Highlights of the Tohoku Region

Natural Blessings in the Sanriku Coast, Reviving from the Earthquake

Scenic Beauty of the Japan Sea Shorelines

Hands-on Experience of Nature and Culture

Time Travel to the Past

Gourmet’s Paradise Tohoku

view more

● TOKYO

Introduction to 16 Areas of Attraction

Hirosaki

Hakkoda, Towada, Oirase

Shirakami Sanchi

Hachimantai

Picturesque Tohoku: Like a picture scroll, its sakura flow from west to east, then north in the spring wind.

Tohoku highlight: Edohigan sakura (the oldest type of sakura) with Mt. Iwate as backdrop. Koiwai Farm, Iwate see page 7

Samurai residence and weeping sakura of Kakunodate, Akita see page 7

Tohoku’s spring is quite special; both its nature and people

have endured long winters and thus celebrate the short springs with particular vigor. When winter ends, various flowers bloom in one sudden burst, then quickly scatter in the wind. The north is blessed with an abundance of luxurious someiyoshino (hybrid sakura), but also more difficult-to-find varieties, such as yamazakura (mountain sakura) and shidarezakura (weeping sakura). Some say that these elegant trees are like Japan’s samurai - dignified and beautiful in their modest appearance.

Cherry blossoms and spring flowers reminiscent of an impressionist painting. Hanamiyama Park, Fukushima see page 7

04

The Aomori Nebuta Matsuri, Sendai Tanabata Matsuri, Morioka Sansa Odori Matsuri and Fukushima Waraji

Nebuta Matsuri Aomori city comes alive every summer to celebrate the Nebuta festival. Historically the festival functioned as a means of keeping harvesters awake as they worked in the fields gathering rice and other produce. As dusk approaches, the parade begins and many floats feature illuminated lanterns with various designs and shapes.

Kanto Matsuri 05

A chorus of bamboo flutes signals the start of the festival and immediately various groups of men hoist the 12-meter bamboo poles hanging paper lanterns into the air. The Kanto festival can best be described as a performance of local groups showcasing their amazing dexterity and remarkable balancing prowess.

Akita Kanto Matsuri, Yamagata Hanagasa Matsuri, Matsuri are the six biggest festivals of the Tohoku region Sansa Matsuri The charm of the festival lies in a parade where taiko drummers and dancers walk through the city. The origins can be traced back to a legend about a wicked demon: on summer evenings, locals would dress up in fancy costumes and dance and play drums to scare the demon away.

Waraji Matsuri Named after traditional straw sandals used when traveling, the 300-year-old festival features a huge waraji that measures 12m in length and weighs two tons. The gigantic waraji is carried in a parade by people who pray for strong walking and safe traveling before it is housed in a shrine.

Tanabata Matsuri The main arcades all through Sendai city are adorned with beautifully hung, crafted spheres made of washi-paper and bamboo, with long streamers hanging down like celestial jellyfish. One can spend hours happily strolling through!

Tohoku Summer Matsuri Nebuta Matsuri Aug. 2 - 7 Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture 　 Highlight: fireworks festival on the final day

Kanto Matsuri Aug. 3- 6 Akita City, Akita Prefecture　 Highlight: see participants balance 50kg lantern poles

Tanabata Matsuri Aug. 6 - 8 Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture Highlight: beautiful streamers in the shopping arcades and fireworks on Aug. 5

Hanagasa Matsuri Aug. 5 - 7 Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture Highlight: different types of dances using straw flower hats

Waraji Matsuri Aug. 3 - 6 Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture Sansa Matsuri Aug.1 - 4 Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture

Hanagasa Matsuri The iconic nature of the parade is the use of traditional agricultural workers hats decorated with red paper flowers that represent the safflower. The parade features all ages, with many young children dressed in traditional yukata. At the end of the festival, everyone is invited to celebrate and join in the last float, dancing the traditional hanagasa dance.

06

Arriving late and leaving just as swift, this beautiful moment in time is Tohoku’s spring.

