Eight Days In Northern Japan

Hello:

We will be traveling in northern Japan for eight days later this month. We will be going from Tokyo to Sapporo and will have a seven-day rail pass. Heading to South Korea after that.

We have been to Japan several times, but never been north of Tokyo. We have looked at sample itineraries for this region, but would be very interested in any suggestions for maximizing our rail pass and seeing as many highlights of northern Japan as possible.

We are experienced travelers without any limitations who have visited more than 80 countries. We enjoy a mix of cultural, outdoor and culinary activities.

Any help and suggestions, particularly from locals, would be most appreciated.

I recommend making Sendai your base city and doing day trips to a few nearby areas (Shiogama & Matsushima, Naruko Gorge, Hiraizumi and Yamadera)

Day 1:
- Travel to Sendai from Tokyo.
- Explore Sendai
Recommended spots;
- Zuihoden Mausoleum https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5153.html
- Aoba Castle Ruins https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5152.html
- Rinnoji Temple https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5154.html
- Recommended meal: Gyutan https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5157.html

Day 2:
Start in Shiogama;
- Shiogama Fish Market (Have a personalised kaisendon for breakfast) https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5043.html
- Shiogama Shrine https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5042.html
- Basho Cruise around Matsushima Bay from Shiogama to Matsushima. https://www.marubun-kisen.com/english/matsushima/basho.html
- Explore Matsushima https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5100.html


Day 3:
Day trip to Naruko Gorge and Naruko Onsen https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5177.html


Day 4:
Day trip to Hiraizumi https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5000.html


Day 5:
Day trip to Yamadera https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7940.html

After Yamadera, you might want to consider then travelling from Sendai to Hakodate and spending a day there before travelling to your final destination of Sapporo.


Day 6:
Explore Hakodate https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5350.html

Day 7:
Travel from Hakodate to Sapporo

Also, if this sounds good to you, let me know if you want more detailed recommendations of the spots in these areas to visit and where to eat.

Personally, I don't think it's necessary to go to Sendai. Good for eating and shopping.
(I haven't been to Matsushima, so I don't know)
If you go to Hiraizumi, we recommend that you include Genbikei and Geibikei in your plans.
https://visitiwate.com/article/4707
https://visitiwate.com/article/4712
It's probably the fall foliage season.
I've never been there, but I think that's also the autumn foliage season at Oirase Gorge in Aomori.
https://weathernews.jp/koyo/spot/23107/
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3775.html
I think it would be a good idea to go as a set with Lake Towada.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3778.html
Buses bound for Lake Towada will be running until November 5th.
https://www.jrbustohoku.co.jp/towadako-oirase/en/
This is probably the season for autumn leaves in Kakunodate.
https://koyo.walkerplus.com/detail/ar0205e13019/
For the rest, please refer to this.
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1102.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1101.html
https://www.japan-guide.com/list/e1103.html

Thank you. This is all very helpful. One thing I may not have made clear is that we have seven-day JR Rail passes for travel between Tokyo and Sapporro.

As I mentioned earlier, we are leaving Japan from Sapporo, so this is a one way route through the north, rather than round trip.

I was looking at this itinerary and would be interested in your thoughts about it:

Day One: Tokyo to Aizuwakamatsu
Day Two: More Aizuwakamatsu, then on to Sendai
Day Three: Oku Nikkawa and the Matsushima coastline
Day Four: Sendai to Hirosaki
Day Five: Shirakami Sanchi
Day Six: Hirosaki to Hakodate
Day Seven: Hakodate to Sapporro

Again, thank you both for taking the time to provide the information above. I will study it closely, as well as any additional feedback I receive.

having gone to Sapporo 21 straight years then nothing for 4 because of virus then 2 weeks in June this year, Hokkaido is very different than northern Honshu (visited a few times) so the rail pass may be misleading you into maximizing your overall stops and planning. I never check in then check out every day as valuable time is totally lost. A highlight tour of one day at each place does not work because some places (Otaru-say 4 hours) require less than a day while others (Sapporo-weeks) can never be done in a day. If this is a one and done, then you can run as fast as you can but regret not having sufficient time to actually enjoy a place

(1) Nikko: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3800.html
(2) Aizu-wakamatsu: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7700.html
(3) Matsushima: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5100.html
(4) Jodogahama: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5029.html
(5) Aomori: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3750.html
(6) Hakodate: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5350.html
etc.