Tohoku travel

ONSEN TravelBlog

[Iwate] Experiencing the Mixed-Gender Outdoor Bath at Geto Onsen – Solo Woman’s Stay at a Hidden Hot Spring Lodge

I Stayed at Motoyu Geto – A Hidden Hot Spring Lodge in Iwate I stayed at Motoyu Geto, a member of the Association to Preserve Japan’s Hidden Hot Springs, located in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture! This remote onsen inn is open only during the warmer months and closes in winter due to heavy snowfall. The location is so secluded that the inn’s official website even includes a warning for those unsure of their driving skills—it’s that deep in the mountains with narrow, winding roads barely wide enough for one car. Although I rented a car, I wasn’t confident driving on ...

TravelBlog

Discover Iwakiyama Shrine: A Spiritual Power Spot in Hirosaki with 1,200 Years of History

A Spiritual Sanctuary with Over 1,200 Years of History – Visiting Iwakiyama Shrine This is a travel blog from my journey around Japan, featuring a stop at the powerful spiritual site: Iwakiyama Shrine. Just across from Onsen Ryokan Nakano lies Iwakiyama Shrine, one of Hirosaki’s most renowned power spots. I paid a visit early in the morning, before other worshippers had arrived, to pray for a safe journey. Founded in 780 at the summit of Mount Iwaki, this shrine has long been revered as a guardian for agriculture and fishing, a deity of development for the Tsugaru region, and a ...

Food TravelBlog

Exploring Sendai Morning Market|Fresh Local Foods & Hidden Street Eats Just 5 Minutes from the Station

Just a 5-minute walk from JR Sendai Station, the **Sendai Morning Market** is a bustling shopping street packed with fresh local produce and regional flavors from Miyagi Prefecture. It’s not just a market—it’s a local experience. From fresh vegetables and fruits to seafood, meats, and handmade street food, you can enjoy both shopping and eating all in one lively place. Vendors call out energetically as locals and tourists flow through the narrow aisles, creating a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere that’s uniquely Sendai. When is the Sendai Morning Market Open? The market is open **daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM**, except ...

TravelBlog

Pilgrimage Spot for Anime Fans: Visit the Real “Suzume’s Door” in Yamada, Iwate

Pilgrimage Spot for Anime Fans: Visit the Real “Suzume’s Door” in Yamada, Iwate The Door from “Suzume” The second half of the anime film *Suzume*—which deals with the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake—features the Sanriku coastal region as a key setting. For those who’ve seen the movie, you might recognize this spot: near a radio tower where Suzume’s childhood home once stood. The “backdoor” plays a symbolic role in the film. Search “Ano Tobira” (That Door) on Google Maps, and this location will appear! Makoto Shinkai’s *Suzume* is a story about loss and recovery set against the backdrop ...

TravelBlog

Visiting the 3.11 Tsunami Memorial in Rikuzentakata: Remembering the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Miracle Pine

Visiting the 3.11 Tsunami Memorial in Rikuzentakata: Remembering the Great East Japan Earthquake and the Miracle Pine Iwate Tsunami Memorial Museum During my onsen-focused trip around Japan, I chose to travel through the Sanriku coast—a region not known for hot springs—because I wanted to witness the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake firsthand. The earthquake struck at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011, originating about 130km southeast of the Oshika Peninsula in Miyagi Prefecture, at a depth of around 24km. Like many people, I only knew the disaster through news and the internet. In the rain, I went ...

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