HOME Tohoku Yamagata Surrounding Areas Of Yamagata Relax, Take Some Pics, Have Fun! This Winter, Head to Tohoku For Snow And Hot Springs
HOME Tohoku Akita Surrounding Areas Of Akita Relax, Take Some Pics, Have Fun! This Winter, Head to Tohoku For Snow And Hot Springs
HOME Tohoku Iwate Morioka, Hiraizumi And Hachimantai Relax, Take Some Pics, Have Fun! This Winter, Head to Tohoku For Snow And Hot Springs
Relax, Take Some Pics, Have Fun! This Winter, Head to Tohoku For Snow And Hot Springs

Relax, Take Some Pics, Have Fun! This Winter, Head to Tohoku For Snow And Hot Springs

Date published: 9 December 2021

Winter in Japan means two things: snow and onsen hot springs. After enjoying some fun in the snow and wintery sights, there’s nothing better than relaxing in a great hot spring! To enjoy this perfect kind of Japanese winter, you’ll want to visit Tohoku, where the snows are deep and the hot springs are plentiful.

Here, we’ll introduce some areas recommended for relaxing, sightseeing, and fun activities. The Tohoku region is in the northeastern part of Japan’s main island, and can be reached from Tokyo in 2-3 hours by the Tohoku Shinkansen.

What’s more, you can save a lot of money on travel costs with a JR EAST PASS! Enjoy some of Tohoku’s best “snow and onsen” areas with family or friends this winter.

Table of Contents
  1. 1. Get amazing Instaworthy photos from the land of “snow monsters” at Mt Zao in Yamagata Prefecture!
  2. 2. Onsen-going ladies will love soaking in the luxurious “beauty waters” of Akita Prefecture
  3. 3. Snow sports fans will love thrilling skiing & snowboarding runs down the snowy 1km-high mountains of Iwate!
  4. 4. After a perfect day of skiing, rest and rejuvenate at an Appi Kogen spa in Iwate Prefecture!
  5. 5. Japanophiles will love the traditional Tohoku kokeshi and tatami onsen in Aomori Prefecture
  6. Set course for Tohoku with a JR EAST PASS (Tohoku Area), available to anyone with a non-Japanese passport!

1. Get amazing Instaworthy photos from the land of “snow monsters” at Mt Zao in Yamagata Prefecture!

1. Get amazing Instaworthy photos from the land of “snow monsters” at Mt Zao in Yamagata Prefecture!

A 40-minute trip by bus from Yamagata Station (on the Yamagata Shinkansen), Zao Onsen Ski Resort has always been famous for its “snow monsters.” Snow and ice encrust the trees, creating an incredible sight. And you don’t have to risk hiking on the snow to get there: a ropeway will take you right to them! The trees are picturesque against a blue sky, but their light-up shows at night are otherworldly. For 2021-2022, they are planned to be illuminated between December 25 and February 28.

Zao Onsen Ski Resort
Address: Zao Onsen, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Yamagata Shinkansen) 2.5 hours → Yamagata Station → (Route Bus) 50 min. → Zao Onsen Bus Terminal

We recommend Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso in the Zao area as a place to stay. It stands out among other onsen inns for its traditional Japanese architecture, and has stood for over 300 years. It’s the perfect option for people who want to soak in Japanese aesthetic, too. Their free-flowing onsen is sourced from a private and pure hot spring source. They also have a rentable private bath with a traditional Shigaraki stoneware tub.

Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso
Address: Zao Onsen 54, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture
ROUTE: Tokyo Station → [Yamagata Shinkansen] 2.5 hours → Yamagata Station → [Route Bus] 50 min. → Zao Onsen Bus Terminal → [Walk] 10 min. → Arrival

  • Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso
    Takamiya Ryokan Miyamaso
    深山荘高見屋
    • Address Zao Onsen 54, Zao Onsen, Yamagata, 990-2301
    • Nearest Station Chuokogen Station (Zao Sky Cable)
      36 minutes on foot

2. Onsen-going ladies will love soaking in the luxurious “beauty waters” of Akita Prefecture

Kakunodate is a stop on the Akita Shinkansen, known for its Bukeyashiki Street, where many old samurai houses still stand. Kakunodate prospered between 200-400 years ago as a castle town, and the buildings built then are still preserved today as Important Cultural Assets registered with the Japanese government. During the cold weather between January and February, snow piles up on the sakura tree branches, creating beautiful white sights known as “yukizakura.” Dress up in a warm kimono for a memorable photogenic stroll among these snowy sights!

  • Kakunodate Bukeyashiki
    角館武家屋敷
    • Address Omotemachikami-cho to Higashikatsuraku-cho, Kakunodate-machi, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
    • ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Akita Shinkansen) 3 hours → Kakunodate Station → (Walk) 15 min. → Arrival

“Akita beauty” refers to one of the ideal forms of Japanese feminine beauty, and just as that implies, Akita is famous as the birthplace of some of Japan’s most beautiful women. Lake Tazawa, just one Shinkansen station away from Kakunodate, brings you near Nyuto Onsen, famed for its “waters of beauty.” The onsen inn with the longest history here is “Tsuru no Yu.” The sight of its milky-white outdoor waters bordered by snow is a bath for the soul.

Tsurunoyu Onsen
Address: 50 Kokuyurin Sendatsuizawa Tazawa Aza, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Akita Shinkansen) 3 hours → Tazawako Station → (Scheduled Bus or Ugokotsu Bus bound for Nyuto Onsen) 35 min. → Alpa Komakusa → (Shuttle bus) → Arrival
*If you want to use the shuttle bus, please call the bus when you arrive at Tazawako Station.

3. Snow sports fans will love thrilling skiing & snowboarding runs down the snowy 1km-high mountains of Iwate!

Hachimantai is a city on the border of Iwate and Akita prefectures, accessible by buses from Morioka Station (served by the Tohoku Shinkansen). During the summer, it’s a popular spot for trekking. From January to March, however, expert mountain climbers hike here to see its “snow monsters!”

Hachimantai Resort has two main ski areas: the Panorama ski area and the Shimokura ski area. It’s an incredible thrill to ski down the 1,130-meter-high mountain from its peak! A variety of other snow activities can be enjoyed in its silver wonderland, and following up with a relaxing soak in an onsen bath is pure delight!

Hachimantai Resort Panorama Ski Area
Address: Matsuoyoriki 1-509-1, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) 2.25 hours → Morioka Station → (Iwate Prefecture Kita Bus) 90 min. → Hachimantai Mountain Hotel

For those who want to stay at an onsen inn, we recommend Matsukawa Onsen Kyounso, located within Hachimantai National Park. Their winter outdoor baths have a great view of Hachimantai’s natural features, laden with snow. Their milky-white hot springs are said to remedy nerve pain and skin disorders. And despite Kyounso’s simple and traditional Japanese style, they happily have some Western-style rooms with comfy beds.

  • Matsukawa Onsen Kyounso
    松川温泉 峡雲荘
    • Address Matsuoyoriki, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
    • Phone Number 0195-78-2256
    • ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) 2.25 hours → Morioka Station → (Iwate Prefecture Kita Bus bound for Matsukawa Onsen) 1 hour 50 min → Last Stop; Arrival

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    Check with our partner site as the latest rates, rate details, and guest room requirements may vary.

4. After a perfect day of skiing, rest and rejuvenate at an Appi Kogen spa in Iwate Prefecture!

Appi Kogen in Iwate can be reached by direct buses departing from Morioka Station (served by the Tohoku Shinkansen). As one of Tohoku’s premier ski resorts, it has 21 courses for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers. There are other snow activity plans available, like snow tubing!

