Enjoy Tohoku in winter! A luxurious trip around the spectacular scenery of Zao, Naruko Onsen, and Matsushima

On the first day, enjoy winter sports and the large open-air bath at Zao Onsen!

Yamagata Airport

Yamagata Airport is widely known as "Delicious Yamagata Airport" and is located in Higashine City, located north of Yamagata City. It is connected by direct flights to four cities, Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Sapporo, and by bus it takes about 25 minutes to get to Yamagata City. There are also shuttle buses and sightseeing liners to tourist spots such as Zao Onsen, making it easily accessible. It is used by many travelers as a base for gourmet food and sightseeing.

1

Zao Onsen Ski Resort

The world-class beauty of frost-covered trees and a magnificent panorama of the Zao mountain range. A variety of slope courses that you can enjoy with outstanding powder snow, and a light-up of frost covered trees in a fantastic atmosphere. One of the largest snow resort areas in Tohoku, where you can enjoy all day long.

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Zao Ice Tree Festival

The Zao Juhyo Festival is held from late December to late February. The highlight is the fantastic lighting up of the juhyo trees. The colorful juhyo trees, which are different from the silvery white of the daytime, float up into the night sky, creating an atmosphere that makes you forget about everyday life. There are also activities unique to winter, such as winter fireworks, a tour of the power spots of the ski resort, and the "1,000 People Torch Sliding" where you slide down the slope holding LED torches.

2

Yunohana Chaya Shinzaemon no Yu

Yunohana Chaya Shinzaemon no Yu is a popular day-trip bathing facility in Zao Onsen that was founded 1900 years ago. While enjoying the beautiful seasonal scenery, you can relax in the "Mogami Takayu" which is 100% source water, the "Yon-Roku no Yu" which is made by diluting hot spring water with hot water, and the three "Kameyu" baths of different temperatures. The indoor bath is also a weakly alkaline spring that contains plenty of minerals, so you can enjoy a variety of baths. There are also plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops, making it a popular spot with tourists.

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On the second day, after sightseeing around Zao, we went to Naruko Onsen (Onikobe).

3

Miyagi Zao Fox Village

Miyagi Zao Fox Village is a rare fox breeding facility in Japan, and is also known for its involvement in the film "Helen the Baby Fox." Located in the forest of the Kawahara district, where you can see the peak of Mt. Fubo, the facility is home to over 100 foxes of six different species, including red foxes, silver foxes, and arctic foxes. It is a popular spot for tourists, with a wide selection of original fox goods.

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4

Kaleidoscope Museum

Kaleidoscope museum located in Akiu, Sendai.
You can actually touch and see various kaleidoscopes collected from around the world.
In the shop on the first floor, there is a handmade kaleidoscope corner that everyone from children to adults can enjoy, where you can make a one-of-a-kind souvenir to take home. (Depending on the type you make, the time required is about 10 to 45 minutes)

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Japan Kokeshi Museum

The Japan Kokeshi Museum is a facility where you can learn about the history and culture of the traditional Tohoku region craft, kokeshi, and exhibits over 5,000 traditional kokeshi dolls collected from all over the country. Among the 11 varieties of kokeshi dolls handed down by artisans from all over Tohoku, there is also the Naruko Kokeshi. Naruko Onsen is known as the oldest production area of kokeshi dolls, and inside the museum you can enjoy demonstrations by artisans and a kokeshi painting experience.

Onikobe Onsen Public Bath Me no Yu

"Me no Yu" in the Onikobe Onsen area is a day-trip hot spring facility. You will be greeted by a lobby made of 200-year-old Onikobe cedar trees, and you can enjoy two types of baths: an indoor bath and an open-air bath. As the name suggests, the spring water contains ingredients that are beneficial for the eyes. The temperature of the open-air bath changes depending on the outside temperature of the day, so it's also fun to enjoy that.

From the third day onwards, you can relax at the inn "Hotel WAMARE Onikobe"

After enjoying winter sports and sightseeing, you can relax and enjoy the Tohoku winter in the Naruko Onsen and Onikobe Onsen areas, which are filled with abundant nature.

To make your trip even more special, you can rent out the entire building at the inn "Hotel WAMARE Onikobe." Enjoy five unique Japanese-style rooms in a space that harmonizes Japanese elements with traditional crafts. From the balcony, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Kurikoma Quasi-National Park.

In the area around Hotel WAMARE Onikobe, there are tourist attractions such as the Nakabachi Museum of Art, the former Yubikan building, Naruko Gorge, and Onikobe Ski Resort, so you'll never get bored.

Official website: https://www.wa-mare.com/stay/onikoube/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotel_wamare_onikoube/?locale=ja_JP

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572488806538

Final Day

The last part of the trip is a sightseeing boat tour of Matsushima, one of the three most scenic spots in Japan.

5

Matsushima

The Matsushima Island Tour Sightseeing Boat is a 50-minute sightseeing boat tour where you can enjoy the spectacular views of Matsushima, one of the Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan, from the sea. You can enjoy the beautiful islands of Matsushima Bay, touring famous sites such as Kanejima, Niojima, and the magnificent rocky Kagedajima. Departing and arriving at Matsushima, the view from the sea has a different charm from that on land, and will be the highlight of your trip to Matsushima.

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6

Zuiganji Temple

Zuiganji Temple is one of the oldest temples in the Tohoku region, known as the family temple of Date Masamune. Masamune spent five years completing the temple, embodied in the Momoyama style. You can view a wide range of cultural properties, including the main hall, which is designated a national treasure, and the Onarimon Gate, an important cultural property. The group of buildings, which have a history of about 400 years, are valuable structures that allow you to experience the emotions felt by Masamune himself.

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7

Sendai airport

Sendai Airport is a sophisticatedly designed, fully-equipped facility with easy access to expressways and railways. From the observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the skyscrapers of downtown Sendai to the north and the Zao mountain range to the west. The airport is full of attractions, with a wide variety of shops selling Sendai's specialty products.

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Let's go to Naruko Onsen (Onikobe) to enjoy the spectacular winter scenery created by nature!

In addition to the spots introduced this time, there are many other places to enjoy in the Zao and Naruko Onsen areas. Be sure to use this as a reference for your winter trip to Tohoku.