Tohoku Spring Travel Guide

1

Miharu Takizakura - Fukushima

Blossoms cascade like a waterfall from the top of one large benishidare (weeping cherry blossom) tree, leaving a stream of petals on the ground.

During the nocturnal light-up period, this sakura is especially beautiful; all will be moved by such a magical sight.

Hours: 6am – 6pm Admission: 300 yen (free for junior high school students and younger) Address: 91 Sakurakubo, Taki, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima Access: 30-min by car from JR Miharu station (During the sakura festival, special bus service will be available) URL: http://www.tif.ne.jp/lang/en/sightseeing/topic.html?id=41&category=4 http://miharukoma.com/takizakura/ (Japanese only)

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Yamagata castle (Kajo Park) - Yamagata

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Hirosaki Castle- Aomori

This is one of Japan’s three major sakura spots. The castle, as a backdrop to the flowers, provides the area with a reminiscent image. Not to be missed during full bloom are the flower petals on the castle’s outer moat, resembling a floral carpet.

Currently the castle tower is under renovation but as always, the beauty of the sakura stays unchanged.

Hours: 9am – 5pm (paid area, closed from Nov. 24 - Mar. 31) Admission: 510 yen (adults) and 160 yen (children) for full access to all paid areas Address: 1 Shimoshirogane-cho, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori Access: 9-min by bus (Konan Dote-machi loop line) from JR Hirosaki Station, get off at Shiyakusho Mae (City Hall) bus stop. URL: http://www.hirosakipark.jp/en/

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Kitakami Tenshochi - Iwate

Kajo Park covers the site of the former Yamagata Castle and has a beautiful variety of sakura. Take a walk around the castle moat enclosed in sakura, and watch how the trees brush the surface, painting the water with swirls of pink petals. At night, the illuminated park castes a magical light on the flowers.

About 10,000 sakura (dating back more than 90 years) form a magnificent, 2 - k m l o n g t u n n e l a l o n g t h e K i t a k a m i R i v e r. E n j o y t h e i n t e r t w i n e d someiyoshino (hybrid sakura), yamazakura (mountain sakura) and yaezakura (double cherry blossom) from the sightseeing carriage at a leisurely pace.

Hours: 5:30am – 10pm Admission: Free Address: 1-1 Kajomachi, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata Access: 10-min walk from JR Yamagata Station URL: http://yamagatakanko.com.e.db.hp.transer.com/spotdetail/?data_id=395

Hours: 24/7 Address: 10 Chiwari, Tachibana, Kitakami-shi, Iwate Access: 12-min by bus from JR Kitakami Station, get off at Tenshochi bus stop URL: http://www.kitakami-kanko.jp/english/events.php?itemid=47

Follow the Sakura Frontline as flowers bloom from South to North End of April 2 page 3 Koiwai Farm page 3 Kakunodate

5 Matsushima Bay - Miyagi

Sakura in Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park and Matsushima

Saigyo Hoshi , a renowned Japanese poet during the 12th century, expressed his love for cherry blossoms, as evidenced by his famous poem, "let me die under the blossoms in spring". From Yukari no Koen (Yukari Park) you can see the wonderful contrast of the bursting blossoms of someiyoshino cherry trees with green pine trees and the blue waters of Matsushima Bay, considered to be “one of the Top Three Views of Japan.”

Saigyo Modoshi no Matsu Park Hours: 10am - 4pm Address: 10-174 Inuta, Matsushima, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi Access: 5-min by car from JR Matsushimakaigan Station URL: http://sendaitravel.jp/places/saigyo-modoshi-no-matsu-park/

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Matsushima Bay Hours: 10am – 4pm Admission: Between 1000 yen – 1500 yen for a cruise Address: 98-1 Chonai, Matsushima, Matsushima-machi, Miyagi Access: 10-min walk from JR Matsushimakaigan Station URL: http://sendai-travel.jp/places/boat-trips-matshushima/

Aomori City

Mid-April Morioka City

Akita City

Beginning of April 4

Beginning of April page 3 Hanamiyama

Sendai City

Yamagata City 3

5

End of March

Niigata City

Fukushima City

1

※ Time frame for cherry blossom viewing (Hanami) is a guideline and can vary based on the weather and the type of blossom.

