🍁 10 Days in Tohoku – Rail & Road Trip

Rail & Road Trip Through Autumn Leaves from Aomori to Tokyo

Day 1: Narita → Aomori
• ✈️ Arrived at Narita → NEX → Tokyo → Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori
• 🌧️ Light stroll around Aomori city in the drizzle
• 🛍️ Visited A-Factory for local goods and cider
• 🥩 Dinner at a yakiniku spot with great local beef
• 💤 Stayed overnight in Aomori City

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Day 2: Road Trip – Aomori → Towada → Aomori
• 🚗 Rented a car and visited:
• Hakkoda Ropeway – autumn foliage with snow on top (5/5)
• Jogakura Bridge – Japan’s longest arch bridge (4/5)
• Oirase Gorge – tranquil walk with waterfalls (4/5)
• Lake Towada – iconic “Otome no Zō” statue (3/5)
• Nakano Momijiyama – shrine and red bridge surrounded by fall colors (3/5)
• 💤 Returned and stayed in Aomori City

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Day 3: Aomori → Hachinohe → Morioka
• 🚄 Took the Shinkansen to Hachinohe
• ⛩️ Visited Kabushima Shrine by the sea (5/5)
• 🚄 Continued on to Morioka
• 🏛️ Walked around the red-brick old bank and Iwate Park
• 💤 Stayed overnight in Morioka

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Day 4: Kakunodate & Lake Tazawa
• 🚆 Day trip to Kakunodate
• Dakigaeri Gorge – brilliant fall foliage and waterfalls (5/5)
• Bukeyashiki Dori – samurai houses and local sweets (4/5)
• 🚆 Continued to Lake Tazawa – clear lake with snowy backdrop (5/5)
• 💤 Returned to Morioka

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Day 5: Morioka → Ichinoseki → Hiraizumi → Sendai
• 🚄 Headed to Ichinoseki
• 🏞️ Genbikei Gorge – dramatic river gorge and mochi delivery by sling (4/5)
• 🛕 Visited temples in Hiraizumi: Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji (4/5)
• 🚄 Took the train to Sendai
• 💤 Overnight in Sendai

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Day 6: Zao Fox Village & Okama Crater
• 🚗 Rented a car for a self-drive day trip
• 🦊 Zao Fox Village – up close with foxes (3/5)
• 🌄 Komakusadaira Observatory – mountain and waterfall views (5/5)
• 🌋 Okama Crater – volcanic lake surrounded by peaks (5/5)
• ⛩️ Attempted to visit Yamadera Temple but arrived too late (–/5)
• 💤 Returned car and stayed in Sendai

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Day 7: Sendai → Nikko
• 🚄 Traveled to Nikko
• 🏯 Visited UNESCO heritage sites like Toshogu Shrine, Futarasan Shrine, etc.
• 🏞️ Optional trip to Lake Chūzenji if time permits
• 💤 Stayed in the Kinugawa Onsen area

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Day 8: Nikko → Tokyo
• 🚄 Took the train to Tokyo
• 🏙️ Light city stroll, shopping, or local eats
• 💤 Stayed in Tokyo

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Day 9: Tokyo
• 🛍️ Free day in Tokyo – explore districts like Shibuya, Asakusa, Harajuku, or Ueno
• 💤 Final night in Tokyo

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Day 10: Tokyo → Narita Airport
• ✈️ Headed to Narita for the flight back home

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📌 Trip Summary
• ✅ Used the JR EAST PASS (Tohoku) for 5 days – huge savings and flexibility
• ✅ Rented cars in Aomori and Sendai for nature destinations not reachable by train
• ✅ Balanced local culture, scenic nature, historic towns, and city life
• 🍂 Perfect for an autumn trip through the heart of northern Japan

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