Feel like you're traveling abroad while in Japan. Travel to Tohoku and enjoy the scenery of the world

[Aomori] Hotokegaura, a place where strangely shaped white-green rocks are reminiscent of Cappadocia in Turkey

Located on the coastline of Sai Village on the west coast of Aomori Prefecture's Shimokita Peninsula, Hotokegaura is a chain of whitish-green rocks stretching for about 2km. The tuff created by volcanic activity about 20 million years ago was eroded by wind, rain, and waves over a long period of time, and this place is also known as the "Cappadocia of Tohoku" due to its dynamic scenery.

Hotokegaura, with its chain of strange rocks and beaches with Buddhist names such as Nyorai-kubi (Tathagata Head), Gohyaku Rakan (Five Hundred Arhats), Kannon-iwa (Guanyin Rock), and Renge-iwa (Lotus Rock), has long been a place of worship for local people. In fact, Turkey's World Heritage Site, Cappadocia, is also known for its Christian rock-cut churches. People are in awe of the mysterious formations created by nature and entrust their prayers to them... This relationship between nature and people may be a commonality between Hotokegaura and Cappadocia.

Hotokegaura can be accessed by car and on foot, but if you want to enjoy the entire coastline, we recommend taking a sightseeing boat from the Tsugaru Strait Culture Center Alsas in Sai Village and viewing it from the sea side. The sightseeing course takes about an hour and a half, and in addition to enjoying the view from the boat, you can also go ashore at Hotokegaura and take a leisurely stroll. From the clear waters sparkling in the morning to the strangely shaped rocks illuminated by the setting sun in the afternoon, you're sure to enjoy the charms of Hotokegaura, which shows different faces depending on the time of day and the season you visit.

Hotokegaura

<Cappadocia, Turkey>

Cappadocia is located on the Anatolian Plateau in central Turkey, and is a scenic area that was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1985. The vast area stretching about 50 km from north to south is dotted with strange rock formations created by erosion by wind and rain, creating a mysterious and dynamic sight.

[Akita] "Unosaki Coast" where the beautiful water mirror spreads out like the Uyuni Salt Flats

Unosaki Coast, located in the southern part of the Oga Peninsula in Akita Prefecture, is a popular spot where the view of the sky and clouds reflected on the mirror-like surface of the water is "just like the Uyuni Salt Flats!"

The defining feature of Unosaki Coast, which stretches for about 1.5 km, is its shallow coastline. At low tide, the coast is so shallow that you can walk on the rocks up to 200 meters offshore. If you visit on a calm, windless day, you'll be greeted by a spectacular view of a beautiful mirror-like surface of the water stretching as far as the eye can see. A spherical rock called Azukiwa is exposed, and many people take photos on it to post on social media.

If you want to enjoy the particularly dramatic scenery at Unosaki Coast, we recommend early morning or dusk. Of course, the tides and sunrise/sunset times vary depending on the season, so don't forget to gather information beforehand when taking spectacular photos. You can also rent an e-bike from Oga Bicycle Rental, a bicycle rental shop near Oga Station, and cycle along the coastline.

Unosaki Coast

<Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia>

Bolivia's Uyuni Salt Flats is a huge salt lake that spreads across an altitude of about 3,700m. The difference in elevation of the entire salt lake, which stretches about 100km north to south and 250km east to west, is only about 50cm. During the rainy season from February to March, the rainwater that has accumulated on the salt land creates a "mirror of the sky" that reflects the sky.

[Iwate] The sparkling blue sea inside the cave, Hachinohe Cave, is comparable to Italy's Blue Grotto

There are many beautiful scenic spots known as "Blue Grottoes" all over the world, such as the Island of Capri in Italy, Melissani Cave in Greece, and Gran Cenote in Mexico, but the one known as the "Blue Grotto of Sanriku" is Hachinohe Ana, located in Jodogahama, Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture.

Hachinohe-ana, named after the legend that it "continues all the way to Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture," is a sea cavern half submerged in the sea. This cave, which has a very narrow entrance, can be accessed by taking a sightseeing tour on a small fisherman's boat called a "sappa boat." To board the sappa boat, purchase a ticket at Jodogahama Marine House.

The highlight of the 20-minute tour around the inner bay of Jodogahama and Hachinohe-ana is, of course, the inside of the cave. The beauty of the sparkling blue in the dark cave is in no way inferior to the Blue Grottoes in Italy and Greece.

The "Blue Cave" was created by the combination of several conditions, including the transparency of the seawater, the white sand on the seabed, and the angle of the sunlight entering the cave. Hachinohe Cave also shows different faces depending on the season and time of day you visit, but the most recommended times to visit are March to May and October to November. During these times, you can often see the most vivid "blue" of the year.

By the way, depending on the sea conditions, you may not be able to enter the Hachinohe Cave, but there is a legend that says that "good fortune will come to those who enter it." Please enjoy your trip to the "Blue Cave of Sanriku," where you will encounter beautiful scenery and good fortune.

Hachinohe Cave

<Blue Grotto, Italy>

A sea cave on the island of Capri in southern Italy. Entering the cave, which is about 54 meters long and 15 meters high, through a small entrance on the cliff, you will be greeted by a fantastical landscape. Depending on the weather and sea conditions, you may not be able to enter the cave, but the best time to do so is between June and August.

