YAMAGATA

Snow still stands majestically on the mountains of northern Japan even as new leaves bud on the trees in the valleys. If you want to truly feel spring as it comes to Japan, you want to visit Tohoku.

Many tourists concentrate on the so-called 'Golden Route' connecting Tokyo to Kyoto and Osaka. But what do you do if you want to get off the principal tourist highway and see the best of the rest? Here are Japan's 21 best off-the-Golden-Route spots!

While Japan may be known for its springtime cherry blossoms, the Tohoku region offers something even more unique: cherry blossoms with snow!

Follow along with our writer Wut who went on an incredible journey to Tohoku to discover the best things to see and do for any traveler's first trip to the region.

With some of the best nature and scenery in all of Japan, spring is particularly spectacular in Tohoku, with a magnitude of cherry blossom viewing spots that typically bloom a few weeks later than Tokyo and Kyoto.

Golden Week is the biggest holiday of the year in Japan, and these 11 spots and events each offer something unique that can only be experienced at this time of year. You don't want to miss them!

If you think cross-country train rides only offer magnificent views, think again. Japan, teeming with glorious natural wonders, has made moving from one prefecture to another a luxurious experience you'll never forget!

Big, small, weird, wonderful, and beautiful! Welcome to the world of caving in Tohoku!