Tohoku Archives | Tokyo Weekender

1,000-Year-Old ‘Naked Men’ Festival Held for the Last Time

Matthew Hernon — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 09:36:50 +0000

On Saturday, huge numbers took part in Kokuseki Temple’s famous “Naked Men” festival for the last time. First held more than 1,000 years ago, the annual tradition in Oshu, Iwate Prefecture, officially called Sominsai, will no longer take place after this year as the aging community can no longer cope with the demands of such a […]

The post 1,000-Year-Old ‘Naked Men’ Festival Held for the Last Time appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

From Rubble to Revival: The Story of Onagawa After the Tohoku Earthquake

Manami Okazaki — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 01:17:20 +0000

One of the first things visitors see when they leave the train station in Onagawa, Miyagi Prefecture, is the ocean. In this small fishing town of 5,900 residents, the water’s edge begins just beyond a downward sloping plaza of shops. On a recent scorching Sunday in early September, the place is abuzz with activity. Families […]

The post From Rubble to Revival: The Story of Onagawa After the Tohoku Earthquake appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Making the Most of the New JR Pass

Anna Carne — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 07:53:57 +0000

What is the JR Pass? The JR Pass is a train ticket available exclusively to people who live outside Japan. These passes are a joint effort between most of the different railway companies here, which means that buying the pass gives passengers near-unlimited access to the Japanese railway system. The pass is slightly cheaper when […]

The post Making the Most of the New JR Pass appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Women in Art: Masako Kakizaki’s Ode to Aomori

Jennifer Pastore — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:12:12 +0000

Masako Kakizaki, from the Tsugaru region of Aomori, is a Tokyo College of Photography graduate and commercial photographer. In 2012, she launched her six-volume series Aononymous, which captures the dramatic landscapes of her home prefecture, evoking its essence without directly identifying it. Can you describe your practice? What camera do you use? I do commercial […]

The post Women in Art: Masako Kakizaki’s Ode to Aomori appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

48 Hours in Morioka: Culinary Delights and Nature Escapes

Taylor Drew — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:27:26 +0000

Iwate is perhaps best known for its beautiful landscapes and the temple complex of Hiraizumi. However, the capital city of Morioka offers not only picturesque views and cultural and historical sites, but is also a bustling regional city with great food. Morioka offers the best of both worlds when it comes to more rural travel […]

The post 48 Hours in Morioka: Culinary Delights and Nature Escapes appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Craig Mod: Shining a Light on the Mundane

Kim Kahan — Tue, 09 May 2023 05:58:46 +0000

Craig Mod has been a resident of Japan for over 20 years, writer and photographer for almost as long and a walker for longer. He chooses traveling on foot over trains and pizza toast over (nearly) everything. This all comes together in his book Kissa by Kissa, a fantastic read that I first came across […]

The post Craig Mod: Shining a Light on the Mundane appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

5 Japan Rail Passes for Easy, Cost-Effective Travel

Anna Carne — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 06:38:00 +0000

With the news that our favorite JR Pass — an all-access ticket for tourists that had been available at a huge discount — was going up by nearly 60%, we decided to introduce our other favorites. These lesser known, great value tickets still offer big savings on the areas that you want to visit. From […]

The post 5 Japan Rail Passes for Easy, Cost-Effective Travel appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Tohoku Art Spaces to Visit in Spring 2023

Jennifer Pastore — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 09:29:39 +0000

Tohoku, the northern region of Japan’s largest island, has no shortage of places to experience art. Home to prehistoric Jomon sites where pottery, jewelry and spiritual objects continue to be unearthed today, it has existed as a cradle of culture since humans first roamed the archipelago. During Japan’s medieval period, Tohoku thrived as a land […]

The post Tohoku Art Spaces to Visit in Spring 2023 appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Japan Travel: 3 Itinerary Ideas For A Winter Trip to Tohoku

Zoria Petkoska — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:58:21 +0000

One of the snowiest countries on Earth, more than half of Japan is covered in thick snow in the winter. Most travelers know Hokkaido, the country’s northernmost prefecture, and Nagano, home to famous ski areas like Hakuba. But the northeast region of Tohoku is another winter wonderland with calm scenic beauty worth considering for your […]

The post Japan Travel: 3 Itinerary Ideas For A Winter Trip to Tohoku appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.

Hirosaki City Leads the Way in Aomori-brewed Apple Ciders

Lisandra Moor — Fri, 03 Feb 2023 08:44:31 +0000

Hirosaki City is located at the heart of Aomori Prefecture’s western Tsugaru region. You’ve probably already guessed that Hirosaki contributes to Aomori’s biggest export, apples, but did you know that the city alone produces 20 percent of the apples grown in the prefecture? The Science of Apples Over the decades, Hirosaki has found many uses […]

The post Hirosaki City Leads the Way in Aomori-brewed Apple Ciders appeared first on Tokyo Weekender.