What would you find if you traveled horizontally through the capital cities of the six prefectures of Tohoku?

NEFT Editorial Department
2026.09.19
Last updated: 2026.09.19

Locations with the same latitude (indicating north-south orientation) on Earth lie on the same line extending east-west on a map. So, if you were to extend a line horizontally from the prefectural capitals of the six Tohoku prefectures... what cities and landmarks would you find at the end of that line?

So this time, we'll use the areas around the city halls of Aomori, Akita, Morioka, Yamagata, Sendai, and Fukushima as a reference point to investigate which cities, historical sites, and geographical landmarks are located at roughly the same latitude!

Since cities have a certain area, it is not possible to determine a single latitude. In this article, we compare the coordinates of city halls and areas near the city center and calculate approximate distances by assuming that 1 degree of latitude is approximately 111 km from north to south

What is located at the same latitude as Aomori City?

Aomori City Hall is located at approximately 40.823 degrees north latitude

Aomori City, Naples, and New York are at roughly the same latitude

One of the world's major cities located at a similar latitude to Aomori CityNaples, a city in southern Italy.

The center of Naples is located at approximately 40.85 degrees north latitude, a difference of about 0.03 degrees from Aomori City. When converted to a north-south direction, the difference is only about 3 km

New York City in the United States is also located at approximately 40.71 degrees north latitude, which is about 12 km from Aomori City in the north-south direction. Thessaloniki in northern Greece is also located at approximately 40.64 degrees north latitude, which is about 20 km south of Aomori City.

Aomori City: Approximately 40.82 degrees North latitude
Naples, Italy: Approximately 40.85 degrees North latitude
New York (USA): Approximately 40.71 degrees North latitude
Thessaloniki (Greece): Approximately 40.64 degrees North latitude

According to Aomori Prefecture's official tourism information, Aomori Prefecture is located at roughly the same latitude as New York, Beijing, Rome, and Madrid

However, this comparison is based on the entire prefecture of Aomori, which stretches from north to south. If we limit it to Aomori City, Naples and New York are actually closer in latitude

Aomori City and Mount Vesuvius are at only about 200 meters apart in latitude

Mount Vesuvius , towering over the outskirts of Naples, symbolizes the fact that Aomori City and Naples are located at almost the same latitude .

The cityscape of Naples and Mount Vesuvius

Aomori City Hall is located at approximately 40.823 degrees north latitude, while Mount Vesuvius is at approximately 40.821 degrees north latitude. The difference is about 0.002 degrees, which translates to only about 200 meters in the north-south direction

Although there may be slight differences due to the coordinate reference point and rounding, it can be said that Aomori City Hall and Mount Vesuvius are located at roughly the same latitude

Mount Vesuvius is a volcano known for its massive eruption in 79 AD that buried ancient Roman cities such as Pompeii and Herculaneum. Many people may also know it from its appearance as a mural in a Roman public bath in the popular manga "Thermae Romae," which was also adapted into a film

The ruins of Pompeiiare located at approximately 40.74 degrees north latitude, about 9 km south of Aomori City. On the other hand,the ruins of Herculaneumare located at approximately 40.81 degrees north latitude, a difference of about 2 km from Aomori City in the north-south direction.

In other words, if you travel almost horizontally west from Aomori City, you will reach not only Mount Vesuvius but also the vicinity of world-renowned archaeological sites that convey the appearance of ancient Rome to the present day

Given that Aomori City is home to the Sannai-Maruyama Site, one of Japan's most important ancient archaeological sites, I can't help but feel there's some extraordinary connection there

What is located at the same latitude as Akita City and Morioka City ?

Akita City Hall is located at approximately 39.720 degrees north latitude, and Morioka City Hall is located at approximately 39.702 degrees north latitude

The difference in latitude between the two cities is approximately 0.018 degrees. In terms of north-south direction,about 2 km. Although the Ou Mountains separate them on the Sea of Japan side and the Pacific Ocean side, if you only look at the latitude, Akita City and Morioka City are almost perfectly aligned.

Denver, USA is at roughly the same latitude

One global city that is particularly close in latitude to Akita City and Morioka CityDenver, Colorado, USA.

