The year 2021, when the Tokyo Olympics were held, marked the 10-year anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake for the Tohoku region. During this time, the Tohoku region has been undergoing a remarkable recovery to become a world-class resort area.

The Tohoku region is conveniently accessible from Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train) in 90 minutes to 2 hours, and is surrounded by magnificent nature where you can dynamically feel the four unique seasons of Japan. As the COVID-19 situation unfolds, the people of Tohoku are working hard to renovate old, and create new, spots for visitors to enjoy.

Here, we will introduce you to some of the accommodations and facilities that Tohoku has opened for 2021-2022, as well as new developments that have become the talk of the world. Take a look at some of the fascinating places in Tohoku that people around the world, working together to end the pandemic, will want to visit when they regain their freedom to travel.

 (Please note that due to the ongoing global pandemic, planning and availability of attractions and services may be affected.)

Iwate: A New Luxury Resort on a Vast Plateau

The ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort, which will open in February 2022, will be located in the most desirable area of the Appi Kogen Plateau in Hachimantai City, Iwate Prefecture, and will be a five-star hotel suitable for welcoming guests from all over the world. All rooms are club rooms with two types of large baths, and the hospitality that InterContinental has cultivated over its long history will create a luxurious travel experience.

The hotel is the centerpiece of the "Appi Valley Initiative Project" promoted by Iwate Hotels & Resorts in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts. The project is a large-scale rebranding project that aims to create a next-generation global town through the creation of Tohoku's first foreign-affiliated resort hotel, and the ANA Crowne Plaza Resort Appi Kogen and ANA Holiday Inn Resort Appi Kogen have already been renovated and opened in December 2021.

I would like to introduce the land of "Appi" where this resort redevelopment will take place. Appi Kogen Ski Resort is known as one of the best ski resorts in the world for its powder snow, with a total slope area of 282 hectares and 21 courses, making it one of the biggest ski resorts in Tohoku. It is a great place to enjoy winter sports. All rooms in the ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort have a view of the beautiful year round.

The charm of Appi is not limited to winter. The budding trees and the seasonally changing colors of the mountain are also very liberating. In the warmer season, head out to view the peaks of Mt.Maemori (1,304 meters above sea level), Mt. Iwate (2,038 meters above sea level), Hachimantai (1,614 meters above sea level), and others. I especially recommend the "Sea of clouds gondola tour" which operates from the base area of Mt.Maemori. It will take you to the sky area at the top of the mountain. If the conditions are right, you may be able to see a fantastic sea of clouds spread out below you.

Are you interested in taking a walk in the mountains? Nanataki, the largest of the waterfalls in the region of Iwate Mountain, with a drop of 30 meters, is an exhilarating experience. In winter, the waterfalls freeze over, creating a mysterious scene known as an "ice fall. If you take a guided tour with snowshoes, you will feel more secure.

There is also a wide variety of fresh seafood, vegetables and brand of beef called “Iwate-Appi Beef” from Tohoku, as well as gourmet food and Japanese sake. The ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort is a great base for a variety of activities.

Aomori: A New World Heritage Site Near the City

In 2021, the Tohoku region became an international topic of conversation when the Jomon Monuments of Hokkaido and the Northern Tohoku Region were registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July. The Sannai-Maruyama Ruins, a special historic site located in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, is one of the most important sites.

The Jomon period is a unique period in Japan that spans a very long period of time, from about 15,000 BC to 2,400 divided into several phases. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body to UNESCO, recognized the value of the Jomon sites and recommended that they be registered as a World Heritage site, saying that they "show a pre-farming, sedentary lifestyle and a complex spiritual culture dating back to about 15,000 years ago.

The Sannai-Maruyama Ruins are the remains of a large-scale settlement that is said to have existed from the middle of the early to middle Jomon period (about 5,900 to 4,200 years ago), with a collection of houses, warehouses, planting areas, and cemeteries. The remains of about 700 houses and about 2,000 pieces of pottery, stone tools, clay figurines, and accessories have been excavated, stimulating the imagination of the long history of human activity. Of particular importance are the remains of a building that is said to have been built with six huge chestnut wood pillars, a valuable historical site that shows the possibility that the foundations of surveying and building methods had already been established at that time. Don't forget to visit the "Sanmaru Museum" located on the site, where you can learn more about the ruins in many languages.

In spite of this unique environment, the Sannai-Maruyama Ruins are easily accessible from the city center, only a 15-minute drive from JR Shin-Aomori Station. Of course, there are many hotels and restaurants in the area. The Aomori Museum of Art, which has a collection of contemporary art from Japan and abroad, including works by Yoshitomo Nara, and the Nebuta Museum WA-RASSE, which exhibits the powerful Aomori Nebuta Festival, are located nearby, and through art and festivals you can experience the spiritual life of a people that has continued to the present day.

Akita: Experience the Power of Fermentation

Tohoku is a treasure house of food. In particular, the unique food culture that has been gaining momentum in recent years is based on the theme of "fermentation”. Fermentation is an essential element of Japanese food culture, including sake, soy sauce, and miso.

