A route that visits Tohoku's summer festivals, held one after another in August, covering one city a day from Morioka to Sendai. For five days, you repeat the same rhythm: see the city's sights by day and the festival by night.
Arrive in Morioka on the Tohoku Shinkansen, visit Koiwai Farm in the daytime, and watch Sansa Odori in the city center at night.
A farm reached by bus from Morioka Station. It is best to arrive in the morning, when the cows are out.
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After returning to Morioka Station, walk around this castle ruins park with its surviving stone walls. It is close to the city center, where the Sansa Odori takes place.
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Watch the dance parade performed to drums and flutes.
View guide →Take the shinkansen to Shin-Aomori Station. See the Sannai-Maruyama Site and Wa Rasse in the daytime and the Nebuta Festival at night.
A Jomon-period site reachable by bus from Shin-Aomori Station. There are indoor exhibition facilities, so it is easy to visit even on a hot day.
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A facility right near Aomori Station where you can see large nebuta floats that paraded in the festival up close. Learning how they work before the evening parade makes it even more enjoyable.
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Watch the large nebuta floats parade through the city at night. On the final day, there is a parade on the sea and a fireworks display instead, so check the guide to see which day you will be there.
View guide →Take JR to Akita, visit Omoriyama Zoo and Senshu Park in the daytime, and see the Kanto Festival at night.
A zoo reached by bus from the west exit of Akita Station. It has an amusement park attached, so families can spend half a day here.
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Located on high ground in Senshu Park, within walking distance of Akita Station, with an observation deck overlooking the city.
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Watch performers balance kanto poles hung with lanterns on their palms, foreheads and hips. The venue is Kanto Odori avenue in central Akita.
View guide →Head south on the Ou Main Line, get off at Oishida Station, and walk around Ginzan Onsen before going on to Yamagata Station. This is the day with the most travel.
A hot spring town reached by bus from Oishida Station. With public bathhouses and footbaths, you can enjoy the hot springs even on a day visit.
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When you arrive at Yamagata Station, tour the former prefectural office building in the city center. The Hanagasa parade continues up to the front of Bunshokan, so it also doubles as a preview of the evening venue.
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Watch the parade of dancers holding hanagasa flower hats as they make their way along the main street.
View guide →Take the Senzan Line to Sendai, see the Tanabata decorations in the daytime, then visit Zuihoden and the aquarium before heading home by shinkansen.
The Tanabata decorations can be seen during the day, so head first to the shopping arcades in the city center when you arrive. You can walk around them from the station.
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The mausoleum of Date Masamune, reached on foot from Omachi-Nishikoen Station on the Tozai subway line. You can cool off a little among the trees.
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Take the JR Senseki Line to Nakanosakae Station. Visit the aquarium last, then return to Sendai Station and head home by shinkansen.
View guide →Sample itineraries from day trips to 5 days, by region and season. Every stop links to its guide, and you can save any itinerary as your own trip plan and rearrange it day by day.
🗺 Day tripTohoku ・ 3 stops
A day trip from Tokyo to Sendai by shinkansen, using the Tozai subway line and the JR Senseki Line to visit a zoo, Zuihoden and an aquarium. A combination that works for both families with children and history lovers.
🗺 2 days, 1 nightWinterTohoku ・ 6 stops ・ December・January・February
A winter route in Yamagata where you climb snowy Yamadera, stay at gas-lamp-lit Ginzan Onsen, and see the Zao snow monsters (frost-covered trees) the next day. It packs Yamagata's winter highlights into two days by JR and bus.
Check prices, opening hours and access on each stop’s guide and official website. Seasonal events and peak seasons vary from year to year.
Information as of 2026-10-13