Denver is located at approximately 39.74 degrees north latitude, and the difference in the north-south direction between it and Akita City is only about 2 km , and the difference between it and Morioka City is only about 4 km

Beijing, China, is also located at approximately 39.90 degrees north latitude, and the difference in the north-south direction between it and Akita City isabout 20 km, and the difference between it and Morioka Cityabout 22 km.

Morioka City: Approximately 39.70 degrees North latitude
Akita City: Approximately 39.72 degrees north latitude
Denver, USA: Approximately 39.74 degrees North latitude
Beijing (China): approximately 39.90 degrees north latitude

In particular, Denver is located at a latitude as close to Akita City and Morioka City as Akita City and Morioka City are at roughly the same latitude

Morioka City and Mount Ararat are at almost the same latitude

Although not a city,Mount Ararat, is a geographical landmark situated at almost the exact same latitude as Morioka City.

Both Morioka City Hall and the summit of Mount Ararat are located at approximately 39.702 degrees north latitude. Although there are slight differences depending on the coordinate data, the latitudes of the two locations are almost identical

The difference in north-south direction between Akita City Hall and Mount Araratonly about 2 km. This means that Akita City, Morioka City, and Mount Ararat are almost aligned on the same line of latitude on Earth.

Mount Ararat is Turkey's highest volcano, consisting of two volcanic bodies of different sizes, with an elevation of 5,137 meters. Although it lies within modern Turkish territory, it is known as a symbol of the Armenian people and is depicted on the Armenian coat of arms

Furthermore, this mountain is deeply connected to Noah's Ark, which appears in the Old Testament. It is said that Noah's Ark landed on this mountain after the Great Flood

However, the Old Testament only states that the ark stayed in the "mountains of Ararat," and does not explicitly say that the ark landed on the summit of present-day Mount Ararat

Traveling westward from Akita City or Morioka City will take you not only to world-famous cities but also to mountains deeply connected to biblical stories

What is located at the same latitude as Yamagata City and Sendai City ?

Yamagata City Hall is located at approximately 38.255 degrees north latitude, while Sendai City Hall is located at approximately 38.268 degrees north latitude

The difference in latitude between the two cities is approximately 0.013 degrees, and the difference in north-south direction isabout 1.4 km. This is an even smaller difference in latitude than that between Akita City and Morioka City, and Yamagata City and Sendai City are also almost directly side-by-side with the Ou Mountains in between.

Murakami City in Niigata Prefecture is at almost the same latitude

The Murakami City Hall, located in northern Niigata Prefecture, is situated at approximately 38.224 degrees north latitude.

Streetscape of Kamimachi, Murakami City, Niigata Prefecture

The difference in the north-south direction between this city and Yamagata City is only about 3.5 km , and the difference between this city and Sendai City is also only about 5 km

Murakami City: Approximately 38.22 degrees north latitude
Yamagata City: Approximately 38.26 degrees North latitude
Sendai City: Approximately 38.27 degrees North latitude

From Murakami City, which is close to the Sea of Japan, to Yamagata City inland, and to Sendai City across the Ou Mountains, the three cities are all located at roughly the same latitude

Patras in Greece is at almost the same latitude

Of all the cities in the world, the one with the closest latitude to Yamagata City and Sendai CityPatras, a port city in western Greece.

Patras is located at approximately 38.246 degrees north latitude, and the difference in the north-south direction from Yamagata City is about 1 km . The difference from Sendai City is also only about 2.4 km

Patras is one of Greece's leading port cities, located in the northern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It has a long history dating back to antiquity, and in Christian tradition, it is considered the place where Saint Andrew, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, was martyred

In addition, Alicante in southeastern Spain is located at approximately 38.35 degrees north latitude, and Palermo on the island of Sicily, Italy, is located at approximately 38.12 degrees north latitude

Yamagata City: Approximately 38.26 degrees North latitude
Sendai City: Approximately 38.27 degrees North latitude
Patras (Greece): Approximately 38.25 degrees North latitude
Alicante (Spain): Approximately 38.35 degrees North latitude
Palermo, Italy: Approximately 38.12 degrees North latitude

If you trace the line of latitude westward from Yamagata City or Sendai City, you will pass through the Korean Peninsula, mainland China, Central Asia, and eventually reach cities along the Mediterranean coast

What is located at the same latitude as Fukushima City ?

