Earlier this month JNTO invited Team GB diving sensation and Olympian Tom Daley on an adventure around Japan's beautiful Tohoku region to see, do and taste all that it has to offer! Tohoku bore the brunt of the devastating 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and has been at the centre of recovery and revitalisation efforts in the run up to Rugby World Cup 2019 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
After a rather busy day at Dewa Sanzan, Tom was eagerly looking forward to a day spent leisurely admiring the many sights of the coastal city of Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture - well, after first sprinting to catch a ferry to nearby Tashiro Island! Believe it or not, Tashiro Island is one of Japan's most famous "cat islands" and home to hundreds of cats: a staggering 6 to 1 vis-a-vis the island's human population - this is well and truly Cat Heaven, ladies and gentlemen! What's more, cats are traditionally considered to bring good luck and wealth to all those who cross their paths - we suggest you make it your mission to meet each and every of Tashiro Island's cats that you can! And when you're not stroking cats there are a number of other cat-themed attractions you can enjoy, including a visit to the beautifully decorated Neko-jinja (Cat Shrine), and an overnight stay in manga-themed lodges resembling cats! There's also a cafe serving delicious Japanese curry and stocked with cute cat-themed souvenirs to remember all the feline friends you made.
From Tashiro Island, Tom headed back to the mainland to explore the Michinoku Coastal Trail, a series of trails stretching roughly 450 miles along the Pacific coast from Fukushima all the way up to Aomori. Segments of the trail pass through areas that were siginficantly affected by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and ensuing tsunami, so by visiting you can directly contribute to the rebuiliding of local communities whilst also enjoying the delicious food and untouched natural scenery that so many have to offer! One such initiative held at various points along the trail is the bi-annual Reborn Art Festival. The festival, which encompasses not only art but also music and food, is all about using the disaster as an impetus for growth and togetherness. Colourful works of art by over 70 artists from across the globe including the likes of Yayoi Kusama and Anish Kapoor adorn the festival's seven locations; some such as Kohei Nawa's 'Oshika' (White Deer) have even gone on to become permanent installations. After visiting a local artist's studio, Tom made his way to Taiheisou, his 'minshuku' (Japanese-style hostel)/homestay for the night. The original Taiheisou was swept away by the tsunami eight years ago, but understanding the importance of her business in rebuilding the local community in the wake of the disaster, the proprietress rebuilt Taiheisou, this time on higher ground. What better to way to learn about and support the local community than staying in an inexpensive yet hospitable accommodation like Taiheisou?
After a good night's sleep it was back to Sendai for a final bit of fun before heading up north to Aomori. As the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Sendai has all the conveniences and attractions of your typical Japanese city and this of course includes arcades! But aside from the usual games you might find in any decent arcade around the world, a staple of Japanese arcades is Purikura, a photo booth machine where you can take instant yet customisable photos: think filters and in-booth editing often used to exagerrate facial features for the sake of cuteness. Multi-floored arcades will often dedicate an entire floor to Purikura so you definitely won't be short of filters and editing tools to create the next picture-perfect Instagram post! After snapping some shots Tom finally made his way towards Sendai Station to board the Shinkansen to Aomori, the next destination on his Tohoku tour. But before leaving Sendai Tom was treated to beautiful decorations celebrating the iconic Sendai Tanabata Festival, the most famous of Japan's Tanabata festivals held 6-8 August. Many people celebrate Tanabata by writing wishes on colourful 'tanzaku' (短冊, small pieces of paper) and hanging them on bamboo, as well as hanging up huge streamers and pretty wind chimes - a real feast for the eyes.
Tom flew to Japan with Japan Airlines (JAL) and explored the Tohoku region with the help of InsideJapan Tours.
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