Steaming mineral-rich pools of health and happiness are found everywhere in Yamagata from the coastline to its mountainous interior, and can be enjoyed quickly on a day trip or slowly and decadently on a hot spring holiday. For visitors on a snow holiday, local hot spring (onsen) villages are … Read More
“…unforgettable scenery, hot springs and powder snow…” Zao Hot Springs Ski Resort is one of Japan's vintage snow resorts, famous for its combination of rare, unforgettable scenery, abundant hot springs and powder snow. It was established in 1925 soon the birth of skiing in Japan, and has … Read More
Yamagata Prefecture stands out as a must-visit powder destination; it's a part of a region in Japan that is blanketed by some of the country's heaviest snowfall every winter. Located less than three hours by bullet train to the north of Tokyo, some 160,000ha of the prefecture is national parkla… Read More
A FESTIVE WINTER VISIT TO KOIWAI FARM Iwate's iconic dairy farm has the goods for a fun day out An easy day trip from Morioka, Koiwai Farm is a delicious stop for dairy lovers on a visit to Iwate. The farm is the source of some of Japan's best milk, butter, cheese, ice cream and gelato, and with … Read More
THE WINTER MYSTIQUE OF GEIBIKEI GORGE AND HIRAIZUMI Discovering Iwate's World Heritage-listed Buddhist sites, and one of Japan's 100 famous landscapes GEIBIKEI GORGE Winter cruises on the Satetsu River through Geibikei Gorge depart throughout the day from December to February, and can be… Read More
SNOW HOLIDAYS SOUTH OF MT IWATE Three great snow resorts just an hour from Morioka Enjoying picturesque views and abundant snowfall in winter, the Shizukuishi, Amihari and Iwate Kogen areas are all tailor-made for a great snow holiday in Iwate. They lie to the south of the prefecture's symbolic … Read More
THE CITY OF TREES AND WATER Exploring Morioka, Iwate's historic castle town Morioka's famous rock-splitting cherry blossom tree, the "Ishiwari-zakura" is almost as old as the history of the city as a prominent feudal castle town. This beautiful feature of the local heritage trail is believed to … Read More
UNTOLD BEAUTY Hachimantai is a nature lover's paradise Make sure you bring an extra SD card when you visit Hachimantai, because chances are you'll find it hard to put your camera away. The area is dominated by a vast section of Towada-Hachimantai National Park, and puts on a mesmerising disp… Read More
APPI, THE POWDER PALACE OF IWATE Appi brings a modern sophistication and unspoilt beauty to powder-rich snow holidays in the Tohoku region It's no mean feat to start out as an extra, and end up stealing the show from lead actors who have been in the role for decades. This is exactly what Appi h… Read More
THE IWATE WINTER BUCKET LIST The beauty of Iwate in winter has traditionally been kept a secret by heavy snowfall, which cut off access to much of its mountainous interior for extended periods. However, thanks to what is Japan’s highest number of bullet train stations in a single prefecture, vis… Read More