[Miyagi] Rugged mountainside and beautiful volcanic lakes, like those of the World Heritage Site, Tongariro National Park, at Okama

Located on the border between Miyagi and Yamagata prefectures, the Zao mountain range is lined with mountains over 1,500 meters above sea level. In the center of the mountain range, at an altitude of about 1,670 meters, is a crater lake called Okama, a scenic spot that symbolizes Zao. The surrounding area of Okama, created by repeated eruptions, is a landscape of rugged mountain surfaces and an emerald-green lake. The view is full of wild power, reminiscent of the Emerald Lake in Tongariro National Park, a World Heritage Site in New Zealand.

According to a survey conducted in 1968, Okama is 325m in diameter from east to west, 325m in diameter from north to south, and 27.6m deep at its deepest. The lake water is highly acidic, so no living creatures can live there. It is also called the "Five-Color Lake" because it appears in various colors depending on how the sunlight hits it. If you want to enjoy the magnificent view of Okama, created by the workings of the earth, we recommend the observation deck near the end parking lot of the Zao High Line.

The access routes to Okama, Zao Echo Line and Zao High Line, are closed in winter, so the area can usually be visited from late April to early November. From the spring, when walls of snow still surround the road, to the summer, when the fresh greenery shines, to the autumn, when the area is enveloped in autumn leaves. Enjoy an exhilarating drive while taking in the spectacular scenery that changes with each season.

Okama

<Tongariro National Park, New Zealand>

Located on New Zealand's North Island, this is New Zealand's first national park and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1990. It has long been protected as a sacred place by the Maori people, and is dotted with many attractions, including Emerald Lake on Mount Tongariro.

[Yamagata] The magnificent atmosphere of the Yamagata Prefectural Museum "Bunshokan" is reminiscent of a British palace

Bunshokan in Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, has a symmetrical façade that exudes a magnificent atmosphere, a hall with a beautiful curved high ceiling, and a massive clock tower that stands 25 meters high, giving you the mysterious feeling of having wandered into a European palace.

The Yamagata Prefectural Government Office and Prefectural Assembly Hall, completed in 1916, are preserved as cultural assets, while the Yamagata Prefectural Museum Bunshokan is used as a facility to communicate local history and culture. The gorgeous building, based on the British Revival style, was designed by Tahara Shinnosuke, who studied architecture as a disciple of British architect Josiah Conder. The spacious grounds include the old prefectural government office and assembly hall, as well as a clock tower and courtyard. Tourists are welcome to visit, of course. Enjoy an exotic stroll while admiring the beautiful architecture and exhibits.

In particular, the main hall on the third floor of the old prefectural office building was once used for important meetings, as well as for speeches and the issuance of appointment letters. The space conveys the atmosphere of those days with its decorative plaster ceiling and luxurious interior. The courtyard of the old prefectural office building is also surrounded by stone paving and red brick walls, and is a popular place for its "British atmosphere." On the second floor of the old prefectural office building, there is also a cafe called "Yamagata Fruit Cafe Hongmi Full," which serves dishes using fruits from Yamagata Prefecture. We recommend stopping here for tea time while immersing yourself in the European atmosphere.

Yamagata Prefectural Museum "Bunshokan"

<Buckingham Palace, England>

This is a palace of the British royal family in London, and is currently used as the official residence of Queen Elizabeth. Its vast grounds house a variety of spaces, including ballrooms, reception rooms, and an art museum, and in the summer the great hall and gardens are open to the public.

[Fukushima] Jododaira, a place where you can drive through dynamic scenery that resembles the desert on the outskirts of Las Vegas

At the end of the straight road lies a desolate plain. Jododaira in Fukushima Prefecture gives you the feeling that you are driving through the desert on the outskirts of Las Vegas.

Located at an altitude of about 1,600m, Jododaira is the midpoint of the 29km long Bandai-Azuma Skyline that connects Takayu Onsen and Tsuchiyu Pass. Volcanic wasteland created by the eruption of the 1,949m high Mount Issaikyo spreads around the area. In particular, the view of the Bandai-Azuma Skyline stretching in a straight line towards the 1,707m high Mount Azuma Kofuji is so dynamic that it's hard to believe it's in Japan. Parking is not possible due to volcanic gases, but it's a popular spot where you can take pictures of the beautiful scenery from the passenger seat or on-board camera.

The Bandai Azuma Skyline is usually open from early April to mid-November, but if you want to see scenery similar to that of the outskirts of Las Vegas, we recommend spring or autumn. During this time, there is little greenery in the surrounding area, so you can enjoy a particularly desolate landscape. However, other beautiful times include early April, when a snowy corridor stretches along the side of the road, and late September to early October, when the autumn leaves are at their best. One of the charms of Jododaira is that it offers a variety of scenery with each season.

*The Bandai Azuma Skyline may be closed at certain times due to volcanic activity or weather conditions. Please check in advance.

The area around Jododaira is not just a place to enjoy a scenic drive that will make you feel like you're on a trip abroad. You can also go trekking to Mount Azuma Kofuji, Mount Issaikyo, and Mount Goshiki-numa, as well as the famous hot spring "Takayu Onsen," also known as the "Kusazu of Tohoku." Enjoy trekking in the mountains, take in the spectacular views from your car, and relax in the famous cloudy water... If you visit Jododaira, be sure to enjoy this kind of ambitious trip.

Jododaira

<Las Vegas, USA>

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, is known as an entertainment city. Surrounding it is the desolate land of the Nevada Desert, where you can enjoy a variety of driving trips, from day trips to multi-day road trips.

Many people may have been surprised to find that Tohoku is dotted with spots reminiscent of overseas landscapes. Now that it is difficult to travel abroad, one new way to enjoy traveling is to find and visit these spots in Japan where you can experience an overseas atmosphere. In addition, all of these spots are very photogenic, so once you are able to travel freely again, be sure to enjoy taking pictures of exotic landscapes.

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