Akita is dotted with six "Akita Fermentation Tourism Base Facilities". KURA KURA, a Takashimizu store, Akita Brewery Co. Ltd., Yamamo Miso and Soy Sauce Brewery, Saiya Shuzo Brewery's "Cafe & Shop Fermentation Koji Taya," Ishimago Honten, Kodama Brewery's "Kura Shop KooLab," and Haba Koji Store's "Seasonal Miso Tea House”. By visiting these shops, you will be able to experience the profound appeal of fermented foodstuffs.

In Iwate Prefecture, there is a mall called "Rikuzentakata Fermentation Park CAMOCY" which has a collection of fermented food stores, and in Miyagi Prefecture, a complex called "Sendai Fermentation Village Project" is under preparation to open in April 2022.

Iwate: Surrounded by the Pure Land Philosophy of Buddhism

The Sannai Maruyama Site is not the only World Heritage site in Tohoku. In Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwani County, Iwate Prefecture,Chuson-ji Temple, Motsu-ji Temple, Kanjizaio-in -Ato Temple site, Muryokoin Temple site, and Mt. Kinkeisan. The entire area expresses the Pure Land philosophy of Buddhism and is worth seeing as a unique and valuable site.

The Hiraizumi World Heritage Guidance Center is a facility that opened in November 2021 to convey the value of Hiraizumi's cultural heritage to the world.　In November 2021 to show the world the value of Hiraizumi's cultural heritage at the Hiraizumi World Heritage Guidance Center opened.

Fukushima: Enjoy nature with your whole body

Here are some unique food services and activities in the Fukushima area.

“Food Camp!" in Koriyama City is a one-day outdoor restaurant service where you can set up a high-quality restaurant outdoors and have a party in nature. The experience of setting up a table in the middle of a field or by a lake and savoring the food provided by the chef with your travel companions is a great way to create memories of your trip with multiple people.

If you want to experience the nature of Fukushima, why don't you take the "Japan Eco Track Fukushima Route" to fully enjoy your bicycle trip? This tour guides you through the eastern area of the Azuma and Adatara mountain ranges, where you can enjoy the unique scenery of the volcanic belts and the beautiful sea. The many hot springs such as Tsuchiyu, Takayu, and Dake Onsen are also great fun.

Miyagi: Reconstruction and Development Continue to Advance

In 2021, 10 years have passed since the earthquake and tsunami, and Tohoku is recovering from the disaster as the world watched and saw it happen. As a symbol of this recovery, new facilities are opening and events are being held actively in the Miyagi area.

The Aqua Ignis Sendai, scheduled to open in 2022, is a complex of hot springs, restaurants, a marché, patisseries, and other facilities.

In the spa building, which has a total area of 3153㎡, we have introduced Tohoku's first energy-saving equipment system that uses geothermal heat and waste water heat, and are working on "local production for local consumption of energy," which is also important from the perspective of the SDGs.

Hotel Grand Bach Sendai will open in July 2021 near JR Sendai Station, with a large bath on the top floor, making it a comfortable and convenient hotel.

In Ishinomaki City, "Reborn-Art Festival 2021-22" will be held from April 23, 2022 to June 5, 2022. The festival, which will be held for the third time in Ishinomaki City, will feature music, art, food, and other activities simultaneously in the city area, with the message of "altruism" and "fluidity," and aims to transmit from the disaster area the connection between humans and nature, which is also common to the SDGs and ESG investment. Why not include it in your itinerary as an opportunity to experience the tough and gentle side of today's Tohoku?

Note to Editor

Japan is currently imposing entry restrictions to control the global pandemic. For the latest information on entry restrictions, please refer to the Japan National Tourism Organization's (JNTO) Coronavirus Alert Information:https://www.japan.travel/en/coronavirus/

Please credit Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization in all images.

＜About Tohoku＞

The Tohoku region of Japan is a vast, sparsely populated area that spans six prefectures. The six prefectures are Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, and Fukushima.

The region has historically been isolated due to limited transportation and some of the heaviest snowfall in the world. As a result, the Tohoku region has been largely unaffected by outside influences and has developed a unique culture with its own traditions.

Over the past decade, government-led efforts to make it an international tourist destination have finally allowed this best-kept secret of Japanese tourism to take the lead role. It offers lush landscapes, a tranquil winter wonderland, unparalleled spiritual experiences, and world-class outdoor adventures.

Tohoku is also very accessible from Tokyo. One and a half hours away by bullet train, the warm countryside reminiscent of Ghibli films with its rich nature, vast rice paddies, and beautiful villages will enchant visitors.

Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization is the public-private organization responsible for marketing the Tohoku region and Niigata Prefecture in northeastern Japan as a travel destination.

For more information on Tohoku,

please visit Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization’s official website at https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/index.html

and/or contact the Tohoku Tourism PR team at ptohoku@gmail.com.