Tohoku - The Narrow Road to the Deep North

The route snakes through the spine of this traditional region, known for its expansive landscapes, rustic hot springs, mountains and lakes. Our 13-day tour will take you from the northernmost prefecture of Aomori, through the historical castle town of Hirosaki, with its leaf-viewing festival in autumn, and past Lake Towada, a huge crater lake surrounded by forests. You will be able to unwind in Nyuto Onsen’s milky mineral waters after a day in the saddle, and enjoy great local food such as kiritanpo (grilled rice on skewers), gyutan (beef tongue) and wanko soba (noodles served in numerous small bowls). The route is interspersed with historical towns including perfectly preserved Kakunodate and traditional Ouchi-juku. The tour will end at Nikko National Park, home to Toshogu, Japan’s most lavishly decorated shrine, with the whole area well known for its autumn colors.

As part of “The Northern Collection”, our Tohoku tour is designed to follow on from our final guided Hokkaido tour, “Wild Hokkaido Explorer”. As autumn draws to a close in Hokkaido, we encourage you to chase the warmth and coloured foliage further south, by connecting to our Tohoku tour. Next spring, why not go the opposite direction, by starting with our Tohoku tour from the south and escaping up to the fresher climes of Hokkaido?

Anything is possible on our new Tohoku Tour!

Tohoku Highlights

• Travel the paths that the poet, Matsuo Basho, once trod; “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”.
• Cycle past caldera lakes, through national parks and around famous castle towns.
• Experience well-preserved, historical Edo-era towns.
• Enjoy a relaxing soak in numerous hot-spring baths.
• Explore uncrowded beauty spots and stunning mountain landscapes.
• Sample local delicacies and culinary delights.
• Wonder in World Heritage Nikko’s spectacular temples and shrines.