National Route 398 is a long national highway, approximately 282 km in length, that traverses central Tohoku, connecting Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture to Yurihonjo City in Akita Prefecture, passing through Onagawa Town and Minamisanriku Town. Of that, the section from Yuzawa City in Akita Prefecture...
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What exactly are the "Gozan" (Five Mountains)? In the first two parts of this series, we've looked at the history of how Date Masamune concentrated five Rinzai Zen temples in Kitayama, north of Sendai Castle, and how they came to be revered as the "Kitayama Gozan." ...
The "Date Gozan" (Five Mountains of Date) before the Kitayama Gozan: The Kitayama Gozan underwent changes due to the shifting of the Date clan's territory before settling in its current location, and the first establishment of the Five Mountains...
Introduction The word "ZEN" is so widely recognized that it's almost globally renowned, and the Buddhist meditation practice of Zazen is extremely well-known. It's not simply about concentrating the mind...
In Aomori Prefecture, the term "Nanbu region" is sometimes used. This doesn't simply mean "the southern part of Aomori Prefecture" (it includes areas like Hachinohe City, which are located in the southern part of Aomori Prefecture...).
The "Kuroishi Yosare" festival, a vibrant part of summer in Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture, is a quintessential summer tradition. Dancers, dressed in matching yukata (summer kimonos) and straw hats, parade through the city streets to the sounds of shamisen and drums.
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You might think that the "Railway Song," which begins with "A single whistle blows at Shinbashi," is a song about the Tokaido Main Line heading west from Tokyo, right? Actually, there are five volumes of the Railway Song (although some say there are six or even seven...).
Kesennuma Oshima Island floats off the coast of Kesennuma City, Miyagi Prefecture. Near Tanaka Beach on its eastern shore is a Jizo (guardian deity) shrine known as "Michibiki Jizo" (Guiding Jizo). The Michibiki Jizo is believed to guide the souls of the deceased to paradise...
While many people associate Neputa festivals with Hirosaki, Kuroishi and Hirakawa also boast their own unique and distinctive Neputa festivals. This article will introduce the differences, charms, and timing of the Hirosaki, Kuroishi, and Hirakawa Neputa festivals...
![Aerial view of a historical village park with thatched huts and a tall wooden tower in the foreground, curving paths across green fields.]](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/805113f5fa46b1d43f2abd41bf86437a-600x450.jpg.webp)
The Jomon period refers to the era that lasted for over 10,000 years, from when the Japanese people began using pottery about 15,000 years ago until the Yayoi period, when full-scale rice cultivation began...
