All About Japan

YAMAGATA

Yamagata: Rivers of Ice & Snowy Onsen

Established in the 1400s as a silver mine, Ginzan Onsen reached its height in the 1600s. After the silver was gone, the population thinned, but the hot springs were still known as a place for therapeutic bathing.

Discover the Beauty of Tohoku

Japan's northeastern Tohoku region offers the comforts of refreshing nature, beautiful scenery and time-tested traditions—concentrating the best of Japan into a single incredible area!

The 11 Best Things to See in Golden Week

Golden Week is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan, and these 11 spots and events each offer something unique that can only be experienced at this time of year. You don't want to miss them!

Explore the Mysteries of Tohoku

If the heavy winter snow or rugged mountains didn’t keep you away, the stories of roaming bandits and forest monsters would! But nowadays people come to Tohoku to explore folklore, sacred rituals and natural wonders thousands of years in the making.

6 Sublime Views in Tohoku

The northeast region of Honshu, Tohoku, is a destination for all seasons. If you're looking to see nature at its finest, head north!

Super Cheap Japan's Top Fall Spots in Tohoku

Places in Tohoku can be quite spread out, so if you're traveling through a number of spots in the area, a train pass or bus pass is your best bet.

The 6 Greatest Snowscapes in Tohoku

Tohoku is an incredible area to experience the harshness and beauty of nature—particularly in the winter!

Japan's 3 Great 'Bon Odori' Dance Festivals

Summer is the season of the festival in Japan, and these three celebrations will have you literally dancing in the streets.

Posh Japan Train Travels to Try Before You Die

If you think cross-country train rides only offer magnificent views, think again. Japan, teeming with glorious natural wonders, has made moving from one prefecture to another a luxurious experience you'll never forget!

The 10 Best Spring Spots in Tohoku

With some of the best nature and scenery in all of Japan, spring is particularly spectacular in Tohoku, with a magnitude of cherry blossom viewing spots that typically bloom a few weeks later than Tokyo and Kyoto.

7 Lesser-Known Art Galleries You Should See

In Japan you can find delicate scrolls, exquisite pottery and incredible kimono art along with works by Yoshitomo Nara, Henri Matisse or Pablo Picasso—you just need to know where to look!

The 5 Most Beautiful Villages in Tohoku

Check out Tohoku's most picturesque countryside towns.

4 Lesser-Known Tohoku Summer Festivals

Head north to see hundreds of riders in samurai armor recreate 1,000-year-old training techniques!

All the Best Fall Color Spots in Tohoku

Check out these famous fall color spots and their nearby hot springs in each of northeastern Japan's six prefectures.

From Silver Mine to Hot Spring Village

Learn why people are flocking from all over Japan to this former mining town, from the relaxing hot springs to the feeling of ancient Japan.

6 Must-Try Local Specialties in Tohoku

To learn the heart of a region, you gotta eat like a local! Here are six ways to make sure you eat right in Tohoku.

4 Cool Things You Probably Missed on SnowJapan

As with any big site, there are many great parts of SnowJapan that get overlooked, even by frequent users. Here are four things you probably didn't know you could do!

Following in the Footsteps of Matsuo Basho

While it didn't take 156 days, our friend Johnny at Spoon & Tamago headed to Yamagata Prefecture to see the world through Japanese poet Matsuo Basho's eyes.

The True 'Deep' North: Caving in Tohoku

Big, small, weird, wonderful, and beautiful! Welcome to the world of caving in Tohoku!

Follow the Footsteps of Poet Matsuo Basho

Pack your hiking boots and get ready for an adventure as we take you to the most fascinating and beautiful spots of Japan's deep north by way of the poet Matsuo Basho.

know-before-you-go