Fukushima City Hall is located at approximately 37.761 degrees north latitude

Although it is the southernmost of the six prefectural capitals in Tohoku, when viewed from a global perspective, it is at a latitude close to that of cities in South Korea, along the Mediterranean coast, and on the West Coast of the United States

On the Sea of Japan side, near Niigata City

If you travel west from Fukushima City along the same latitude, you will cross the Aizu region and the Echigo Mountains, and reach the vicinity of Niigata City on the Sea of Japan side

Niigata City Hall is located at approximately 37.92 degrees north latitude, about 0.16 degrees north of Fukushima City, orabout 17 kmnorth in the north-south direction. Although they are not at exactly the same latitude, they are relatively close to each other compared to other major cities in Japan.

San Francisco is approximately 2km away in terms of latitude

, a global city located at roughly the same latitude as Fukushima City,on the west coast of the United States.

The center of San Francisco is at approximately 37.775 degrees north latitude. The difference in latitude between San Francisco and Fukushima City is about 0.014 degrees, and the distance in the north-south directionabout 1.6 km.

The Golden Gate Bridge , a landmark of San Francisco, is located at approximately 37.82 degrees north latitude, about 7 km north of Fukushima City. If you travel east from Fukushima City across the Pacific Ocean, you will reach the vicinity of downtown San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

In addition, Cordoba in southern Spain is located at approximately 37.89 degrees north latitude, about 14 km north of Fukushima City. Seoul in South Korea is located at approximately 37.57 degrees north latitude, about 21-22 km south of Fukushima City

Fukushima City: Approximately 37.76 degrees north latitude
San Francisco, USA: Approximately 37.78 degrees North latitude
Cordoba (Spain): Approximately 37.89 degrees North latitude
Seoul, South Korea: Approximately 37.57 degrees North latitude

Yosemite Valley is located right next to Fukushima City

San Francisco isn't the only place at roughly the same latitude as Fukushima City

Further east from San Francisco, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, lies Yosemite National Park . Yosemite Valley, its central scenic spot, is located at approximately 37.72 to 37.75 degrees north latitude. Fukushima City is about 1 to 2 km from the northern side of Yosemite Valley in the north-south direction, and about 4 km from the valley's representative coordinates .

Yosemite Valley is a U-shaped valley formed by glacial erosion, and is known for its massive granite cliffs such as El Capitan and Half Dome, as well as numerous waterfalls, including Yosemite Falls

If you travel due east from Fukushima City across the Pacific Ocean, you will pass near San Francisco and then reach a latitude close to that of Yosemite Valley

Mount Etna in Italy is at almost the same latitude

If you follow the line of latitude west from Fukushima City, you will reach Mount Etna on the island of Sicily, Italy

Mount Etna is located at approximately 37.75 degrees north latitude, and the difference in north-south direction from Fukushima Cityabout 1.4 km. Like Yosemite Valley and San Francisco, Mount Etna is located at almost the same latitude as Fukushima City.

Mount Etna is one of Europe's most active volcanoes, and its repeated eruptions since prehistoric times, along with the diverse volcanic landforms it has created, have high academic value. It was registered as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site in 2013

Fukushima City, the southernmost prefectural capital of the six Tohoku prefectures, is situated right next to world-renowned cities, scenic spots, and volcanoes such as San Francisco, Yosemite Valley, and Mount Etna

summary

Because it is influenced by ocean currents, westerlies, the relationship with the continent, altitude, and surrounding topography, the climate can change drastically even at the same latitude. Nevertheless, it became clear that places that normally seem completely unrelated, such as Aomori City and Mount Vesuvius, Morioka City and Mount Ararat, and Fukushima City and Yosemite Valley, are connected by a single line: latitude

As someone living in Sendai, I had always assumed that since Sendai is next to Yamagata Prefecture, the entire area along the Sea of Japan coast was also Yamagata Prefecture... but it was a bolt from the blue to discover that once you reach the Sea of Japan coast, you're right next to Murakami City in Niigata Prefecture. Assumptions can be dangerous, can't they?