Where should we go in Japan during the summer?

12 comments

1. I took a road trip in Hokkaido one summer and it was wonderful. I really liked Akan-Mashu (Ainu village with nature reserves) and Daisetsuzan. I would probably combine that with the festival in Aomori if the timing worked out, as well as some time in Sapporo.

2. Depends on if it’s in the very beginning of August, but in Aomori you can see the Nebuta Matsuri, and right after in Akita is the Kanto Matsuri!

3. North

4. I’m going to Kyuushu. Feel free to tag along (8 Aug – 14 Aug) 🙂

5. Hokkaido is supposed to be really nice in Summer, and relatively cooler than the rest of Japan. Going to be going on a road trip there around mid-August. Would recommend going there in both Summer and again in Winter.

6. Hokkaido is awesome both in summer and winter.

7. Copypasta’ing a post I made here about sights in Tohoku;

   **Mt. Zao (Miyagi/Yamagata)** – a massive volcano in the region, with some very impressive views not including the massive caldera.
   **Mt. Bandai (Fukushima)** – another volcano, albeit this one is famous for its 1888 eruption and the creation of many lakes on its backside. Good for hiking and skiiing. Autumn is magical to drive through.
   **Aizu-Wakamatsu (Fukushima)** – old samurai city with a castle. Site of a major battle during the Boshin War. Very pretty region.
   **Matsushima (Miyagi)** – one of the three scenic views of Japan.
   **Sanriku Coastline (Miyagi/Iwate)** – more of a region than a location, the jutting cliffsides and crashing waves along the coast are a sight to behold.
   **Dewa Sanzan (Yamagata)** – three holy mountains to Shugendo [mix of pre-Shinto animism, Shintoism, and Buddhism]; Mt. Yudono, Mt. Haguro, and Mt. Gassan. There’s a pilgrimage route over all three and small villages aimed at pilgrims nestled in the valleys between each mountain.
   **Higashizawa Rose Garden (Yamagata)** – the largest rose garden in Japan
   **Tamasudare Falls (Yamagata)** – impressive waterfall at the base of Mt. Chokai
   **Sankyo-Soko Rice Storehouses (Yamagata)** – old rice storehouses which are very picturesque in autumn
   **Nakajimadai Forest (Akita)** – a massive beech forest on the slopes of Mt. Chokai. In autumn you get some amazing colours through here
   **Kakunodate (Akita)** – old samurai village which is quite picturesque throughout the year.

   **Lake Tazawa (Akita)** – incredibly serene and peaceful crater lake in the north of Akita.
   **Tamagawa Onsen (Akita)** – hot spring located right next to a volcanic lava dome
   **Omagari Fireworks Festival (Akita)** – most of Japan’s competitive fireworks teams come up here to practise and show off in late summer. It’s a sight and then some
   **Oyasukyo (Akita)** – a very pretty gorge in autumn; one of the top sites in Tohoku for the leaves. In summer it’s a cooler location to go through
   **Kawaragejigoku (Akita)** – a highly volcanic area you can walk through. At the end of it is a naturally warm waterfall you can bathe under.
   **Mt. Kurikoma (Miyagi/Iwate/Akita)** – volcano which has some of the best autumn foliage in the country, and in the summer has some great hiking trails

   **Genbikei Gorge (Iwate)** – very large and pretty gorge in Iwate, famous for its deep blue water
   **Geibikei Gorge (Iwate)** – along the same river as Genbikei, but you can take a boat ride down it
   **Morioka/Mt. Iwate (Iwate)** – a vibrant city at the foot of Mt. Iwate. Quite a bit to do here in both spring and autumn [the ishiwarizakura is very famous

   **Takkoku Saikoji (Iwate)** – a temple built into the side of a cliff. One of the most unique places I’ve visited while here – and incredible in autumn

8. Hokkaido has everything you need for a nature filled trip while not being absolutely miserable outside when going out, and if you’re already in Tohoku you can go up to the snow festival easily anyway.

9. I found an article written before COVID-19 about how you can go to 7 of Tohoku’s festivals in one week at the start of August, if you are interested in festivals! Might have to check each festival individually to check if they are still canceled or not. A lot of local summer festivals have started up again this year.

10. Depends on what you want to do really. I enjoyed Lake Kawaguchi last year, it’s in the mountains so it’s cooler than other places, very chill, great views of Fuji, various things to do, including Fuji-Q if you like roller coasters and such.

11. I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer, but my BOE had just put out a notice to “advise” teachers and students to refrain from traveling now that Japan has 90k cases a day.

12. Come on up to Aomori my friend. Mutsu has got Osorezan (Buddhist hell) and we have Tohoku’s Mt. Fuji over in Mt. Iwaki. Hachinohe has great beaches and bars and the Sunday morning market. We’ve also got Oirase Gorge, which leads straight to Lake Towada. There’s a wonderful guest house with a beautiful bath and a former travel agent owner who speaks great English and serves delicious food at the beginning of the gorge: https://nanbuyatowada.wixsite.com/nanbuya

    And just down in Iwate near Hachimantai is glorious black sky. Over on the Iwate coast is a beach named after Buddhist Heaven! So you can really round out the trip. In between these two places is possibly the best American style pizza in Japan: Shizukuishi Soul Kitchen.

    Also if you do go to Akita there’s a great ryokan in the literal middle of absolute nowhere that serves a mean foraged and hunted kaiseki course. http://www.somaonsen.com/

    PS Hachinohe is a balmy 20 degrees these days…