Making Tracks In Myagi

Fine whisky, hot springs and citing ball games await travellers in this northeastern Japanese prefecture, best explored by the country’s marvellous trains

Japan understands train travel like no other country.

Nostalgia and practicality, tradition and technology, concepts that seem like paradoxes merge together to create one of the most pragmatic transport systems in the world, right from travel time to the quality of your journey. When you take a train in Japan, from eating up regional bento boxes (ekiben) on local lines to reclining with a glass of wine on the Shinkansen (bullet train), you are participating in the Idris Elba of cultural institutions—all other countries want to be you, for very good reasons.

One of the most convenient and best deals available for tourists is the Japan Railways East Pass. This option gives travellers five flexible train travel days over a period of two weeks, valid on local, limited, and limited express trains all across the stunning northeastern region of Japan, known as Tohoku. The area is comprised of six prefectures, where travellers can find powder snow ready to be carved up by skiers in the winter, and breathtaking festivals that merge communal celebration with ancient craftsmanship in the summer. With the pass, travellers can cover territory all over these different areas for almost the same price as a regular one-way ticket from one end of Tohoku to the other.

As worthwhile the pass is to explore the entire Tohoku region, it is equally, if not better suited to exploring a single prefecture with greater depth. Myagi is one such prefecture in Tohoku, just above Tokyo on the east coast, that begs to be travelled by train. Visitors can sample some of Japan’s best whisky, soak in soothing hot springs, tour the azure coastline, and catch a one-of-a-kind baseball game—all with minimal travel time.

WHISKY