"Yoshitsune and Benkei" 1886 Wood Print Artist: Yoshitoshi Tsukioka

Tohoku Summer Guide

Festivals are not the only way to celebrate summer!

From fantastic forests and expansive lakes, to majestic rocks that line the seashore, you will be amazed by nature’s visual gifts in Tohoku

Shirakami Sanchi - Aomori, Akita

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993, this expansive wilderness is one of the last remaining untouched beech forest in Japan. Shirakami Sanchi, stretching from Aomori to Akita prefectures, boasts myriad hiking trails leading to breathtaking, panoramic views, along with waterfalls. Escape the heat from the city during the spring and summer seasons when the area turns green.

Access: 55-min by bus from JR Hirosaki Station.

URL: http://www.en-aomori.com/scenery-014.html

Oga Peninsula - Akita

The rugged peninsula, projecting west into the Sea of Japan, is home to the Namahage ogres (demon-like characters) in traditional Japanese folklore. Some of the breathtaking vistas include extensive cliff coastlines, the “Godzilla Rock” and a shrine with a flight of 999 steps, said to be built by the ogres themselves.

Access: The trip from JR Oga Station around the peninsula takes about two hours (excluding sightseeing time) URL: http://deepnorthjapan.org/oga

Oirase Keiryu - Aomori

Zao - Yamagata, Miyagi

Access: 50-min by bus from JR Hachinohe Station to Yakiyama (Nearby lake Towada) URL: http://www.en-aomori.com/scenery-005.html

Access: 45-min by bus from JR Yamagata Station to Zao-Onsen. 17-min by ropeway from Sanroku Station (Located in the Zao-Onsen resort) until Sancho Station URL: https://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/spot/natuscen/okama.html

Sasagawa Nagare – Niigata

Tono – Iwate

Access: Area around JR Kuwagawa Station (Uetsu Line) URL: http://www.sasagawanagare.co.jp/ (Japanese only

Tono tourism association office Hours: 8am – 7pm Address: 5-8 Shinkoku-cho, Tono-shi, Iwate Access: Right outside JR Tono Station (Kamaishi Line) URL: http://www.tonojikan.jp/Several_languages/english/english.html

Oirase Keiryu, a picturesque stream flowing from Lake Towada, is representative of Japan’s unique beauty. You will never be bored by the enchanting waterfalls and stunning rocks along the 14km traic between Lake Towada’s Nenokuchi and Yakeyama. Be it the lush greens of summer or brilliant shades of red in Fall, the gorgeous sight itself is well worth the journey.

Breathtaking coastline with a beautiful contrast between the clear blue sea and white sand. The strange name “Sasagawa Nagare” roughly translates to “Sasagawa Flow” and is meant to express the waves brushing the coastline and flowing back between the complex rock formations like a mountain stream. You can gaze upon the rocks towering above the coastline from a leisure cruise.

Okama Crater Lake is a sightseeing spot representative of Zao, a mountain range on the prefectural border between Miyagi and Yamagata. Okama means “pot” in Japanese, referring to the shape of the crater, which is filled with emerald green water. A place to feel the pure power of nature. The top of the mountain range is accessible by car.

Tono is the place to go and see how people live in beautiful harmony with nature, as Japan's traditional landscape is perfectly preserved here. With old Japanese farmhouses and unchanged rural landscapes, you can discover ancient traditions and folklore in this countryside village beloved by all Japanese.

