Experience an unforgettable trip – truly off the beaten path Japan! Discover authentic culture, fascinating history, and the warm hospitality of the Tohoku region in northern Japan.
Far from the tourist crowds of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, Tohoku reveals Japan’s hidden gems: vibrant traditional festivals, tales of legendary samurai, iconic Akita dogs, and a beautifully preserved geisha culture that’s quietly thriving once again.
Whether you’re exploring secluded mountain villages, relaxing in remote hot springs, or witnessing stunning seasonal landscapes, Tohoku offers a uniquely immersive experience. This off the beaten path Japan adventure is the ultimate insider tip for travelers seeking real connection and unforgettable moments – all year round.
Choose one of our expertly curated Japan tours to Tohoku and let us handle the details for you. Look forward to a truly unique journey off the beaten path, far from the tourist-filled metropolises of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Explore the serene and unspoiled side of Japan, where time seems to move slower and tradition is alive. While Japan’s big cities often reflect a fast-paced, western-influenced lifestyle, Tohoku enchants with historic towns, cultural festivals, heartfelt local hospitality, and countless rejuvenating hot springs – the beloved onsen. With this Japan trip to Tohoku, you can relax knowing that ENJ takes care of everything, offering you a deeply rewarding escape from the rush of urban life.
We plan your perfect custom trip to Japan and tailor everything to your individual wishes and ideas. With ENJ, you have the freedom to shape your Japan adventure entirely on your terms. Discover the real Japan off the beaten path in Tohoku – and experience unique moments like learning katana sword fighting in an authentic dojo. Immerse yourself in the rich culture and deep history of this lesser-known region and turn your journey into something truly unforgettable.
Our mission is to empower you with full control over your individual Japan trip. Whether you prefer traveling independently or with personal guidance, we take care of the logistics while supporting you with language help and insider knowledge. This way, you can enjoy your time in Japan to the fullest—stress-free and immersive.
Pick from a variety of hand-selected experiences to design your own off the beaten path Japan itinerary. Tohoku offers a wide range: from tranquil temple visits and scenic nature to exciting workshops and mountain hikes.
Alternatively, share your vision with us and we’ll craft a tailor-made journey that meets your expectations and goes beyond. This is your chance to discover the authentic North of Japan in a way that’s deeply personal and filled with lasting memories.
Your off the beaten path Japan adventure begins here – with our exclusive travel guides for northern Japan!
You love planning your own trip to Japan but want to skip the time-consuming research? Our Tohoku travel guides take you straight to the best spots: breathtaking locations, authentic restaurants, and hidden gems – curated by a team that has explored the region firsthand.
Get ready for comprehensive e-books full of insider knowledge, hotel recommendations, culinary discoveries, and traditional festivals – ideal for anyone looking to explore Japan off the beaten path. These digital guides will soon be available in our online store.
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Simply contact us through the contact form and ideally provide as much information as possible (desired period, length of stay, location, activities, etc.) so that we can help you as quickly and effectively as possible. However, if you are still undecided or have further questions, we will of course be happy to advise you!
There are application procedures for most schools and courses. But don’t worry! This is mostly about whether there is capacity available and whether the necessary requirements, such as for longer courses with a student visa, are met.
If you are accepted, you will usually have to pay an initial admission fee. This and all further payments are made directly to the relevant school via a secure payment procedure.
As soon as your participation in one of the schools is confirmed, it’s time for you to make your travel arrangements, book your flight and enjoy the anticipation!
We will accompany you and help you with all the necessary steps.
Depending on your nationality there are a lot of different possibilites in terms of aquiring a visa for your stay in Japan.
Some nationalities can enter Japan without applying for a visa as a so called temporary visitor, some can apply for certain programs like the working holiday or the studentvisa. It is very important that you aquire the right visa before you come to Japan, as violations of immigration rules, such as overstaying, are closely monitored and fined.
Related information can be found on the website of the ministry of foreign affairs.
You can also check here if your country is eligable for entering Japan on the temporary visitor status.
In the process of taking you to Japan as easily as possible, we will check, explain and guide you through necessary visa procedures.
Every season has its advantages in Japan. There is no such thing as the best season.
As Japan stretches across its length, each region offers a different climate.
