Rural Areas to Visit in a Campervan Part 1: Tohoku / Hokkaido

Many of our customers have journeyed north in our campervan to the Tohoku region and Hokkaido. So, what is the draw? Embark on a journey through Japan’s breathtaking landscapes in one of our versatile campervan. Experience unparalleled freedom and flexibility as you navigate through diverse natural wonders. Our campervans provide the perfect gateway to immerse yourself in Japan’s rich cultural heritage and stunning scenery. Explore hidden gems and popular attractions at your own pace, crafting unforgettable memories along the way. Discover the abundance of nature, from serene forests to majestic mountains, while enjoying the comfort and convenience of our well-equipped vehicles. Each destination offers a unique blend of sights, ensuring a rich, varied experience. Embrace the adventure and freedom that comes with traveling in our campervan to Tohoku, Hokkaido, creating a personalized journey through Japan’s vast beauty.

Tohoku Campervan Roadtrip

Fukushima, Yamagata, Miyagi, Akita, Iwate, and Aomori prefectures make up the vast area of Tohoku, covering approximately 30% of northern Honshu. A road trip in one of our campervans is the best way to efficiently enjoy this area’s astounding nature and many tourist attractions!

Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture

The New York Times, in its electronic edition dated January 12, 2023, showcased Morioka City as a must-visit destination for the year. Highlighted as one of the ’52 Places to Go in 2023′, Morioka City stands out for its well-preserved historical buildings nestled in the heart of the city. Picturesque parks and meandering rivers enrich the urban landscape, contributing to the city’s scenic beauty.

Moreover, Morioka City celebrates its vibrant local culture. City streets boast unique coffee shops and famous wanko soba eateries, alongside bookshops with diverse literary collections.

Morioka caters to music lovers with its array of jazz cafés, each hosting live performances that contribute to the city’s lively atmosphere. These elements together make Morioka City an engaging and enjoyable destination, attracting visitors who seek a blend of historical charm and cultural richness.

Morioka is a place where in a 10-minute walk you can experience all that it has to offer: the historical streets, soba shops, coffee shops and so on. You can find interesting and fun places just by walking around with each place you enter presenting something that will provide you with a fond memory. Morioka is a “Walkable Gem”.

With Morioka being a compact city, you can interact with people going about their daily lives in a normal way unlike tourist destinations such as Kyoto, or in the big cities like Tokyo. Morioka has become a popular area in recent years for those seeking such an atmosphere.

Related Resource Morioka official site

Wanko soba is a local dish from Morioka and Hanamaki cities in Iwate Prefecture. Customers eat a mouthful of hot soba noodles from a bowl, and a server refills the bowl. This process repeats until the customers have eaten their fill of soba.

Aomori Prefecture.

Aomori Prefecture, blessed with both sea and mountains, boasts a rich variety of nature. Scenic coastal spots worth visiting are Senjidashiki in Tsugaru National Park and Butsugaura on the Shimokita Peninsula. Inland, Mount Hakkoda, Lake Towada, Oirase Stream and its waterfalls, Lake Ogawara and the World Heritage Site. Shirakami Mountains will leave you in awe of the beauty that surrounds you. Fall is especially beautiful with the foliage ablaze with the changing colors.

There are also a many high-quality hot springs throughout the prefecture. Beyond the renowned hot spring villages and inns, the prefecture boasts numerous hidden hot springs or ‘meiyu’.

While the nature of Aomori is a draw in itself, Aomori also boasts one of the most famous festivals in Japan, the Nebuta Festival. In early August, the beauty and grandeur of the Nebuta floats illuminating the night attracts around three million visitors from all over Japan and abroad every year. If your travels have you in Aomori in early August, be sure to not to miss this once-in-a-lifetime experience. For more great festivals in Japan, be sure to read our blog, Festivals Worth Visiting in Japan (travellers-autobarn.co.jp)

Aomori’s another highlight

Another highlight in Aomori which can be found in the east coast city of Hachinohe is the Hasshoku Center. This an expansive market that features fresh seafood directly from Hachinohe Port, one of the best ports in Japan. A conveyor belt sushi restaurant serving locally caught fish and Shichirin-mura, where visitors grill market-bought seafood over a charcoal fire, attracts a large crowd daily. Hasshoku Center also sells a wide selection of vegetables, fruits and local products from the area such as processed food and sake, making it a great place to look for souvenirs. Various events are also held, including outdoor live music events and one-off cooking classes (reservations required).

Related Resource： Amazing Aomori

Hokkaido Campervan Roadtrip

A wild life in north island

On a road trip around Hokkaido, you may encounter wild animals. Some of our customers have been able to see red-crowned cranes, foxes and even brown bears! Discover the excitement of wildlife encounters at Noboribetsu Bear Park. Here, you have the unique opportunity to safely feed brown bears. This experience combines the thrill of close-up bear interactions with the assurance of safety. Noboribetsu Bear Park offers an unforgettable adventure, bringing you face-to-face with these majestic creatures in a controlled environment. It’s a perfect blend of exhilaration and security, ideal for wildlife enthusiasts.
The bears are surprisingly cute as they show off their large bodies in an appeal to be fed! To see bears in a more natural habitat, don’t miss Bear Mountain at Tokachi Sahoro Resort where you can see the bears from various vantage points.

Related Resource: HOKKAIDO LOVE

Be on the lookout for some of Hokkaido’s other unique animals such as the Ezo sika deer, flying squirrels, pika, white tailed eagles and owls. If by chance you don’t spot any, you can always see them at zoos and other facilities throughout Hokkaido.

While enjoying Hokkaido’s natural wonders, don’t forget about Hokkaido’s food. Good ramen can be found anywhere in Japan, but flavors/types vary from region to region. Furthermore, even within Hokkaido, different areas have different ramen, so it is fun to try the local ramen of each region.

Summer is the best time to visit Hokkaido in a campervan, and you can read more about it in our blog, Great Places to Visit in Summer in Japan (travellers-autobarn.co.jp)