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Nature and worship ”A Japan Heritage

In The Realm of the Gods at Dewa Sanzan

By Helen Oon

In many cultures, mountains often have religious significance and are regarded as abodes of the gods. Tohoku has three holy mountains, known collectively as Dewa Sanzan, that is regarded as one of the most sacred sites in the country. Its landscape is defined by the stunning natural beauty of mystical mountains, volcanic lakes, hot springs and farmlands. This is where the soul of Japan lies in its traditional and religious culture, and where ancient mountain worship is still very much practiced. Against this background, we embarked on an epic journey to trace the footsteps of pilgrims who are followers of Shugendo.

The Three Mountain Blessings Shugendo is an ethnic religion influenced by Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism and spiritual faith. Its main purpose is to strengthen the connection between people and nature, reaching enlightenment in this way. Practitioners preach the teaching that “nature is a manifestation of the gods and we should live alongside it with respect.” Mountains and forests have paramount importance in Shugendo. The Dewa Sanzan mountains of Mt. Haguro (419m), Mt. Gassan (1984m) and Mt. Yudono (1504m) are the centres of pilgrimage in the region.

The followers, known as Shugenjas or Yamabushi (mountain monks), have been following the rites of worship for the last 1,400 years. Followers embark on long pilgrimages and practice austere feats of physical endurance of natural elements as an ascetic rite of passage to gain spiritual power. We had the privilege of experiencing the immersive ceremony of Shugendo first hand by visiting the three sacred mountains that represents the present, death and rebirth at Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono respectively.

Praying in the Official Shinto Style at Mt. Haguro We arrived at Mt. Haguro as dusk was setting in and, after a short visit to Ideha Museum nearby to get an insight of Shugendo and Dewa Sanzan, we entered the sacred site through the torii, a wooden gateway that is found in all sacred sites in Japan. A long flight of stone steps, known as the Ishi-Dan, led down to an enchanting forest with towering cedar trees along the ancient pilgrim route. The 1.7km trail built in 1648 has 2,446 steps leading to the Sanjin Gosaiden shrine at the summit. There are 33 carvings etched on the steps and it is believed that if you can find all 33, your wishes will come true. As we were pressed for time, we could only follow the sacred path as far as the 600-year-old Goju-no-to, the five-storied pagoda, a recorded national treasure. In the gloom of the forest, the ornate pagoda exuded an air of mysticism that lent to the belief that a deity of the forest lives in it.

When we arrived at Sanjin Gosaiden, the main shrine at the summit, we were met by a Yamabushi dressed in his traditional religious garb. He sounded a horagai, a religious conch trumpet, as a welcome and to ward off bad spirits. We were led to the inner sanctum of the shrine. There, a monk dressed in a splendid ceremonial robe with motifs of cranes performed a special ceremony accompanied by a beating taiko drum, followed by space clearing of malevolent energy around us by wafting a pole with white paper strips attached to the end and ringing bells to cleanse the air. He then chanted some mantras in a trancelike voice, which reverberated around the room, sending powerful vibrations into the ambience. We felt blessed and awed as we bowed twice, clapped our hands twice and bowed once again, completing the ritual where we were “spiritually born.”

The Ishi-Dan, Mt. Haguro

Sanjin Gosaiden, Mt. Haguro

We stayed the night at a shukubo, a traditional temple lodge owned by a Yamabushi and his wife, who welcomed us graciously by kneeling Japanese style where they sat on the floor with their legs folded behind them. The delightful lodge was immaculately clean and the minimalist décor was the personified tranquility that we badly needed after a long journey.

I would highly recommend staying in a shukubo to attain a Zen state of mind. Early next morning, our landlord performed a Shinto ritual prayer to bless us and wished us a safe journey to Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono.

Stepping to Mt. Gassan and Mt. Yudono We headed to Mt. Gassan in howling wind and rain to visit a shrine. The pilgrimage trail was officially closed for the season, but we braved the elements by treading precariously on the path of a slippery, wooden walkway laid across a marshland of dwarf bamboo and grassland. After twenty minutes’ walk, we reached a small shrine presided by a giant stone rabbit, the guardian of the mountain. This mountain symbolized the path to death and it was apt that the short journey we took in the inclement weather seemed to convey that message. In the summer, pilgrims could hike to the summit, where the main shrine lies; from there, they could also hike to Mt. Yudono, the last mountain on the holy trail.

