4.5Oirase Gorge(1.063 reviews) - Night light show is wonderful Bodies of Water
Generally speaking, the Oirase Stream is hard to access by public transport during winter due to road closure, but the winter sight is awesome which is something I realy wanted to see. So I joined one of the tours that runs between the Lake Towada WInter Tale venue the the Oirase Stream (there are day or night tours). The 2-hour tour took us to 5 scenic spots along the stream to see the frozen falls, which are lighted up by a van that followed us. The local tour guide is able to communicate in English. A translated information card was also available. Night at Oirase Stream is eerie but mesmerizing. I'm glad I had a chance to admire the stream and the falls at such a special time of the year and I will definitely come back again in other seasons!See more..
4.5Goshikinuma Lake(608 reviews) - Amazingly coloured lakes Bodies of Water
This is a very nice hike with views of a number of lakes that have been turned unreal colours of blue and green by volcanic sediment. The hike itself is pretty easy. It's not a paved path or anything, but it's not difficult. The lakes are really impressive to see, and the hike is well worth the trip. The main thing to pay attention to here is logistics, as the hike begins and ends at different locations. There's a bus that runs between the two once every 1-2 hours, at 250 yen/person, or, when we went, an enterprising taxi driver waiting at the end who'd take you back immediately for about 1350 yen. The best lakes are closest to the Urubandai Visitor's Centre, so if you can arrange it to end up there, your hike will get better as you go - plus it'll be downhill overall.See more..
4.0Tazawa Lake(493 reviews) - One of our favorite spots in Japan Bodies of Water
Lake Tazawa is one of those places that you want to go back multiple times. It was about 3.5 hour drive from Misawa (in North/Eastern Aomori). About 1 hour west from Morioka through a picturesque mountain scenery. We camped for one night really close to the lake. The campground was located on a very hilly area with many creeks/logs etc.--that part was a bit tricky with kids. But the bathrooms were great and the commong cooking area with "sinks" was very comfortable for all four of our families camping. Swimming area is very close to the campground as well, you could walk there if you want. The beach was sandy and pretty clean. The lake is not deep at all in the area for swimming, so it was completely safe to go with small kids. But the rest of the lake is just magnificent--steep banks, dark blue water with not bottom in sight. It took as about 35 minutes to drive all around the lake. I hear, somewhere near the swimming area, you could rent bikes for a reasonable price.See more..
4.5Lake Juniko(279 reviews) - delightful hiking in fall Spent 2-3 hours Bodies of Water
we're there last fall. It's quite difficult to arrange to traffic as the bus and train are not frequent. We decided to drive there from Akita and arrived there at around 11:30am. We took the most popular track which took us around an hour to finish at comfortable pace. We bought a bento in one of the driving station between Akita and Lake Juniko. There is no restaurant in the walking trail so you'd better prepare the lunch first. On our way down the hill, we also visit the Nihon Canyon which is 30 minutes walk from the road. Nice breath taking view.See more..
4.5Jodogahama Beach(260 reviews) - Paradise for Seagulls Bodies of Water • Beaches
If I was here for the first time I would have been seriously wowed. But I have walked 500 miles (literally, I'm on a walking pilgrimage from Hachinohe to Fukushima) so perhaps there are more majestic places along the Coast of Tohoku, but this is a little gem in itself. The Japanese call it the Pure Land Beach. The seagulls call this the Free Crackers Beach. When the tsunami came, the sea had receded so much the people knew to run away. The ferry area has a place where they play videos about the tsunami. If you take the ferry, they'll bring you to the Blue Cave and you can see a hole in the rocks, where water from Hachinohe flows in and try to squeeze their darndest past a hole, resulting in a spray of water that had escape their confines, like fats after a corset. The colours of the water change according to season, but the seagulls that perch on your ferry will not. They remain the same, winter, spring, summer or fall. All you have to do is call. And throw them a cracker. For the best views of the Pacific Ocean and the Coastal Area of Tohoku...follow my reviews because it's easier that way. I want you to come to Tohoku! Spend your money here and go back richer for the experience! It's a marvelous part of Japan!See more..
4.5Oirase River(156 reviews) - It makes Hachinohe worth visiting Bodies of Water
Oirase River and the hiking route is the main reason we visited Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture. This national park is one of the three most famous and well maintained national parks in Japan. There are four bus stops, and family travelers are recommended to start from stop #2 to walk to stop #4 (a beautiful waterfall). It took us (me, my husband, my kids of 11 and 5 yo) about 1.5 hours to finish the track. It was a beautiful long walk alongside River Oirase. The air is fresh, water is clean, and we could hardly see any garbage. I highly recommend those of you who would like to visit Aomori Prefecture to visit this paradise-like hiking track. If you are an adult-group, you may want to challenge a more advanced level route which is from bus stop #4 all the way to Towada lake.See more..
4.0Lake Hibara(151 reviews) - Rain ruined the experience Bodies of Water
It was raining while I was driving the road along the lake so the views weren't fantastic. However, the autumn colours were all along the road, even on the little island in the middle of the lake.See more..
4.5Geibikei(80 reviews) - Gorgeous green gorge Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bodies of Water • Valleys
Geibikei gorge is in the south of Iwate Prefecture, which is in the northern Tohoku region of Japan. Our Boatmen use a simple wooden pole to both propel and steer the boats. This kind of boat ride in Japan is only found at Geibikei gorge. The gorge is special for its traditional Tohoku boats and beautiful, surrounding nature.It is great in all seasons. The"kotatsu"boats from December to February are especially good for enjoying Japanese culture along with the scenery. Throwing the "balls of luck"during the walk at the halfway point of the ride are another special feature of the experience.See more..
4.5Mototakifukuryusui(49 reviews) - One of the loveliest waterfalls in northern Japan Bodies of Water
Mototakifukuryusui (I'll call it Mototaki for short) is a gorgeous waterfall located in the middle of Akita Prefecture close to Yurihonjo City. I would recommend this area for couples, friends, or solo. Young children could easily fall in the water. You need to have an appreciation for natural beauty to enjoy this spot that many younger children usually don't have. Unfortunately, it is not easily accessible by public transportation, and the easiest way to reach it is to rent a car. There is a large parking area with a public restroom, and a 10 minute walk to the waterfall. Near the restroom is a sign in Japanese explaining the falls. I don't remember there being much English on the sign. There are also some vending machines for drinks. It can be a bit chilly and damp near the falls, even on a warm summer's day. The area is often misty and cool. Consider wearing long sleeves, pants, and good walking shoes for uneven ground. The 10 minute walk to the falls is lovely in and of itself. However, the waterfall is not easily accessible for anyone with mobility issues. The main path is gravel and there are some dirt steps you must go up and down to reach the falls. Nothing physically strenuous, but you do need to be able to keep your balance. All in all, less than an hour is sufficient to explore this lovely area. If you happen to be nearby Mount Chōkai, definitely stop to visit Mototaki.See more..
4.5Oguninuma(29 reviews) - 6月の下旬がお薦め Bodies of Water
