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Tōhoku: Sendai to Aomori: 9-Day Plan You Can Actually Do
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The 9-day version for October: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 6-day plan · 7-day plan · 9-day plan · best time to go.
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9
days
560 km
distance
10.4 h
on trains
14
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Check current foliage reports rather than expecting peak colour on a fixed date — all core heritage visits remain worthwhile without a foliage guarantee.
- Light days: day 1, day 2, day 3, day 5, day 8, day 9 have one stop and time left over. Local tours and day trips are the way to fill them — each day links to what is bookable in its own town.
Day 1 Sendai
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~12:00
- Temperature
- 7.4°C–16.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~22
- Daylight
- 11.0h
09:00
Sendai Date heritage circuit sentabi.jp map ↗
Read Sendai through the public Aoba Castle ruins, city views and Date Masamune interpretation.
180 min · Sendai · Check current official hours, admission and closures
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 2 Around Sendai
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~11:30
- Temperature
- 7.4°C–16.1°C
- Rainy days
- ~22
- Daylight
- 11.0h
09:00
Sendai City Museum and Kawauchi heritage visit city.sendai.jp map ↗
Explore Sendai and Date history in the city museum beside the former castle grounds.
150 min · Sendai · Check current official hours, admission and closures
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 3 Matsushima
- Transit
- 0h40
- Finish
- ~13:40
- Temperature
- 11.6°C–18.8°C
- Rainy days
- ~22
- Daylight
- 11.0h
09:40
Matsushima Zuiganji and waterfront circuit zuiganji.or.jp map ↗
Pair Zuiganji’s Date-era interiors with Godaido and the island-dotted Matsushima waterfront.
180 min · Matsushima · Check current official hours, admission and closures
12:40
Matsushima Italian Toto conception-gp.com map ↗
Enjoy popular pizza and pasta in a cozy restaurant.
60 min · Matsushima
open: Lunch 11:30-15:30, Dinner 18:00-21:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 4 Hiraizumi
- Transit
- 2h30
- Finish
- ~16:30
- Temperature
- 7.7°C–17.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~21
- Daylight
- 11.0h
11:30
Hiraizumi Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji circuit chusonji.or.jp map ↗
Spend a focused Hiraizumi day at Chūson-ji’s Golden Hall and Mōtsū-ji’s Pure Land garden.
240 min · Hiraizumi · Check current official hours, admission and closures
15:30
Ryoei Sushi search
Savor sushi in a quirky, retro video game-filled setting.
60 min · Hiraizumi · moderate
Day 5 Around Hiraizumi
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~11:30
- Temperature
- 7.7°C–17.0°C
- Rainy days
- ~21
- Daylight
- 11.0h
09:00
Chūson-ji Golden Hall and temple precinct chusonji.or.jp map ↗
Climb through Chūson-ji’s wooded precinct to the Konjikidō Golden Hall and temple treasures.
150 min · Hiraizumi · Check current official hours, admission and closures
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 6 Kakunodate
- Transit
- 2h50
- Finish
- ~14:50
- Temperature
- 6.8°C–15.7°C
- Rainy days
- ~21
- Daylight
- 10.9h
11:50
Kakunodate samurai-district circuit city.semboku.akita.jp map ↗
Walk Kakunodate’s black-fenced samurai district and compare the public interiors of its preserved residences.
180 min · Kakunodate · Check current official hours, admission and closures
Overnight here
e.g. Sakura no Sato · Guesthouse Fūga
Day 7 Hirosaki
- Transit
- 3h40
- Finish
- ~16:40
- Temperature
- 6.6°C–15.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~20
- Daylight
- 10.9h
12:40
Hirosaki Park exterior and Neputa culture circuit hirosaki-kanko.or.jp map ↗
Pair Hirosaki Park’s public grounds with the city’s Neputa craft and festival culture while the castle keep interior is closed for restoration.
180 min · Hirosaki · Check current official hours, admission and closures
15:40
Tsugaru Akatsuki no Kai tsugaruakatsuki.wixsite.com map ↗
Taste traditional Tsugaru dishes prepared just for you.
60 min · Hirosaki
open: By reservation only
Overnight here
e.g. Capsule Inn Hirosaki · Dormy Inn Hirosaki
Day 8 Around Hirosaki
- Transit
- none
- Finish
- ~13:00
- Temperature
- 6.6°C–15.4°C
- Rainy days
- ~20
- Daylight
- 10.9h
09:00
Hirosaki temple district and Tsugaru craft circuit hirosaki-kanko.or.jp map ↗
Follow Hirosaki’s temple streets and the living craft traditions of the Tsugaru region.
180 min · Hirosaki · Check current official hours, admission and closures
12:00
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
Day 9 Aomori
- Transit
- 0h45
- Finish
- ~13:15
- Temperature
- 10.8°C–16.6°C
- Rainy days
- ~18
- Daylight
- 10.9h
09:45
12:15
Aomori Gyosai Center nokkedon.jp map ↗
Build a fresh nokkedon sushi bowl with vibrant seafood.
60 min · Aomori · from about ¥1000 depending on your selections
open: 07:00-16:00, closed Tuesdays.
Time to spare on this day
One stop and a free afternoon. We don't book activities, but these partners do.
🔍 Check before you book
Every stop is a real, sourced place, but opening hours change, roads close and businesses move. Check anything you're paying for before you book.