Our visit to Mt. Yudono was an epic experience where we were sworn to secrecy by the priest about the ceremony of “rebirth” that we underwent to symbolize being spiritually reborn to start a new journey in life. It is a taboo to divulge the secret of the ritual, but suffice to say that the experience is something I will always remember.

Dewa Sanzan is a pilgrimage, but mere mortals with spiritual interest will find the journey enlightening and soul stirring. Reflecting on my own awesome experience of the religious encounter, I now appreciate why mountains belong to the realms of the gods.

09

Shukubo, Mt. Haguro Mt. Haguro

Access: 40-min by bus from JR Tsuruoka Station, get off at Zuishinmon.

55-min by bus to the summit.

URL: http://www.dewasanzan.jp/publics/index/47/

Mt. Gassan

Hours: Closed late September until June Access: 1h30-min by ShonanKotsu bus from JR Tsuruoka Station to Gassan Hachigome.

URL: http://www.dewasanzan.jp/publics/index/48/

Mt.Yudono

Hours: Closed late September until June Admission: 500 yen Access: 1h30-min by Shonan-Kotsu bus from JR Tsuruoka Station to Yudonosan.

URL: http://www.dewasanzan.jp/publics/index/49/

journey of rebirth�

Goju-no-to, Mt. Haguro

Mt. Haguro

Mt. Gassan

Mt. Yudono

Pilgrimage to the 33

Japan Heritage 2

Aizu Culture through the eyes of a pilgrim

By Helen Oon

Aizuwakamatsu, or Aizu for short, is a historic castle town known as the “land of the last samurai” in the Aizu district of Fukushima Prefecture in Tohoku. The people of Aizu were people of good faith and had a custom of paying respect to all 33 Kannon Buddha temples in the form of a pilgrimage. More than a tough, ascetic ritual, though, this pilgrimage was for entertainment. In the Edo period, people would journey to the temples for sightseeing; even now, many people make the pilgrimage with friends. The image of Kannon makes its appearance everywhere, from wonderful temples in the city to the stone Buddhas in the mountains. Follow us on our journey as we visit some of them.

Visit the 33 Kannon Buddha Temples around Aizuwakamatu Kannon, known as Kuan Yin or Goddess of Mercy to the Chinese, was known to have 33 manifestations. Most of the temples are modest, wooden structures, each dedicated to the various manifestation of Kannon. For example the Eryu-ji temple is dedicated to Juichimen Senju Kannon, the eleven-faced, one-thousand armed Kannon. The massive statue, standing at 8.5 meters high, was carved out of one single tree by Kobo Daishi (Kukai), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, in 808. It is designated as a National Treasure of Japan.

The temple itself was built in 1190. The statue is guarded by 28 Busyu divine generals and the gods of Wind and Thunder. The temple is believed to help visitors to overcome their negative attitude in life.

Another unique temple on the trail is Sazaedo temple on Iimoriyama Hill, built in 1796 with an extraordinary, 16.5 meters high, three-storey hexagonal structure with a sloping doublehelix ramp. Visitors ascend the ramp in a clockwise direction and descend anti-clockwise, thus not retracing any steps in their spiral track. It is an ingenious design.

Sazaedo

In a forest on a remote mountain in Aizumisato, built in 830 at an altitude of 380 meters high, stands a simple but important rustic wooden temple called Sakudari Kannon Temple that is wedged against a rock face. It is said that Kukai founded this temple and carved its 80 centimeters high principle image, Kubinashi Kannon, which is placed upon an altar in a grotto concealed from public view. Not only is the structure of the temple truly amazing, the view is simply breathtaking.

Road to the Edo Period There is a place where you can still enjoy the same experiences as a traveler from long ago: Ouchi-Juku, which lies south of Aizuwakamatsu on an old road called “Aizu Nishikaido.”

