Region:Northern japan / Japan Travel Videos

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo

Sapporo Maruyama Zoo is located in the expansive Maruyama Park in Hokkaido’s capital Sapporo. Although the zoo is located in the city, it is close to nature. Maruyama Wild Forest, part of Maruyama Park, is a designated wildlife sanctuary. Inside the zoo you can see animals from around the world, but also species from Japan’s northernmost region of Hokkaido such as bears, deer, and squirrels. Maruyama Zoo was opened in 1951 as the first zoo in Hokkaido and now houses over 170 animal species. Easy access makes this a good place to visit with small children.

Hokkaido Zoo Animals Fun Travel with children

Sapporo, rugby legend's visit

Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido. It is an excellent base for exploring Hokkaido’s mountains, ski resorts, coastal towns, and wildlife. In Japan, Hokkaido is known for its good food made with local ingredients like dairy, meats and seafood. Sapporo is known for its food scene, beer, ramen noodles, and grilled “Genghis Khan” mutton and vegetables. For a great view of the city, visit the large Moerenuma Park and go up Mount Moere. Sapporo is also famous for its Snow Festival with large sculptures made of snow and ice on display in the city each winter.

Eat Play Park Art View

Things to do in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Sapporo is Japan's fifth-largest city and the prefectural capital of Japan's northernmost region, Hokkaidō, The city is famous with local food such as fresh seafood, ramen, and Jingisukan (grilled mutton) . Sapporo Snow Festival is annually held in early February.

Hokkaido Sapporo Eat Fish Park Eat Ramen Shopping Observatory

Visit Kesennuma, Miyagi

Kesennuma is located on the Sanriku Coast in Miyagi Prefecture in the north of Japan’s main island, Honshu. The city has a large fishing port and its fish market is one of the biggest in Japan. Oshima island is part of the city. The tsunami caused by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake hit Kesennuma’s waterfront area hard, but the city has been recovering. Now there are again many places where you can enjoy delicious local seafood and sake. For good views of the coast and the port, walk up Mount Anba. There are several viewpoints along the trail to the summit.

View Coast Eat Seafood Sake

Aomori trip

Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on the main island of Honshu but it takes about only three hours from Tokyo to Aomori City. The northern towns inherit traditional local culture such as Nebuta summer festival. You can experience the vibrant atmosphere of the festival all thought the year at Nebuta Museum WA RASSE near Aomori Station. Aomori Museum of Art and the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins are located in the walkable distance. The archaeological site is one of the 17 components of the UNESCO’S World Heritage Site “Jomon Prehistoric Sites in Northern Japan“ designated by UNESCO in 2021 as the sites contain ruins from the prehistoric Jomon Period (14,000 - 300 BCE).

Eat Market Culture Museum Ruins History Onsen

Aomori, Japan

Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on the main island of Honshu, Japan that shows beautiful landscapes in four distinct seasons. Hirosaki Park is a famous cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. In fall, hiking among the waterfalls and autumn foliage at Oirase Gorge in Towada-Hachimantai National Park is popular. In winter, you can enjoy skiing and snowboarding in Hakkoda Mountains and onsen hot spring at Sukayu Onsen.

Park Castle Onsen Mountain Snow Nature Eat

Let's travel to Iwate

Iwate is located in the Tohoku region in the northeast of the country’s main island and it takes two hours and a little more from Tokyo to its prefectoral capital, Morioka City by Tohoku Shinansen bullet train. You can visit more popular places in the prefecture from other stations of Shinkansen such as Chusonji Temple, a component of the World Heritage “Hiraizumi – Temples, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land”. The east coast of Iwate is a part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park that stretches out along the Pacific Ocean. Sanriku Railway runs along the coast line and stops at Kamaishi City, the host town of the Rugby World Cup 2019 and Myako City, a main fishing port where you can enjoy local seafood and scenic spots like Jodogahama Beach.

History Gorge Temple Ocean Beach Train

Journey to Iwate

Iwate is the second-largest prefecture in Japan, located in the Tohoku region in the northeast of the country’s main island. Iwate is known for its stunning landscapes from mountains and valleys to a spectacular coastline. Take a masterclass in Japanese culture and folk tales in Tono Valley, explore the Ryusendo Cave and its underground lakes in Iwaizumi, or visit the seaside. The coast is part of the Sanriku Fukko National Park that stretches out along the Pacific Ocean. In Miyako City, a main fishing port, you can enjoy local seafood and scenic spots like Jodogahama Beach and the Blue Cave.

Nature Scenery History Coast Culture Eat

Kamaishi, rugby legend's visit

Kamaishi is located on the Pacific coast in the northern part of Japan’s main island, Honshu. It lies in the Sanriku Fukko National Park in Iwate Prefecture, a region that was hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami in 2011. Kamaishi is a fishing port, but also known as a steel town and a rugby Town. It has one of the UNESCO World Heritage “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining”. Kamaishi has a very successful rugby team and the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium was one of the 12 Rugby World Cup 2019 venues.

Eat Ramen Sake Rugby National park World heritage

Winter in Ginzan Onsen, Yamagata

Ginzan Onsen is an onsen area in Yamagata Prefecture. The traditional wooden architecture of Japanese style ryokan inns along the river depict a typical townscape of a Japanese onsen resort from years past.

Yamagata Ginzan onsen Onsen

Kitakata, Home of Sake and Ramen

Kitakata City is located 220 km north from Tokyo. The town is famous with traditional kura (storehouses) constructed centuries ago as the storages for sake, miso soy source or lacquer ware. Some of which are currently operated as sake breweries, shops or museums. There are over 100 ramen noodle restaurants known as Kitakata Ramen.

Ramen Sake Shrine Eat Drink Experience

Love Fukushima

Aizu is the westernmost region of Fukushima Prefecture. In the past, feudal lords ruled the area with their samurai warriors from Tsuruga Castle in Aizu Wakamatsu. The museum inside the reconstructed castle explains Aizu’s history. In Ouchi-juku you can feel like a traveller in old Japan. This post town was a stop on the route to Edo (Tokyo). In Kitakata, try local sake and the city’s famous ramen noodles. Lake Inawashiro near Aizu Wakamatsu is one of the largest lakes in Japan. It belongs to the Bandai Asahi National Park where you can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and watersports.

Nature National park Hiking Skiing Castle View History Samurai sake

Fukushima, must see spots

Aizu is the western region of Fukushima Prefecture. Aizu Wakamatsu City is a center of the region and as the city names themselves as "Samurai City", the area shows the samurai tradition at the landmarks such as Tsuruga Castle and Aizu Bukeyashiki (Samurai residence). It also has been a town of merchants with beautiful storehouses. Ouchi-juku is an old post town which is famous with its traditional thatched buildings that line its main street.

Fukushima Aizu Castle Old town Temple