The Shirakami-Sanchi mountain range is a fabled UNESCO World Heritage Site straddling Japan's northern prefectures of Akita and Aomori. The untouched primitive beauty of nature here and the sheer scale of it all continues to mesmerize countless visitors to its lands, making it a prime destination for adventure tourism.
Here we'll provide a comprehensive guide that will help you make the most of a 2-day trip to Tohoku's Akita and Shirakami-Sanchi, including details on how to get there from Tokyo, what exciting foods to try out, and must-visit hotspots within the region.
More About Shirakami-Sanchi in the Tohoku Region
Tohoku refers to the northeastern tip of Japan's Honshu island, the Japanese archipelago's main and largest. Full of luxuriant nature that is beautiful all year round, the region is home to many hot spring areas, traditional festivals, and countryside cuisine, giving it a special allure that can't be found in modern cities. No wonder it came in third for Lonely Planet's Top Regions in its Best in Travel list for 2020!
As for Shirakami-Sanchi, this refers to a mountain range with an approximate surface area of 130,000 hectares (502 square miles) that stretches from Akita to Aomori. Also found within is the world's largest old-growth beech forest.
Due to the untouched nature of the forest here and the unique ecosystem it houses, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.
Fun-filled 2-day Tohoku tour with Cassie, who's visiting the region for the first time!
Cassie, who hails from the U.K., will be following our 2-day Tohoku tour itinerary. This is her first time in this region! "I'm a huge fan of wildlife and nature, so I can't wait to get started!" she exclaims.
Day 1: Take a flight from Haneda Airport to Odate-Noshiro Airport, then travel to Akita/Shirakami-Sanchi
The Tohoku region is easily accessible via plane or train from Tokyo. For this trip, we chose to fly from Haneda Airport to Akita Prefecture's Odate-Noshiro Airport. The flight takes about an hour.
There are two round-trip flights every day until October 24, 2020, after which a third will be added. (Please note that the status may change depending on circumstances; please check with the airline for details before your flight.)
The best way to get around once you reach Tohoku is via rental car, and this service is available right in the airport itself. Once you rent the vehicle of your choice and load all your luggage in, drive out to Shirakami-sanchi’s gateway, Fujisato town.
Start your tour from the Shirakami-Sanchi World Heritage Conservation Center (Fujisato Hall )!
This conservation center was established with the goal of protecting, promoting, and educating others about the value of Shirakami-Sanchi as a world heritage site…
