Waterfalls, rivers and free-for-all festivals in Japan's northeast

Tohoku, the northeastern region of Japan's main island of Honshu, is not the most common destination on a traveller’s itinerary. It is certainly less well known than the hi-tech capital of Tokyo, the historic gem of Kyoto, or the natural wonderland of Hokkaido. Yet Tohoku also boasts a combination of scenic attractions, local cuisine and unique heritage that make it worth a visit.

Last week, Japan Railways (East) announced that they will be increasing the top speed of Tohoku’s ‘Hayabusa’ Shinkansen (bullet train) from 300km/h to 320km/h on 16 March, 2013. The change will cut travel times slightly, making it even more convenient for travelers to head up north to Tohoku. For example, a trip from Tokyo station to Tohoku’s biggest city of Sendai will take one and a half hours.

Photo above: A torii, or Japanese shrine-gate of the Shinto religion, at Lake Tazawa in Akita Prefecture, Tohoku. The lake has an incredible depth of 423m, making it the deepest in Japan and causing the water to appear a deep blue colour.

If you're planning a trip to Japan, you might also want to read our report on the travel situation in Tohoku.

Or see our photo gallery of Tohoku in Winter.

The writer's trip was supported by Japan Tourism.