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Tōhoku: Sendai to Aomori – Route Guide

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Hirosaki Castle framed by autumn maples
Photo: Raita Futo from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A rail journey through Tōhoku's Date heritage, Matsushima Bay, Hiraizumi temples, Kakunodate samurai streets, Hirosaki Park and Aomori's Nebuta culture, using local trains, Shinkansen and limited express services.

Tōhoku: Sendai to Aomori is a 560 km one-way journey (rail). It works best as 6–9 days; the plan below is the 7-day version for October, built from 86 verified places, with published scheduled journey times, opening hours and daylight checked.

6–9
days
560km
distance
6
Stops
86
curated stops

View ready-made plans 6-day plan · 7-day plan · 9-day plan · best time to go

The route

Sendai→ 30 kmMatsushima→ 80 kmHiraizumi→ 180 kmKakunodate→ 190 kmHirosaki→ 80 kmAomori

What you'll see

Sendai Date heritage circuit
Read Sendai through the public Aoba Castle ruins, city views and Date Masamune interpretation.
Sendai
Matsushima Zuiganji and waterfront circuit
Pair Zuiganji’s Date-era interiors with Godaido and the island-dotted Matsushima waterfront.
Matsushima
Hiraizumi Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji circuit
Spend a focused Hiraizumi day at Chūson-ji’s Golden Hall and Mōtsū-ji’s Pure Land garden.
Hiraizumi
Kakunodate samurai-district circuit
Walk Kakunodate’s black-fenced samurai district and compare the public interiors of its preserved residences.
Kakunodate
Hirosaki temple district and Tsugaru craft circuit
Follow Hirosaki’s temple streets and the living craft traditions of the Tsugaru region.
Hirosaki
Aomori Wa Rasse and harbour circuit
Meet Aomori’s giant Nebuta floats at Wa Rasse, then trace the city’s rail-and-sea history along the harbour.
Aomori
Sendai City Museum and Kawauchi heritage visit
Explore Sendai and Date history in the city museum beside the former castle grounds.
Sendai
Chūson-ji Golden Hall and temple precinct
Climb through Chūson-ji’s wooded precinct to the Konjikidō Golden Hall and temple treasures.
Hiraizumi

Choose your length

6-day plan10 stops · 10.4 h transit1.7 stops/day · 1.7 h transit/daySee the full plan →7-day plan11 stops · 10.4 h transit1.6 stops/day · 1.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →9-day plan14 stops · 10.4 h transit1.6 stops/day · 1.2 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: April, May, October, November

Confirm the exact JR services before travel and keep the day flexible for snow disruption — mountain attractions and seasonal interiors are not part of the baseline.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

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View ready-made plans