Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
On the hill behind the train station, this biographical museum exhibits scrolls and calligraphy related to the poet Bashō's famous northern journey.
Must-see attractions in Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Niigata Prefecture
Art lovers shouldn't miss this rambling gallery where local artists display vibrant hanga (woodblock prints) depicting country life in Sado.
Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center
Iwate Prefecture
This modest, friendly museum charts Hiraizumi's rise and fall through visual displays and artefacts, with English explanations throughout.
Iwate Prefecture
This delightful thatch-roofed waterwheel, once used for milling crops, has been preserved as a symbol of Tōno's past.
Niigata Prefecture
Sado-ga-shima's oldest temple (dating from AD 741); although sadly neglected, it's still beautiful.
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This pavilion was presented to the Date family by the daimyō (domain lord) Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late 16th century. It served as a genteel venue for…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
Founded in 1950 by the former Lord Shōnai in order to preserve local culture, this museum features Sakai-family artefacts, two Meiji-era buildings, a…
Historical Obata ('NK Agent') Building
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This building featured in the 2009 Academy Award–winning Best Foreign Language film, Okuribito (おくりびと; Departures). You can't go in, but you'll see stills…
Iwate Prefecture
About 5km east of the town centre is Denshōen, a traditional farmhouse, now housing a small cultural museum. The highlights here are the thousand Oshira…
Iwate Prefecture
With exhibits depicting some of Tōno's famous legends, this museum provides a good measure of background information and context for what's to come in the…
Northern Honshū (Tōhoku)
This collection of 10 kura (mud-walled storehouses) has been arranged as a small local museum, as well as the obligatory gift shop or two.
Sado Museum of History & Tradition
Niigata Prefecture
Tireless robots and holograms illustrate Sado's history and festivals.
