Currently living in Northern Japan what are some good ideas for local travel within a few hours of that area? Can anyone help..Id love to get away but not go too far! Would love somewhere with a semi nightlife.
2007-12-06 01:15:22 · 3 answers · asked by Steven 2 in Travel ➔ Asia Pacific ➔ Japan
I am living in Misawa
2007-12-06 01:26:18 · update #1
You've come to the right place! Though I live in Tokyo, I've been to Tohoku more than half-a-dozen times.
Close to you:
Hirosaki - has a nice castle grounds that are really nice during Cherry Blossom season (first week of may - golden week). If you're there this coming august you can see their Neputa festival:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2006/10/07/overshadowed-neputa-festival-of-hirosaki/
If not you can go to their Neputa Musuem near the castle.
Aomori city has an ancient Jomon site with a reconstructed village called Sannai Maryuyami (not sure on the spelling of that last bit). Jomon were the original culture in the area and lived in round houses. In August, Aomorti has a huge festival called Nebuta with huge floats, fireworks, and dancing:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2006/09/18/japans-nebuta-matsuri-giant-floats-frighten-and-delight/
To the south of you is Iwate Prefecture. In Morioka they have a festival of several thousand drummers and dancers called Sansa Odori:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2006/08/18/the-drums-of-tohoku-the-sansa-odori-festival/
A bit further south is Hiraizumi which was the old capital of the area underthe Fujiwara over 800 years ago. You can see a small gold temple - Kojikido.
From Morioka by shinkansen an hour away is Kakunodate in Akita Prefecture which has a number of old samurai houses and all kind of cherry wood products.
To the north north of you is Hokkaido which is great for skiing. In febuary there'll be a big snow festival with huge snow sculptures:
http://samuraidave.wordpress.com/2007/01/26/sapporos-snow-festival-wintry-delight/
Hope that gives you some ideas.
2007-12-07 00:50:13 · answer #1 · answered by samurai_dave 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where in Northern Japan? Head to Susukino in Sapporo, or Kokubuncho in Sendai and you will find plenty of nightlife.
Apres ski at Appi is actually kind of happening. Sendai is probably your best bet. Hachinoe and Aomori would have their nightspots, but probably none not all that much more interesting than in Misawa City. One thing I like about Hachinoe is their hockey.
2007-12-06 09:20:54 · answer #2 · answered by michinoku2001 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Asamushi- hot spring is well-known spot in Aomori-pref.
How about Hokkaido ?
2007-12-06 10:04:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