Tohoku: Beautiful scenes of an overlooked region

By CNN staff
1 minute read
Updated 10:43 PM EDT, Thu September 14, 2017
<strong>Jodogahama Beach (Iwate prefecture):</strong> It's easy to see why this beach is named "Jodogahama," or Pure Land. In Rikuchu Kaigan National Park, it's one of Japan's nationally designated Places of Scenic Beauty. Click on for more photos of Japan's beautiful Tohoku region, which is made up of six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata.
Jodogahama Beach (Iwate prefecture): It's easy to see why this beach is named "Jodogahama," or Pure Land. In Rikuchu Kaigan National Park, it's one of Japan's nationally designated Places of Scenic Beauty. Click on for more photos of Japan's beautiful Tohoku region, which is made up of six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata.
JNTO
<strong>Okama Crater Lake (Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures):</strong> Three peaks of Tohoku's Zao mountain range surround this circular crater lake named after "kama," a traditional iron pot that shares its shape. It sits on the border between Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures.
Okama Crater Lake (Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures): Three peaks of Tohoku's Zao mountain range surround this circular crater lake named after "kama," a traditional iron pot that shares its shape. It sits on the border between Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures.
Aaron Jarrad/Flickr RF/Getty Images
<strong>Hakkoda Mountains (Aomori prefecture):</strong> This range of dormant volcanoes is known for its beauty throughout the seasons -- fall included. The area is filled with ponds, marshes, hiking trails and hot springs.
Hakkoda Mountains (Aomori prefecture): This range of dormant volcanoes is known for its beauty throughout the seasons -- fall included. The area is filled with ponds, marshes, hiking trails and hot springs.
Japan National Tourism Organization
<strong>Torigoe-no-taki Falls (Iwate prefecture): </strong>Making an entrance down a 100-foot drop, these falls, near the ski resort/hot spring town of Shizukuishi, come in with a mighty roar.
Torigoe-no-taki Falls (Iwate prefecture): Making an entrance down a 100-foot drop, these falls, near the ski resort/hot spring town of Shizukuishi, come in with a mighty roar.
JNTO
<strong>Lake Inawashiro (Fukushima prefecture):</strong> Frozen scenes like this can be found during a winter visit to Fukushima's Lake Inawashiro. These "shibuki-gori" natural ice sculptures form when water is picked up by strong winds from the west.
Lake Inawashiro (Fukushima prefecture): Frozen scenes like this can be found during a winter visit to Fukushima's Lake Inawashiro. These "shibuki-gori" natural ice sculptures form when water is picked up by strong winds from the west.
JNTO
<strong>Mt. Chokai (Akita and Yamagata prefectures):</strong> Trails on the photogenic volcano, located between Akita and Yamagata prefectures, take hikers through marshes, teeming wildflowers and alpine lakes.
Mt. Chokai (Akita and Yamagata prefectures): Trails on the photogenic volcano, located between Akita and Yamagata prefectures, take hikers through marshes, teeming wildflowers and alpine lakes.
Japan National Tourism Organization
<strong>Shiraishi River (Miyagi prefecture):</strong> Come cherry blossom season Tohoku doesn't disappoint. Miyagi's Shiraishi River hosts an annual Ogawara Sakura Festival -- said to be one of the country's top cherry blossom viewing experiences.
Shiraishi River (Miyagi prefecture): Come cherry blossom season Tohoku doesn't disappoint. Miyagi's Shiraishi River hosts an annual Ogawara Sakura Festival -- said to be one of the country's top cherry blossom viewing experiences.
UIG via Getty Images