The north (Tohoku and Hokkaido) offers high snowfall in winter and the best conditions for winter sports, while the summer is usually not too hot.
The south (Kyushu and Okinawa) has a subtropical to tropical climate.
Throughout Japan, you can admire the cherry blossoms and water-filled rice fields in spring, while the foliage on the forested mountain slopes is a delight in autumn.
In summary, Japan is very safe for travelers! The crime rate is low and locals are often very friendly and extremely helpful.
The Japanese are prepared for natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. If you follow the safety instructions and do not act against them, you have little to fear.
English is a compulsory subject in Japan, but as many Japanese people do not have to use English in their everyday lives, the average level is moderate. You can imagine it as if you had had to learn Chinese since elementary school but never used it outside of school.
In the metropolitan areas and cities, there are more and more descriptions in English (e.g. restaurant menus or ATM menus), but outside of these areas, you will hardly be understood with English alone.
Translation apps can often help. However, if you want to get the most out of your stay in Japan, you should learn the basics and some expressions to make a good impression. You can find the basics and the most important expressions in our blog!
If you have no knowledge of Japanese at all, we can recommend the Akita Inaka School. If you book with us, you can get to know the culture of Japan, learn the basics for your further journey and at the same time always have a German or English-speaking contact person on site who can translate for you in case of doubt.
You definitly need to take out suitable international health insurance for your stay in Japan!
The Japanese healthcare system is very good and you shouldn’t worry about the quality of treatment, but the costs can be high. You should take out insurance for the duration of your stay that covers Japan as a travel destination and covers the costs of inpatient or outpatient treatment up to and including (medical) repatriation to your home country in the event of an emergency.
In the case of a work and travel or student visa, you must either provide proof that you have taken out international health insurance for the entire period when applying for the visa or you must become a member of the Japanese national health insurance fund for the duration of your stay. However, this only covers 70% of the treatment costs, which is why it is all the more advisable to take out international health insurance.
This depends entirely on your financial means and your preferences. In general, the public transportation network is well developed, easy to use and known worldwide for its punctuality.
For longer distances and as an experience in itself, a ride on the “Shinkansen”, Japan’s bullet train, is the way to go. The fastest of these, the Hayabusa, travels between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori at up to 320km/h. Temporary visitors have the option of purchasing the JR Railpass, a kind of weekly ticket.
Local train connections are inexpensive, punctual and offer the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings while traveling from A to B. Some sections of the route pass through particularly idyllic landscapes.
Bus travel is perhaps the best option in Japan for traveling long distances at a reasonable price. A trip from Tokyo to Osaka takes about twice as long as the Shinkansen, but costs less than half as much, while the journey is comfortable and always offers plenty of stops at clean rest areas.
Tourists from Germany and Switzerland can have their driver’s license translated by the JAF and use this translation to rent and drive a vehicle in Japan according to their license category. Tourists from Austria need an international driver’s license and should carry it along with a Japanese translation.
With a credit card you are usually on the safe side! In most places, there are convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Family Mart or Lawson where you can withdraw cash with a credit card for a small fee (around 200 yen). Although more and more stores and restaurants are offering cashless payment options, you are always on the safe side with cash, especially in rural Japan.
EC and debit cards may work under certain circumstances. If in doubt, ask your bank or switch directly to a credit card.
Most modern devices now offer two SIM card slots and work in both the European and Japanese networks. For short stays, you can buy a prepaid data-only SIM card directly at the airport after arriving in Japan and be back online with mobile data within a very short time, e.g. to use navigation apps. There are various local providers and conditions, but the process is usually quite simple. In the meantime, this option is usually sufficient to remain reachable via internet telephony and messenger for contacts in Europe. However, phone calls or text messages are not possible.
As the holder of a long-term visa (student visa, work and travel), you have the option of taking out a mobile phone contract for the duration of your stay. Here, too, there are of course various providers and options, such as data-only contracts or contracts with a Japanese phone number. Especially if you are planning a longer stay, it is a good idea to have a Japanese phone number so that you can be reached by friends or superiors.
In any case, you should configure your local SIM card so that data roaming is suppressed. Otherwise you may incur horrendous prices. In the same way, you should of course not make any normal calls from Japan to Germany, but always use the call function of the well-known messengers.