The village is reminiscent of the old post towns on the ancient trade route in the Edo period; merchants and feudal lords would pass this way to rest and refresh. It is a living museum of old traditional houses with thatched roofs and bustling shops selling food, drinks and souvenirs. Here, you can experience and enjoy how the people of Aizu spent their everyday lives and lived their faith.

Aizumisato

Another Japan Heritage Aizu is a region steeped in samurai culture and natural beauty. One of the many scenic spots here is Lake Inawashiro, a beautiful lake surrounded by mountain ranges. It is a popular place for recreation for the local people, and also serves as the lifeline of the area by providing water for agriculture and hydro-electricity. The building of the canal during the Meiji era lead to the agricultural development of a previously barren land, and is considered a Japanese heritage site.

Lake Inawashiro Eryuji Temple

Hours: 9am – 4pm Admission: 300 yen Access: 20-min walk from Todera Station (unmanned station on the Tadami Line)

Sazaedo

Hours: 8:15am – sundown (April through December), 9am – 4pm (January through March) Admission: 200 yen (middle and primary school students), 300 yen (university and high school students), 400 yen (adults) Access: 4-min by Akabe bus from Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, get off at Imoriyama shita.

Sakudari Kannon Temple

Access: 12-min by car from Amaya Station (Aizu Railway Line)

Ouchi-Juku

Access: 15-min by car from Yunokami Onsen Station (Aizu Railway Line)

Lake Inawashiro

Access: Area around Inawashiro Station (Ban-etsu-West Line) Sakudari Kannon Temple

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Japan Heritage http://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/nihon_isan/pdf/nihon_isan_pamphlet_english.pdf

Kannon Buddha Temples.

Juichimen Senju Kannon at Eryuji Temple

Sakudari Kannon Temple

Tsuruga Castle

Eryuji Temple Eryuji Temple

The main street of Ouchi-Juku

There are two other Japanese Heritage sites in Tohoku.

In this edition, we briefly mentioned “The waterway that cleared the way to the future” (Fukushima Prefecture), and the “Culture honed by Date Masamune” (Miyagi prefecture) inspired by Sengoku warlords, these will be featured in our next publication of WAttention Tohoku 2017 Autumn & Winter Edition.

The interior of a local restaurant in Ouchi-juku

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Discover Tohoku Tohoku Cuisine Cuisine Local you’ve neverBefore had before!

You dishes Never Seen Mountain and sea delicacies that you can’t get in cities

Tuna Steak

Hoya (sea squirt)

The number one place to find tuna in Aomori prefecture is Fukaura Town, where natsu maguro (summer tuna) is available for a long period every year. This tuna has an exquisite taste both raw and cooked, and is most commonly found as part of a “tuna steak bowl.” Where to eat: Fukaura in Aomori Prefecture

Hoya looks like it’s part of another animal, but it’s actually a species of its own. The sea squirt is also called “sea pineapple” because of its thorny appearance, but its taste is anything but tropical. Being described as “the flavor of the ocean,” expect a surprising mix of sweet, salty, sour and sharp. Where to eat: Hirono and other seaside spots in Miyagi Prefecture

Shark Your jaw might drop at the thought of eating shark meat, but in Miyagi prefecture they use every part of this marine mammal. Prepared in a multitude of ways, such as sashimi or shark fin soup, shark meat’s endless possibilities will surprise you. The photo shows a “Kesennuma shark fin bowl”, which is made with processed shark filets (shark fin).

Hokki (surf clam) The flavor of this ocean critter is said to reach its full potential when lightly cooked. In Miyagi prefecture, the favored way to eat hokki is as hokki meshi, a rice dish with thin slices of hokki.

Where to eat: Watari and other seaside spots in Miyagi Prefecture

Where to eat: Kessennuma in Miyagi Prefecture

Forget ramen - the noodles here are one-of-a-kind!

