Miyagi Prefecture

love the convenience with JR pass as it connects all the places of interest via Shinkansen. Juz that it’s getting more and more expensive… news reported it’ll increase price again this October so I better use it now 😂Klook has made purchase easy and convenient. I received the pass in less than 5days via DHL 👍🏻

This trip's itinerary is: Day 1: Narita Airport to Tokyo Station via Narita Express (N'EX), then transfer to the Shinkansen to Yamagata Station. Day 2: Yamagata → Shinjo → Oishida → Yamagata. Originally planned to take a boat tour on the Mogami River, but due to heavy snow, we turned back and went to Ginzan Onsen. Day 3: Took the cable car to Zao in the morning, then took the Shinkansen in the afternoon from Yamagata → Fukushima → Sendai → Tazawako. Day 4: Rode the Tazawako Lake Loop Bus, then took the train from Tazawako → Morioka → Shin-Aomori (Shin-Aomori → Aomori section of the JR line was suspended due to heavy snow, so we took a bus into the city). Day 5: Sightseeing in Aomori city. Shin-Aomori → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto → Hakodate (JR Pass, Hakodate Liner is also usable!). Took the cable car up Mount Hakodate to see the night view. Day 6: Strolled around Hakodate city. Hakodate → Toya (Hokuto Limited Express) → Toya Ekimae → Lake Toya Onsen (bus). Enjoyed the Lake Toya Winter Festival Illumination and Musical Fireworks at night, it was incredibly beautiful.

The "Free Hong Kong Mail" for the voucher was delivered by SF Express. I placed the order today (Monday) and received it the next day (Tuesday), which is extremely efficient. The last time I visited Hokkaido via Sapporo Airport, I deliberately skipped Hakodate because taking the Hokkaido Shinkansen from Shin-Aomori Station to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station, then transferring to the JR Hakodate Main Line to Hakodate Station, only takes about 1.5 hours. This is much more convenient than the over 3.5-hour journey from Sapporo to Hakodate. For a relaxed trip for middle-aged travelers, the route Sendai - Aomori - Hakodate - Hachinohe - Sendai, using a JR Pass to reserve seats for free at the designated seat ticket machines, allows you to enjoy leisurely times and various delicious foods. It's very cost-effective and worthwhile.

This bus stop is outside the East Exit of Sendai Station; I almost went the wrong way. The seats are small, just barely enough, and there are no curtains. The pictures show the bus stop and the waiting area. The exact location is a few hundred meters past the East Exit.

My first visit to Ginzan Onsen two years ago was met with a breathtaking blizzard. I was stunned by the beauty but also frozen by the temperature. Although I enjoyed the purest essence of Taisho Romance, the heavy snowfall prevented me from taking many photos, leaving me with only one picture and a lingering regret. This time, I decided to revisit with my camera to recapture those memories. Without the overwhelming snow and bustling crowds, I could better appreciate the retro charm of the place. I finally got to see the waterfall I missed last time, explore the mine I hadn't visited, and browse the small shops I couldn't properly explore before. Ginzan without the snow offered a different kind of serene elegance. This dream-fulfilling trip finally allowed me to make up for that beautiful regret from years ago. A special shout-out to the incredibly generous and delicious set lunch; I even thought it was extravagant. The plating was truly a work of art, and I thank the travel agency for their thoughtfulness.

We took a day trip arranged by the travel agency to Fox Village, Shiroishi Umen Noodles, and Ginzan Onsen. The itinerary was packed but rewarding. Observing the foxes up close at Fox Village was a unique experience, the Shiroishi Umen noodles were refreshing and distinctly local, and the scenery at Ginzan Onsen was charmingly rustic. It was an unforgettable experience combining nature, culture, and delicious food.

Our tour guide for the past two days was Tony, and he took very good care of us. He even gave us small gifts. It was very cold when we went to Ginzan Onsen, and he gave us heat packs. He also gave us heat packs and chocolate on the second day. When we couldn't enter the Fox Village, he found a way for us to go somewhere else. We went to Shiroishi Castle, which was very beautiful and worth a walk and taking some pictures. The driver was also very nice, drove very smoothly, and greeted everyone warmly when getting on and off the bus. We happened to encounter heavy snow when we went to Ginzan Onsen, which was very beautiful. On the second day, we went to the Zao Snow Monsters, and we were incredibly lucky! The weather was very clear. Although we couldn't ride the cable car to the very top because there were too many individual travelers, it was still very beautiful and worth it! I heard that the day before we went, Zao had a big snowstorm and the visibility was very poor, but the weather was clear blue skies today! So lucky~ We stayed at Kamesei Ryokan. The hotel looks very historical, but it's maintained quite cleanly. The rooms are also very large, and the breakfast is rich and delicious, with both traditional Japanese and Western breakfasts. Thank you to the tour guide and driver for their hard work these past two days! 👍

From the moment we placed the order, a Chinese-speaking contact person communicated with us in detail about the itinerary. We were even able to make changes until a few days before. Although the driver on the day was Japanese, they had extensive driving experience and could speak simple Chinese, so communication was not a problem. In the end, the itinerary was completed successfully.

The driver, who also served as our guide, was very attentive. He contacted us the night before to reconfirm the pick-up location. The nine-seater vehicle was comfortable and not crowded. We were fortunate to see Ginzan covered in heavy snowfall — truly a beautiful and worthwhile experience.