Tohoku is a geographical area of Honshu, largest island of Japan.
This region is also called Ou and is even referred as Michinoku. The region occupies about one-fifth of the total area of Japan. It is located on the northeastern part of Honshu. Tohoku comprises of six prefectures- Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata Prefectures.
Tohoku was initially settled between the seventh and ninth centuries, after Japanese culture and civilization had been firmly established in other parts. Tohoku region was originally considered as the granary of Japan as it supplied rice and other farm-produced items to the market.
The climate of Tohoku is very harsh, than in other parts of Honshu. The winters are long, snowy and very chilly while summers are about three degrees cooler than in southern Honshu. The mountainous interior parts receive heavy snowfalls. Many volcanic mountains run north and south along the entire length of the country. The Ou mountains divide the region into two halves—Pacific and Japan Sea. The Pacific sea side is frequently faced with tornadoes, tsunami and tidal waves generated by submarine earthquakes. The Japan Sea side is more calm and timid in comparison.
The Tohoku University was founded in 1907, in Sendai, to provide higher education to the local populace.
At present, Tohoku is slowly catching up with the rapid industrialization of the Japanese cities. The faces of Tohoku's larger cities like Sendai and Akita are changing and industrial growth is taking place in these areas. However, the deep inland villages and mountainous areas are like quiet enclaves of easygoing people.
The inland location of the region's lowlands has favored the growth of population in these areas. Low points between mountains make transportation easier.
Some of the sight-seeing places of Tohoku include:
- Hirosaki
- Matsushima Bay
- Lake Towada
- Oirase River Valley
- Kakunodate
- Morioka
- Hiraizumi
- Aizu
- Mount Bandai
- Three Mountains of Dewa
- Bandai-Asahi National Park
- Rikuchu Coastline National Park
