Itinerary Check: Tokohu Region for October

We have been to Japan many times but this will be the first time exploring Tokohu region. This is the plan I have put together for a mix of taking the shinkansen and renting a car. We’re not after a go-go trip…

In summary for 21 nights in Japan…

1. Tokyo 2 nights
2. Hakodate 3 nights
3. Aomori 4 nights (Staying at two different Hoschino Resort)
4. Morioko 2 nights
5. Sendai 3 nights
6. Yamagata 3 nights
7. Tokyo 3 nights

Details are below

**Wed 2/10** – **Tokyo**

* Land in Tokyo, Narita 6:45pm

Stay: Tokyo (Night 1)

**Thu 3/10 – Tokyo**

Stay: Tokyo (Night 2)        

**Fri 4/10 – Tokyo to Hakodate**

Transport: Shinkansen or Fly?

Stay: Hakodate city (Night 1) 

**Sat 10/5 – Hakodate**

* Red Brick Warehouse
* Motomachi
* Sunset Mt Hakodate

Stay: Hakodate city (Night 2)

**Sun 10/6 – Hakodate**

* Morning Market
* Goryokaku Tower
* Oumuna (stretch & optional)

Stay: Hakodate city (Night 3)

**Mon 7/10 – Hakodate to Aomori**

* Aomori station
* Pick up rental car
* Drive to Aomoriya Resort (3pm onwards)

Transport: Shinkansen followed by pick up a rental car
Stay: Aomoriya Resort (Night 1) \[Booked\]

**Tue 8/10 – Aomori**

*  Explore Hachinohe

Transport: Car
Stay: Aomoriya Resort (Night 2) \[Booked\]

**Wed 9/10 – Aomori**

* Aomoriya (Check out 12pm)
* Towado Art Centre
* Oirase Gorge (Check-in 3pm)

Transport: Car
Stay: Oirase Gorge Resort (Night 1) \[Booked\]

**Thu 10/10 – Aomori**

* Lake Towado
* Oirase Gorge

Transport: Car
Stay: Oirase Gorge Resort (Night 2) \[Booked\]

**Fri 11/10 – Aomori to Morioko**

* Check out Oirase Gorge
* Drive to Hirosaki

Transport: Return car Aomori or return Car & take shinkansen

Stay: Morioko surrounds (Night 1)

??NOT SURE WHAT DO TO HERE WITH HOW TO GET FROM AOMORI OIRASE GEORGE to MORIOKO??

**Sat 12/10** – **Morioko**

* Kakunodate day trip

Transport: Car or Shinkansen

Stay: Morioko surrounds (Night 2)

**Sun 13/10 – Morioko to Sendai**

Transport: Car or Shinkansen

Stay: Sendai city (Night 1) 

**Mon 14/10 – Sendai**

* Matsushima Bay

 Stay: Sendai city (Night 2)

**Tue 15/10 – Sendai**

* Happy to have a day to lounge around Sendai
* Genbieken Gorge (Maybe?)

Stay: Sendai city (Night 3)

**Wed 16/10 – Sendai to Yamagata (Drive)**

* Yamadera

Transport: Hire rental car from Sendai

Stay: Yamagata (Night 1)

**Thu 17/10 – Yamagata**

* Mount Zao

Transport: Car

Stay: Yamagata (Night 2) 

**Fri 18/10 – Yamagata**

* Ginzan Onsen

Transport: Car

Stay: Yamagata (Night 3)

**Sat 19/10 – Yamagata** via Sendai > Tokyo

* Return car at Sendai/Yamagata
* Take the Shinkansen back to Tokyo via Sendai

Stay: Tokyo, Asakusa (Night 1)

**Sun 20/10 Tokyo**

Stay: Tokyo, Asakusa (Night 2)

**Mon 21/10  Tokyo**

Stay: Tokyo, Asakusa (Night 3)

**Tue 22/10   Tokyo, Narita** > Fly Home

Here are our questions:

1. Should we fly from Tokyo to Hakodate and then make our way down or should we take the Shinkansen? Money isn’t really that big of a factor for whether we take train or flight, but considering we have two large suitcases will taking the Shinkansen be better so we don’t have to make our way to the airport & be there at least 1hr in advance?
2. Has anyone tried the Gran Class Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hakodate is it worth it?
3. Are we being realistic with the amount of travel with where we are renting the car? We are unsure with whether we need the car to drive from Aomori to Morioko to Sendai. Or should we just keep the car for that period?
4. How is this itinerary? Is adding in Hakodate too much? I’ve been to Hokkaido before exploring from Sapporo to north but never did Hakodate, so I thought that this was a good way to add it in as my partner had never been to Hokkaido before so he can see a snippet! Otherwise, if we were to drop it, what should we replace it with?

We’d love to hear everybody’s thoughts! Would love to hear before locking down the rest of the accomodation and care hire… Thank you in advance

by Minnie_san