Itinerary

Start Date: 15 September 2025

End Date: 22 September 2025

Highlights:

• Hike the famous coastal Michinoku Trail 
• Sake taste testing 
• Join the Matagi and learn the art of cooking wild game
• Hike a spiritual path of enlightenment with Yamabushi guides  

Description of itinerary

A week in Tohoku is a trip through the past.  A region rarely visited by tourists, but full of beauty and wonder. Travelers feel and observe nature as it has been for decades, and join in on customs and traditions with the local Tohoku people and their indigenous tribes. Walk the trails of a majestic active volcano and take a dip in its outdoor hot spring with over 1,200 years of history. Understand the nurturing connection between the mountains and the people through the process of sake-making, traditionally brewed with snowmelt water from the local mountains, a specialty in Tohoku. 

Don the spiritual white robes of pilgrims, and climb Mt Haguro’s 2446 stone steps with a Yamabushi guide. Yamabushi seek spiritual enlightenment through the healing powers of nature, and the term translates to “one who bows down in the mountains.”  Learn why the people consider the Mountain as a God; bringer of blessings. Venture with your guide to Yudono-san Shrine, a very sacred and mysterious spot in the Three Mountains of Dewa trek.

Delve into the culture of the Matagi, indigenous hunters who have mastered the art of surviving in the harsh landscape of Tohoku. Follow in their footsteps, and learn more about the culture of living off of the land with a game meat cooking class. 

Japan is famous for soy sauce, and we will get to visit a soy sauce brewery that has been mastering the creation of this liquid gold for over 150 years. Taste test different types of soy sauce and learn how to pair this Japanese staple with different foods.  

Hike the famous Michinoku Coastal Trail through a scenic national park with rugged coastal cliffs, sea foam blue water below, and beautiful vistas to see for miles. Explore the trail’s stunning landscapes, often compared to a Buddhist Land of Paradise. End the day with an immersive experience with a traditional Kagura performance, learning about the history and culture of the Aomori prefecture. This traditional dance is deeply rooted in the culture of the locals. 

Round out your week with Marketplace, a speed-dating style of networking where buyers and media meet with local tour operators in the Tohoku Region.

Please note that the region reserves the right for changes in the program. Activities will be done according to the weather conditions. A detailed itinerary will be shared with accepted participants.