Tohoku Week – Shichigahama

Shichigahama sits south of the ruggedly scenic Matsushima Bay and north of the city of Sendai. Known for its fishing waters and as a summer vacation haven, Shichigahama attracts visitors from around Japan for its natural beauty. Void of the many islands protecting the coast in Matsushima Bay, several of its beaches are popular with local surfers….

Otaru

Otaru is a port city on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, about 25 minutes from its capital, Sapporo. Otaru thrived as a trading center until the mid 20th century when coal mines around the city started to run dry. Today, Otaru serves as a bedroom community for the Sapporo workforce as well as a wonderful…