Spirit of Winter in Tohoku

Day 00 (Fri, 05 Feb’27)

Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for flight to Haneda

Day 01 (Sat, 06 Feb’27)
Singapore – Haneda – Kinugawa Onsen
(-/-/Dinner)
Hotel: Kinugawa Onsen Sanraku (Hot Spring) or similar

Arriving in Haneda this morning, journey north into the snow country of Tochigi, where you will check in early for a short rest at your ryokan. Later, head out to Yunishigawa Onsen just as the Yunishigawa Kamakura Festival begins to glow. This enchanting winter festival transforms the quiet hot spring village into a fairytale landscape, with hundreds of candlelit kamakura, traditional snow huts, lining the Sawaguchi riverbed and the open-air village of Heike no Sato. The flickering candlelight against the snow has earned the festival recognition as one of Japan’s Night View Heritage sites, and it is easy to see why the moment you arrive.

Day 02 (Sun, 07 Feb’27)
Kinugawa Onsen
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: Kinugawa Onsen Sanraku (Hot Spring) or similar

Today begins at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, the resting place of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, who is enshrined here as a deity. The shrine is a rare blend of Buddhist and Shinto design, a practice that no longer exists today, and its lavishly carved, gold-leafed structures stand in striking contrast to the simplicity of most Japanese shrines. Admire the unique architecture and beautiful wood carvings of the buildings as you wander round the shrine grounds.

Tochigi is one of Japan’s top strawberry producing regions and home to the famed Tochiotome strawberry. Go strawberry picking this morning and savour the season’s freshest and juiciest berries straight from the vine. Then use the freshly picked strawberries to create your own dessert in a parfait making experience for a delightful and delicious treat.

Day 03 (Mon, 08 Feb’27)
Kinugawa Onsen – Aizu – Kamasaki Onsen
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: The Yukawa (Private Hot Spring) or similar

Step back in time at Ouchijuku, a beautifully preserved former post town that once served travellers along the old Edo-period trade route. Thatched-roof buildings now house shops, restaurants, and inns much as they did centuries ago, offering an evocative glimpse into life on the road in old Japan, made all the more atmospheric under a blanket of winter snow.

The day continues at Tsuruga Castle, also known as Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle, a storied stronghold that bore witness to the dramatic final battles of the Boshin War. It holds the distinction of being the only castle in Japan crowned with red roof tiles, a striking sight against the white winter landscape, and its upper floors offer sweeping panoramic views over the city and surrounding mountains.

Day 04 (Tue, 09 Feb’27)
Kamasaki Onsen
(Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: The Yukawa (Private Hot Spring) or similar

Spend the day free and easy in Sendai, the largest city in the Tohoku region. Those keen on a deeper winter adventure can choose an optional excursion to see the Zao Snow Monsters. The legendary ‘snow monsters’, trees blanketed in thick layers of frost and snow that form otherworldly, ghostlike shapes, create one of Tohoku’s most surreal winter sights. A specially equipped snowcat takes you right up close to these frozen giants, offering an unforgettable and slightly eerie encounter with nature at its most dramatic.

Day 05 (Wed, 10 Feb’27)
Kamasaki Onsen – Ginzan Onsen – Inazumi Onsen
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: Yukemuri no Yado Inazumi Onsen (Private Hot Spring) or similar

Travel to the enchanting town of Ginzan Onsen, a place that feels frozen in time. Once built around a silver mine, this mountain hot spring town is now regarded as one of the most picturesque onsen villages in all of Japan. Three and four-storey wooden ryokan line a clear flowing river, with a waterfall cascading endlessly at the edge of town. In winter, snow blankets the rooftops and narrow lanes, lending the entire town an almost storybook quality. It is little wonder that this very setting inspired the beloved animated film Spirited Away and the classic Japanese drama Oshin. Take some time to stroll its snow-dusted streets, and if you wish, enjoy a relaxing dip in the local hot springs.

Day 06 (Thu, 11 Feb’27)
Inazumi Onsen – Yokote – Inazumi Onsen
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: Yukemuri no Yado Inazumi Onsen (Private Hot Spring) or similar

This morning introduces you to traditional Akita life at Akita Furusato Village, a large cultural theme park that brings together museums, craft workshops, and seasonal activities celebrating the heritage of the Akita region. Here, you will try your hand at making kiritanpo, a beloved local specialty of pounded rice formed around skewers and grilled, often enjoyed in a comforting hotpot.

Moving on, the Masuda Manga Museum offers a lighter, more whimsical stop. Dedicated to the work of Shotaro Ishinomori, one of Japan’s most prolific and influential manga artists and a native of the Akita region, the museum houses original manuscripts, character displays, and exhibits celebrating his creations, including the iconic Cyborg 009 and Kamen Rider.

Experience one of Tohoku’s most iconic winter traditions this evening – the Yokote Kamakura Festival. For nearly 450 years, the town of Yokote has built snow huts called kamakura to honour the water deity, a custom believed to bring good fortune and protection to the community. Built in varied sizes and large numbers, the glowing kamakura are a captivating sight attracting thousands of visitors each year. View the kamakura in a private event held outside the main festival period and experience the storied tradition and magical scenery away from the crowds. Be welcomed into the kamakura in true local fashion with hot amazake and local foods, and be warmed from the inside by the hospitality of the locals here.

Day 07 (Fri, 12 Feb’27)
Inazumi Onsen – Kakunodate – Oga
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: Yamado Oga (Hot Spring) or similar

Spend the morning rolling through the snow-covered countryside of inland Akita with a chartered train ride on the ‘Smile Rail’, the Akita Nairiku Railway. Sharing warm smiles with visitors at every stop, this scenic rail journey offers an unhurried and intimate way to take in the dramatic winter landscapes of the region.

Travelling up to the Oga Peninsula, witness one of the most spellbinding winter festivals in all of Japan, the Namahage Sedo Festival. Held at Shinzan Shrine, the festival combines a centuries-old Shinto purification ritual with the legendary folklore of the Namahage, fearsome ogre-like deities believed to descend from the mountains to ward off laziness and misfortune. Watch as performers in dramatic Namahage masks and costumes dance fiercely around a roaring bonfire before descending the snowy mountainside bearing flaming torches, a breathtaking spectacle recognised by UNESCO as part of Japan’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Day 08 (Sat, 13 Feb’27)
Oga – Akita – Tokyo
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Hotel: The Tokyo Station Hotel or similar

Take the shinkansen back down to Tokyo where you will have the remainder of your holiday to enjoy the city at leisure.

Day 09 (Sun, 14 Feb’27)
Tokyo
(Breakfast/-/-)
Hotel: The Tokyo Station Hotel or similar

Free and easy

Day 10 (Mon, 15 Feb’27)
Tokyo – Singapore
(Breakfast/-/-)

Flight back to Singapore