Wanko Soba

JaJa Men

These soba noodles are for the competitive eater!

Stack up your dishes and see who will become the noodle master. These small servings can quickly add up and a popular goal is to reach one hundred bowls of soba.

This dish uses flat noodles made from soy and wheat and is considered one of the “Three Great Noodles of Morioka.” One defining feature is its miso paste, which is different in every restaurant. Enjoy it with a variety of vegetables and finish by mixing your remaining miso paste with a special egg soup.

Where to eat: Hanamaki City, Morioka City and various restaurants in Iwate Prefecture

Where to eat: Morioka City and various restaurants in Iwate Prefecture

Where to eat: Ouchi-Juku in Fukushima Prefecture

Shojin Ryori (Buddhist cuisine) This all-vegetarian Buddhist cuisine is part of monks’ daily lives. Buddhism teaches not to hurt any living creature and Shojin Ryori is an extension of that belief. Even so, this cuisine's menu is not as meager as you might imagine. From pickled and braised wild mountain vegetables to bowls of miso soup with silken tofu, centuries of Shojin Ryori culture in this area has led to a variety of flavorful dishes.

Yamagata’s three holy mountains are a famous pilgrimage spot and the abundance of mountain vegetables makes it a top location for experiencing the life of a Buddhist monk. Where to eat: Shukubo temple lodge in Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Yamagata Prefecture

Look for sweets made by locals with plenty of love Expect a vibrant spring and summer after the long and formidable winter!

Be amazed by Tohoku’s sweets and fruits.

Cherry Parfait

Babahera

A variety of Yamagata’s delicious cherries top this luxurious parfait. Dig deep to discover the different unique ingredients that make up this multi-layered treat and compare the various cherries. The only time to enjoy this piece of art is during the cherry season,which usually starts in June.

The sight of ice cream being sold under colorful parasols on the streets may be reminiscent of tropical countries and seaside resorts, but here in Akita prefecture, the sight of little old ladies selling ice cream on a regular roadside is commonplace.

This ice cream is called Babahera, a specialty of Akita. “Baba” refers to an elderly lady, while “hera” is the spatula that they use to shape the pink (strawberry flavor) and yellow (banana flavor) ice cream into a flower with practiced ease.

Where to eat: Oh!Show!Café in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture

Himemasu (landlocked sockeye salmon)

You don’t have to travel to the ocean to find fresh salmon. Himemasu can be found inland, making it a sweetwater fish with a different taste from saltwater salmon. Lake Towada is the top spot for this fish, where it is mainly served as sashimi to bring out its sweetness and soft texture.

Where to eat: Lake Towada bordering Akita and Aomori Prefecture

Negi Soba

Inaniwa Udon

If you’re not confident in your chopstick skills, this dish is for you!

This peculiar soba is scooped with a long curved green onion and is a specialty of Ouchi-Juku in Fukushima prefecture.

To add some flavor, you can eat your utensil with your soba.

This extraordinary noodle is the only one of its kind. Inaniwa udon is thinner than regular udon, glossier than ramen and is typically handmade.

This udon is quite chewy, giving it a pleasant texture. It’s no surprise that it’s considered one of Japan’s “Three Greatest Udon.”

Where to eat: Inaniwa area in southern Akita prefecture and various spots in Akita city

Where to eat: Small stalls along the street in Akita Prefecture

Reimen

Shiroishi Umen

Another one of the “Three Great Noodles of Morioka”, reimen is served chilled with a piece of fruit.

Don’t get cold feet! The combination works surprisingly well and the soup is designed to taste best when cold.

TThere is a tale from the Edo period about a son looking for a dietary food for his sick father. He met a monk who told him about a way to make noodles without oil. His father recovered quickly and the dish was named after the area, Shiroishi. These noodles have a smooth taste from being kneaded with salt water.

Where to eat: Morioka city and other spots along the Tohoku Main Line in Iwate Prefecture.

Where to eat: Shiroishi City in Miyagi Prefecture.

