Last month, Senpai Japan invited me to a Tohoku Campaign Event hosted by the JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ TOKYO.

I’m ashamed to admit that even though I live close to Tokyo for more than five years now, it was my first time exploring Tokyo station and its surroundings.

The weather was rather gloomy and rainy that day, and being the first time getting off at the Tokyo Station, I got lost searching for the right exit.

When I arrived at the Cafe, I saw two entrances, so I hesitated a little before deciding to get inside.

What helped me decide were the many cameras at one of the entrances and the tables set up for the scheduled workshops.

As soon as I stepped inside, I took the preventive measures against COVID-19, rubbed my hands with alcohol hand rub, then the staff took my temperature.

After I passed the checking, they confirmed my name and guided me to my table. At first, they handed us some questionnaires, and soon after, the event started. We then had an introduction of the staff and the schedule for the day.

The day I participated featured the Yamagata Prefecture; however, the Tohoku Campaign Event with Japan Rail Cafe had six workshops per total.

The staff kindly informed me that each event introduced travel spots and had a traditional workshop. The prefectures included in the Campaign‘s presentation were: Yamagata (the one I participated in), Miyagi, Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, and Iwate.

Discover Tohoku: Yamagata Event

We started with a virtual tour, and an introduction of Toreiyu Tsubasa(とれいゆ つばさ), the high-speed Shinkansen that even has ashi-yu/足湯(foot bath) on board. The participants were also able to see many of Tohoku’s beautiful views and recommendations to visit along the way.

Washi Traditional Crafts

After the mini-tour, we proceeded with our next activity: a traditional workshop using the traditional Japanese paper, washi (和紙).

The tables already had the material kits, and an instructor guided us via Zoom on how to create unique washi designs and decorate a mini candle glass jar.

I started with an image of Sakura in mind and wanted to re-create the view of Hirosaki’s beautiful cherry blossom trees.

I had lots of fun challenging my creativity, and even though we ran out of time, we were able to take the materials and jars at home and complete our works of art.

Sake Tasting

The last activity was an online tour of the local brewery and sake tasting.

We had three types of sake from the Yonetsuru Sake Brewery: Yonetsuru Nusumiginjo Daigin, Yonetsuru Junmai Mahoroba, Yonetsuru Pink Kappa Junmaishu.

My favorite was the Pink Kappa Junmaishu, not only because of its unique and beautiful color but also because of its light and balanced flavor.

We also got some snacks, and while tasting the sake, we could also enjoy the online tour of the sake distillery and hear more information about the making process.

At the end of the event, I discovered my favorite sake, also found out so many fascinating things about Yamagata.

I even got a lunch box to eat at home and took this opportunity to walk around Tokyo Station a bit more and enjoy the cherry blossoms around.

What to visit in Yamagata

If you decide to visit Yamagata Prefecture, I recommend passing by the three sacred mountains of Yamagata: Mt.Haguro, and also stop by Yamadera and the Sankyo Warehouses.

For people who love museums, the Homma Museum of Art and the Chidō Museum are two of the must-visit buildings in Yamagata.

Besides the above, you can also try out the hot springs and delicious local cuisine or take this opportunity and participate in a traditional crafts workshop.

This experience allowed me to find so much more about Tohoku, and I am now looking forward to visiting Yamagata and discover more of its beauty, culture, and traditions.

There is also a tourist information counter at the JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ TOKYO, and you can also check the links below for more related information.

Related Links

• JR East Pass (Tohoku)
• JR East Official Website
• Yonetsuru Official Website
• JAPAN RAIL CAFÉ TOKYO Official Website

Access Japan Rail Café Tokyo