🌄 Exploring Japan's Northeast
Most people know about Hokkaido, Aomori, and Tokyo, but few are aware of Akita, Miyagi, and Ibaraki, nestled between them. I took advantage of the JR Pass to travel through the Tohoku region. I will introduce the best ways to explore each area one by one. Today's spotlight is on—Akita Prefecture. 🌸「Things to Do in Akita」 🏰 Kakunodate: About 1 hour by Shinkansen from Akita City, it was once the domain of samurai in the Edo period, leaving behind many traditional buildings, making it more down-to-earth compared to Kyoto. If you visit during the 🌸 cherry blossom season, it will be a trip well worth taking. 🏞️ Lake Tazawa: Japan's deepest lake, incredibly azure under the sunlight! It's perfect for a circumferential lake tour, but due to infrequent bus schedules, you might want to hire a taxi 🚕. The nearby Nipponbashi Onsen ♨️ is also very well-known. 🏰 Odate: The hometown of the loyal dog Hachiko, this place has the strongest presence of Akita dogs. Friends who love Akita dogs should not miss this place. 🏰 Noshiro: You may not know Noshiro, but you must know 【Sanno High School】. Yes, the prototype of Sanno is right here. 🚞「Itinerary Planning」 Akita's itinerary is relatively off-the-beaten-path; you won't see crowds at every attraction! This is the best choice for exploring hidden gems, although frequent route-finding might not be suitable for first-time visitors to Japan. My suggestion is to combine it with Aomori Prefecture to the north for better value. ♨️ Here's my route: 🐕 D1: Hirosaki - Odate - Noshiro - Akita 🐕 D2: Akita - Kakunodate - Lake Tazawa - Nipponbashi Onsen 🐕 D3: Nipponbashi Onsen - Lake Tazawa - Tokyo 🤔「Itinerary Design Strategy」 🔷 Akita's tourism is generally underdeveloped, so it's not as well-known as some places in Kanto or Kansai. Honestly, it's because of this underdevelopment that you can find some original flavors. 🔷 Akita's attractions are spread out, leading to high transportation costs, so purchasing the 5PASS is very cost-effective. 🔷 Departing from Tokyo: It's recommended to travel from south to north (Lake Tazawa - Kakunodate - Noshiro - Odate - continue north or return to Akita). 🔷 Departing from Aomori: It's recommended to purchase the Gono Line ticket, making the journey worthwhile. Once in Akita, continue by Shinkansen. 🔷 Generally, 4-5 days is enough to have a great time. #SummerGreens #TravelWhispers #TravelerWeeklyChallenge #Tourism #Akita #OffTheBeatenPath #TravelRecommendationOfficial
