The Tohoku Byway: Samurai Villages & Volcanic Lakes

Departing Sendai brings you north into Akita prefecture to Kakunodate, a spectacular historic town established in 1620 as a secure stronghold for the local Satake clan. Here, a district of grand, black-walled wooden samurai residences stands perfectly preserved, serving as one of the best examples of samurai architecture in Japan. Walking the wide, quiet streets is like stepping directly into a historical movie. The residences feature massive wooden gates, private interior gardens, and moss-covered stone walls. What makes Kakunodate globally famous is its weeping cherry trees (Shidarezakura), imported from Kyoto in the 17th century. In spring, these massive trees cascade over the black wooden fences, painting the entire district in a spectacular sea of pink blossoms. You can enter several historical residences to explore samurai armor, weapons, and old household records, establishing a deeply dignified, historic beginning to your drive.

Driving north into the Towada-Hachimantai National Park brings you to Lake Towada, a spectacular, double-caldera volcanic lake nestled high in the peaks. Formed by massive eruptions over millennia, the lake is a pristine, deep blue basin surrounded by sheer, forest-clad cliff walls. Squeezed out of the lake's eastern outlet is the Oirase Stream, a spectacular, world-famous geological marvel. For 14 kilometers, the crystal-clear river rushes through a deep, mossy rock canyon inside a lush, primeval forest of giant beech, maple, and oak trees. Winding along the flat forest footpath, you are treated to a series of stunning suspension bridges over roaring rapids and over 14 scenic waterfalls cascading down the sheer basalt walls (like the triple-tiered Choshi Ootaki). It is an incredibly serene, sensory-rich experience; the air is cool, damp, and carries the fresh scent of moist moss and pine, creating one of the absolute greatest forest-and-water spectacles in Japan.