14

Start your journey from these 16 locations to experience unspoiled nature, time-honored culture and century old traditon of Japan.

Japan Heritage

Hokkaido

http://www.bunka.go.jp/seisaku/bunkazai/nihon_ isan/pdf/nihon_isan_pamphlet_english.pdf

Shin-Hakodate Hokuto Stn.

Oirase

1. Hirosaki: 30 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Shin-Aomori Station by Tsugaru Limited Express See → P7

Aomori Airport

Oga

Shin-Aomori Stn.

1

Hirosaki Stn.

Tohoku Shinkansen Shin-Aomori Station by JR bus or 2 hours 15minutes from Hachinohe Station by JR bus See → P8, 14

Hachimantai

2

3

6

4

See → P3-4, 6, 13-14

5. Oga: 60 minutes from Akita Shinkansen Akita Station to Hadachi Station by Local LineSee → P5, 8

Morioka Stn. Shin-hanamaki Stn.

10 Murakami

12

Tsuruoka Stn.

16 Inawashiro

Niigata Stn.

14

Sendai Airport

Matsushima

Sendai Stn.

11. Sakata / Tsuruoka / Dewasanzan: 1 hours 50 minutes

from Joetsu Shinkasen Niigata Station to Tsuruoka Station by Local Line. /35minutes fromTsuruoka Station to Sakata Station

by Local Line. /50minutes from Tsuruoka Station to Dewasanzan (Hagurosan) by bus. See → P9-10, 14

Iwate-ken Japan Heritage Dewa Sanzan Japan Heritage Aizu Pilgrimage

Yamagata-ken Miyagi-ken Fukushima-ken Niigata-ken Tokyo

Tokyo Stn.

Station to Kesennuma Station by Local Line See → P13

Ugo-Honjo Station by Local Line

Akita-ken

Bus

9. Kesennuma: 80 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Ichinoseki 10. Chokai: 45 minutes from Akita Shinkansen Akita Station to

Aomori-ken

Local Line Tohoku Main Line Tsugaru Limited Express

7. Kamaishi / Tono: 90 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Shin-

Station to Hiraizumi Station by Tohoku Main Line

Koriyama Stn.

Shinkansen

Shinnkansen Morrioka Station or Akita Shinkansen Akita Station by Akita Shinnkansen See → P3

8. Hiraizumi: 8 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Ichinoseki

Fukushima Stn.

15

6. Kakunodate / Lake Tazawa: 50 minutes from Tohoku

Hanamaki Station to Kamaishi Station by Local Line / 60 minutes from Shin-hanamaki Stastion to Tono Station by Local Line. See → P8

Furukawa Stn.

13 Yamagata Stn.

Kamaishi

9

Ichinoseki Stn.

Murakami Stn.

7

8

11

Station by JR Gono Line. See → P2, 8, 13

Station to Appi Kogen Station, 1 hour 10 minutes from Tohoku Shinnkansen Morioka Station to the top of Hachimantai by bus

Kakunodate Stn.

Akita Stn.

3. Shirakami Sanchi: 2 hours 40 minutes from JR Hirosaki 4. Hachimantai: 60 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Morioka

Hachinohe Stn.

5

Mt. Chokai

2. Hakkoda / Lake Towada / Oirase: 2hours 15 minutes from

12. Naruko: 50 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Furukawa Station to Naruko Onsen Station by Local Line

13. Sendai / Matsushima: 90 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen

Sendai Station to Matushima Station by Local Line See → P6, 7, 13-14

14. Zao / Yamadera: 40 minutes from Yamagata Shinkansen Yamagata Station to Zao Onsen by bus See → P6, 7, 8, 14

15. Aizu / Kitakata / Bandai / Ouchi-juku: 65 minutes from Tohoku Shinkansen Koriyama Station to Aizuwakamatsu Station by Local Line See → P4, 11-12, 13

16. Niigata / Murakami: 60 minutes from Joetsu Shinkansen Niigata Station See → P8

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