Hokkaido and Tohoku guide in Japan
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Two hours north of Tokyo by bullet train is the region of Tohoku – the unspoilt heart of northern Japan – where forested peaks are criss-crossed with mountain biking and hiking trails and ski pistes in winter, and there’s a hot spring bubbling up around every corner. The region is home to a number important historic temples, shrines and feudal towns, as well as playing host to four major summer festivals – the Nebuta Festival in Aomori, the Kanto Fesitval in Akita, the Tanabata Festival in Sendai and the Hanagasa Festival in Yamagata, all take place in August. The Nebuta Festival, during which illuminate floats depicting warriors are paraded through the streets, is one not to miss.
The magnificent nature of Tohoku extends north to the island of Hokkaido, which has some of the country’s greatest national parks and most remarkable wilderness areas. Carpeted in verdant forests and fields during spring and summer, turned red and orange in autumn and white with snow in winter, Hokkaido is a nature-lover’s paradise. It’s friendly, easy-to-navigate capital Sapporo is the place to stop for fine noodles and to see the famous annual Snow Festival sculptures. Head to the eastern Shiretoko Peninsula for an abundance of wildlife, including sea eagles, sea lions and seals, and natural wonders such as drift ice in winter. The Kushiro Wetlands are the place to witness the graceful dance of Japan’s iconic crane; while the mountains around Toya have an abundance of hot springs and crater lakes. Nearby Niseko and Rusutsu draw the crowds in winter for their unrivalled snow conditions.
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