21 day Tohoku itinerary review

Hello all! I’ve been eagerly looking forward to visiting Japan since coming back from my first trip ([see linked post).](https://www.reddit.com/r/JapanTravel/comments/dhfu92/first_time_solo_traveller_tokyokyoto_itinerary/) However this time I am hoping to be there in time for cherry blossoms and seeing the Tohoku region.

Interested in temples/shrines, food, anime/games, parks, hopefully cherry blossoms. Little to no interest in museums or distillery’s.

Public transport, would not be renting a vehicle.

Tokyo – Sendai – Morioka – Akita – Aomori – Tokyo

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Mar 24 Day 0 – Fly

Mar 25 Day 1 – Land Tokyo pm

Mar 26 Day 2 – Tokyo Visit various parks and view cherry blossoms.

Mar 27 Day 3 – Tokyo Open to doing a day trip or two. Otherwise going to interesting places/re-visiting previous places.

Mar 28 Day 4 – Tokyo?

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Mar 29 Day 5 – Travel to and explore Sendai : Zuihoden, Sendai Daikannon, castle ruins, AER building for view, Jozenji-dori, Osaki Hachimangu shrine, Tsutsujigaoka park, Miyagi art museum, Rinnoji temple,

Mar 30 Day 6 – Sendai – Day trip to Yamadera. Explore more of Sendai.

Mar 31 Day 7 – Sendai – Day trip to Matsushima Fukuurajima bridge/Fukuurajima, Entsuin, Godaido temple.

Apr 01 Day 8 – Sendai – Day trip to Hiraizumi Motsuji temple, Chuson-ji. Takkou Saikoji – optional as I’ve read there is only one bus per day until mid/late April.

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Apr 02 Day 9 – Travel to and explore Morioka Rock splitting cherry tree, Morioka castle park, Takamatsu park,

Apr 03 Day 10 – Morioka – Day trip to Ryusendo cave

Apr 04 Day 11 – Morioka? – Open for suggestions or use this day elsewhere

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Apr 05 Day 12 – Travel to and explore Akita Senshu Park, Kubota Castle,

Apr 06 Day 13 – Akita – Day trip to Tsuruoka Dewa-Sanzan/Haguro-san

Apr 07 Day 14 – Juniko day trip via Resort Shirakami. Or done on Day 13 if not used doing something else.

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Apr 08 Day 15 – Travel to and explore Aomori No interest in Nebuta museum/A-Factory.

Apr 09 Day 16 – Aomori – Day trip to Hachinohe Not entirely committed to Hachinohe, open to using day elsewhere.

Food stall village (Ura St.), Kabushima Shrine, Kushihiki Hachimangu Shrine, Mutsu Minato morning market,

Apr 10 Day 17 – Aomori – Day trip to Hirosaki Fujita Kinen Teien, Hirosaki Park, Hirosaki castle, oldest tree,

Apr 11 Day 18 – Aomori? – Day trip to Hakodate? Worth doing if wanting to see night view and return to Aomori?

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Apr 12 Day 19 – ?

Apr 13 Day 20 – Return Tokyo

Apr 14 Day 21 – Fly home

Apr 15 Day 22 (optional) – Tokyo/fly home.

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I essentially have 4 or 5 days that are open days to be used elsewhere if needed: I would like to see Takayama Inari Shrine. Lake Tawaza looks nice, but only half a day. Kakunodate is similar. Jodogahama beach looks neat, but I’m already doing Ryusendo from Morioka.

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Concerns/questions: General flow of how I have things set. Any places that require bus transport to reach as I’ve never ridden one before and am worried about timing properly/getting on the correct bus. Is the Ryusendo day trip worth? It’s a little over 2 hours one way via bus, super nervous about messing up the timing of getting there and importantly getting back! Is the Juniko day trip from Akita doable?

Hakodate day trip from Aomori or save Hakodate for another trip with rest of Hokkaido (thinking autumn would be nice)?

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Thanks for any and all advice/tips/recommendations in advance!