Zao Okama crater lake
An emerald-green crater lake, best combined with a drive on the Zao Echo Line. Roads close in winter, so check the season.
Base for Tohoku
A base for Miyagi and Tohoku
Matsushima sits where the roads to Sendai, the Sanriku coast, Yamagata, Fukushima and Iwate meet. Stay several nights at ISSO and come back to the same house each evening after a day out in Tohoku, Japan's northeast.
Why it works as a base: free parking for 3 cars, a washer and dryer, a full kitchen, and the whole house for up to 9. No repacking every morning; made for family and group road trips.
Miyagi (day trips by car)
Zao Fox Village
A park where many foxes roam freely. Popular with kids and with visitors from abroad.
Shiroishi Castle
Seat of the Katakura family, senior retainers of the Date clan, with a keep rebuilt in wood.
Funaoka Castle Park
In spring, look down over a thousand cherry trees along the Shiroishi River with the Zao mountains behind.
Kanahebisui Shrine
A shrine in Iwanuma visited for good fortune with money, and known for its wisteria in spring.
Sendai Daikannon
A 100-meter white statue of the goddess of mercy in Sendai's Izumi ward.
Tashirojima (Cat Island)
An island off Ishinomaki where cats outnumber people. Reached by ferry from Ishinomaki.
Mount Kurikoma
Famous for autumn leaves that turn the whole mountain red and gold; hike or drive.
Yamagata
Yamadera (Risshakuji)
An ancient temple whose halls cling to a rocky mountainside, reached by a long stone stairway. The view near the top is worth every step.
Ginzan Onsen
Wooden inns line a river in this early-20th-century hot spring town. Most beautiful at dusk when the gas lamps come on.
Yamagata soba
Yamagata is buckwheat noodle country: try soba served on long wooden boards, or cold soba with chicken.
Fukushima
Goshikinuma
The "five-colored ponds" of Ura-Bandai, shifting through blues and greens along an easy trail.
Fruit picking
Fukushima is fruit country. From summer to autumn, pick cherries, peaches, pears or apples in season.
Lake Inawashiro
A large lake beneath Mount Bandai, for a lakeside drive.
Iwate
Geibikei Gorge
A boatman poles you upstream between sheer rock walls.
Hiraizumi: Chusonji
The heart of World Heritage Hiraizumi, famous for its gold-covered Konjikido hall.
Morioka
A castle town below Mount Iwate, known for its three noodle dishes: wanko soba, reimen and jajamen.
Travel times vary widely with roads and season. Check opening days, hours and winter road closures on official sites before you go.