Built in 1611, it is one of the few castles considered valuable in Japan that has been preserved as it was to the present.
The entire area is stunningly beautiful, whether you are looking at the towers, bridges, or the moat. When the cherry blossoms are in bloom, the pedals fall into the moat, forming a light pink carpet, called “Hanaikada” that is breathtaking to behold.
Ashino Park is located in the Kanagimachi area of Goshogawara, north of Hirosaki, and is the birthplace of the author Osamu Dazai. This park was selected as one of the 100 best places to view cherry blossoms in all of Japan, along with Hirosaki Park. About 2,200 cedars and cherry trees spread out along the banks of Lake Ashino, and a Tsugaru Railway train passes through the park under a tunnel of cherry blossoms. Visitors are moved by this stunningly beautiful romantic scenery.
Approx. 30 minutes north from Sendai station by shinkansen. The capital of Iwate pref. Morioka is filled with history and culture. A number of unusual Western-style buildings dating back to the Meiji Period still remain giving the city a charming retro atmosphere.
And it was selected by the New York Times as one of the "52 Places to Go in 2023.
(Quoted from Iwate Prefecture site)
In this article, Morioka City is highly praised as a "jewel-like spot that can be walked around". The convenience of being just a few hours away from Tokyo by bullet train, the beauty of the Japanese-Western architecture built in the Taisho era, the Morioka Castle Ruins Park, and places like "NAGASAWA COFFEE", "Azuma-Ya", "BOOKNERD", and "Johnny of Kaiun Bridge" are introduced.
When eating Wanko Soba, small bite-sized soba noodles are placed in a bowl and served by a waiter standing next to you. If you visit Iwate, be sure to try it. It's a lot of fun to see how much Wanko Soba you can eat with the encouragement of the waiter.
Every year in March, we clear the snow from the "Hachimantai Aspite Line" and the "Hachimantai Jukai Line" that head towards the summit of Mt. Hachimantai, which have been closed off by gates during the winter. By mid-April, the corridors of towering snow walls on both sides of the road are open. This is the longest corridor in the whole of Japan, and the view is breathtaking. The contrast between the blue sky and the white spring snow is very beautiful, and at the same time in this season, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at the foot of the mountain.
Known for their world-class powder snow, these ski resorts are now gaining popularity worldwide. Both are ski resorts that can be enjoyed by young and old alike, from beginners to the advanced. Recently, more tree run courses have been opened, as well as a CAT at skiing area where advanced skiers and snowboarders can go out on ungroomed slopes.