7-Day Tohoku Motorcycle Touring Itinerary

🏍️ 7-Day Tohoku Motorcycle Touring Itinerary

Sample Route for Motorcycle Tours in Japan

This 7-day itinerary explores the heart of Japan’s Tohoku region, offering a perfect balance of scenic mountain roads, coastal riding, traditional towns, and relaxing hot springs. It is designed as a reference for daily distances and travel pace and can be fully customized based on your preferences.

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📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Sendai → Morioka

Highlights: Easy start, countryside roads

• Pick up your rental motorcycle in Sendai.

• Enjoy a relaxed ride north toward Morioka, easing into the journey.

• Overnight stay in Morioka.

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Day 2: Morioka → Lake Towada

Highlights: Forest roads, onsen stay

• Ride into Aomori Prefecture and head toward the scenic Lake Towada area.

• Enjoy winding mountain roads and quiet rural scenery.

• Stay overnight at a traditional onsen ryokan near Lake Towada.

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Day 3: Lake Towada → Hachinohe

Highlights: Oirase Gorge, waterfalls

• Explore the beautiful Oirase Gorge, famous for its clear streams and waterfalls.

• Continue riding toward the Pacific coast.

• Overnight stay in Hachinohe.

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Day 4: Hachinohe → Mutsu

Highlights: Shimokita Peninsula, remote coastal riding

• Ride north along the Shimokita Peninsula, one of the most remote regions in Honshu.

• Visit Cape Shiriya, known for its dramatic coastline and wild horses.

• Overnight stay in Mutsu.

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Day 5: Mutsu → Hirosaki

Highlights: Peninsula crossing, cultural towns

• Travel from the Shimokita Peninsula toward the Tsugaru Peninsula.

• Enjoy quiet backroads and expansive rural landscapes.

• Overnight stay in Hirosaki, a historic castle town.

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Day 6: Hirosaki → Kakunodate

Highlights: Samurai town, scenic southbound ride

• Ride south through the interior of Tohoku.

• Visit Kakunodate, famous for its preserved samurai district and traditional atmosphere.

• Overnight stay in Kakunodate.

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Day 7: Kakunodate → Sendai

Highlights: Rice fields, final scenic ride

• Enjoy peaceful rides through Akita’s countryside and expansive rice fields.

• Return to Sendai and drop off the rental motorcycle.

• End of the tour.

Seasonal Notes (Important)

Japan has several peak travel periods when availability is limited and prices are higher, especially:

• Golden Week (late April – early May)
• Obon holidays (mid-August)
• Autumn long weekends (September–October)

During these periods:

• Accommodations can sell out quickly
• Accommodation and transport costs are higher than usual
• Early planning is strongly recommended

We can still arrange tours during peak seasons, but flexible dates and route options help ensure availability.

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🧭 Notes on Customization

This itinerary is just one example of a motorcycle tour in Japan. Daily distances, routes, and accommodation types can be adjusted based on your riding style, preferred pace, and lodging preferences—such as hotels or traditional onsen ryokan.