Appi Kogen Ski Resort
Address: Appi Kogen 117-1, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) 2.25 hours → Morioka Station → (JR Hanawa Line) 1 hour → Appi Kogen Station

Hotel Appi Grand in Appi Kogen (to be renamed ANA Crown Plaza Resort Appi Kogen from 12/16/2021) may be a ski resort, but it has a full suite of relaxation services! At APPI SANATIO SPA, there are detox courses including “pick-an-aroma relaxation” and Ayurveda, and full-fledged esthetic treatment services.

Also, the locally accessible “Appi Onsen Shirakaba no Yu” has some of Tohoku’s greatest outdoor hot spring baths, including stone baths, reclining baths, and many other kinds. Their saunas can seat up to 50 people, so there’s little doubt you’ll find a way to recover from built-up fatigue.

  • Hotel Appi Grand (ANA Crown Plaza Resort Appi Kogen from 12/16/2021)
    ホテル安比グランド(2021/12/16より、ANAクラウンプラザリゾート安比高原)
    • Address Appi Kogen, Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture
    • ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) 2.25 hours → Morioka Station → (JR Hanawa Line) 1 hour → Appi Kogen Station

5. Japanophiles will love the traditional Tohoku kokeshi and tatami onsen in Aomori Prefecture

Our next destination takes us all the way to Shin-Aomori Station by Tohoku Shinkansen, where we switch to conventional or express lines to get to the Kuroishi Onsen region. Presently, their “Kuroishi Kokeshi” lanterns are gathering attention as great subjects for photography you can share over social media. Kokeshi are a traditional form of doll crafted in the Tohoku region, but their appearances differ between areas. Kuroishi is said to be the origin of “Nuruyu kokeshi,” which are set apart from other kokeshi by their stretched hourglass figure. You can find an abundance of these kokeshi in lamp form on Nakamachi Komise Street. Their warm and gentle light shines through simple expressions, charming those that look upon them.

  • Kuroishi Onsen Region (Kuroishi Tourist Information Center)
    黒石温泉郷(黒石観光案内所)
    • Address Nakamachi, Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture
    • ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) 3.3 hours → Shin-Aomori Station → (Limited Express Tsugaru) 30 min. → Hirosaki Station → (Konan Railway) 30 min. → Disembark at Kuroishi Station and walk 10 minutes

To expand your Japanese cultural experience beyond kokeshi, we recommend staying at Dake Onsen Yama no Hotel. Here you will find rare tatami baths, which allow you to rest your head while you relax and let hot spring water wash over you. It’s a local custom called “todo-ne,” or sea lion napping. Even among Japan’s many hot springs, this is a rare kind of luxury, and it’s sure to become a great winter memory.

  • Dake Onsen Yama no Hotel
    嶽温泉 山のホテル
    • Address 19 Aza-Yunosawa, Oaza-Tokiwanno, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture
    • ROUTE: Tokyo Station → (Tohoku Shinkansen) 3.3 hours → Shin-Aomori Station → (JR Ou Line) 40 min. → Hirosaki Station → (Konan Bus Karekitai Line) 50 min. → Disembark at Dake Onsen

Set course for Tohoku with a JR EAST PASS (Tohoku Area), available to anyone with a non-Japanese passport!

The snowy spots and onsen inns introduced in this article can be reached by a combination of Shinkansen, express train, and local train lines. If you use the Shinkansen, a JR EAST PASS (Tohoku area) is by and far the best deal!

It’s 20,000 yen for adults and 10,000 yen for children and allows unlimited usage of reserved, Ordinary Car seats in Shinkansen and JR-affiliated rapid trains, express trains, and ordinary trains over five days.

And guess what, expats—this deal is for you, too! The passes are available to anyone with a non-Japanese passport.For more information, including usage restrictions, follow the link below.

Make good use of the trains and you’ll be free to explore the fantastic winter scenery and onsen inns of all the prefectures in Tohoku! Winter truly is the best time to experience these recommended Tohoku locations.

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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