Tohoku travel: Beautiful scenes from Japan's most underrated region

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

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.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Abukuma-do (Fukushima prefecture) – Abukuma-do is a 3,000-meter-long limestone cave network located outside the Fukushima city of Tamura. Only 600 meters of the caves are open to explore. It takes about 40 minutes to get through.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Matsushima Bay (Miyagi) – Some 260 islands of various sizes are scattered around Miyagi's Matsushima Bay, which has been named one of the three most scenic spots in Japan.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Mt. Iwate (Iwate prefecture) – Japan newbies could be forgiven for mistaking this Tohoku volcano for Mt. Fuji. Sitting northwest of Morioka, it's sometimes called Nambu Fuji -- or half-sided Fuji -- for its resemblance to the more famous peak.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Cherry blossoms (Aomori prefecture) – Sakura bloom outside Hirosaki Castle in Aomori prefecture. A prime place for viewing blossoms in spring, it's picturesque all year long.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Mototaki Waterfall (Akita prefecture) – This pretty waterfall, fed by year-round snow on Mt. Chokai, remains chilly even during the warmer seasons.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Oe Wetlands (Fukushima prefecture) – Wooden paths have been placed through the Oe Wetlands in Fukushima's Hinoemata village. The prefecture lures travelers to its many beautiful natural sites.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Hakkoda Mountains (Aomori prefecture) – Yamagata obviously doesn't have a monopoly on snow monsters. Sixteen mountains make up Aomori's Hakkoda range, of which Mount Odake is the main peak.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Towada-Hachimantai National Park (Aomori prefecture) – The park is made up of two areas -- Hachimantai and Towada-Hakkoda, the latter of which includes Honshu's largest crater lake, Lake Towada, and most of the Oirase River valley that exits into the Pacific Ocean.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Yunohama Hot Springs (Yamagata prefecture) – According to a popular myth, a fisherman discovered these seaside hot springs when he saw a turtle bathing in the warm waters centuries ago.

Natural wonders of Tohoku

Yoneshiro River (Akita prefecture) – This 136-kilometer-long river, which creates a natural border for Akita, Iwate and Aomori, leads into the Sea of Japan through Akita prefecture.

Source: Tohoku travel: Beautiful scenes from Japan's most underrated region