CONCEPT
What is
Diamond Route Japan ?
The Diamond Route connects Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki prefectures. Each prefecture holds numerous and unique features, like history, culture, nature, food and outdoor activities. All of these experiences are waiting for you in this vast area where you will feel the Japanese heartland.
TOURS
Diamond Route Japan
Tours
Whether you seek to dive into the history of ancient Japan to understand the heart and spirit of the samurai. Or take an adventure through the gorgeous natural landscape of Northern Japan. We have various tours to meet your interests! Discover the Diamond Route of Japan.
THINGS TO DO
10 Stories in
Diamond Route Japan
Discover the 10 themes of Diamond Route. A place where can find the origins of Bushido in Aizu. You can also enjoy Mount Bandai with its world famous snow field, Mount Ouchijuku and its ancient post town and the World Heritage renowned Nikko with Toshogu Shrine. A shrine dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu first Shogun during the Edo period. The Kaihin-Koen park with its various beautiful flowers and the Ashikaga Flower Park. We introduce all these experiences in the videos.
1
Samurai Spirit
The Diamond Route is part of Aizu area, which from the civil war until the Edo period was the heart of the Samuari code as part of the Tohoku region. In Aizuwakamatsu are the principal battlefields of the Boshin war that filled Samurai spirits with righteousness, as well as its symbolic manifestation Tsuruga castle, and Nisshin-kan, the Samurai school in Aizu. Others sites include Matsudaira-byo, the mausoleum of the Aizu Matsudaira family, Iimori hill that brings thoughts of the "Byakkotai" samurai group. In Nikko, which is connected with the Aizu Nishi Kaido route, there is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu (who founded the Edo government), the Nikko Toshogu shrine, the Futarasan shrine and the Rinno-ji temple. The shrine to Kashima, the god of battle, rises from a vast field facing the Pacific ocean. The Diamond Route is rich with the samurai spirit.
2
Local Culture
Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki have a strong local culture that dates back over 2000 years. The practices spread from one hill to the next over the region over the centuries, and the local festivals are traditions from ancient times. The rich local culture has been preserved in a museum. The best way to discover this area is by walking, which provides opportunities to talk with local people. You'll be sure to learn about the local culture.
3
Extreme Sports
In extreme sports, the limits are only nature and yourself. With river rapids, deep forests with nearly endless paths, and mountains to climb, you can push yourself to the extreme limit of your ability and feel the rush of excitement and fulfillment. You can push yourself to the limit of your possibilities in the Diamond Route.
4
Flower Viewing
From meadows to highlands, high mountains, forests or even beachs, the Diamond Route has the full variety of environments found in Japan. The praire ecosystems with wild grasses and plants tare particularly diverse. Beautiful flowers such as cherry blossms, wisterias, crepe myrtle, camellias and lilies bloom in each season. Sign of its quality, the vast rice field in Tochigi was selected to use in Daiijo-sai, the most important Shinto ceremony. Royal ferns, ostrich ferns, butterbur sprouts, chestnuts, kakis and chocolate vines, are like gifts from nature that illuminate the countryside. Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki are a kingdom of flowers.
5
Gastronomy
The circle of nutrients. Taking plants and animals that were once alive is the starting point of food for humans. In Japan, we begin our meals by saying "Itadakimasu" which means "I'm going to take (lives)". Gifts from the earth, forests, streams, the ocean and animals: cuisine for us means our thankness for nature and the circle of life on planet Earth. We invite you to experience the food from Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki and understand how it coexists with nature.
6
Nature&Wellbeing
Surrounded by nature, Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki illustrate the beauty of Japanese nature unified with mountains, hills and the Pacific ocean. The environment includes deep vivid forest, gorges with clear stream, and wild animals such as deer, monkeys, boas and birds. This harmony of coexisting with the natural environment is important for human being to live happily. This environment brings well-being, which is an important take away for your travels.
7
Onsen
Diamond Route has number of hotspring sites that are typical of Japan such as Oku-Aizu in Fukushima, Oku-Nikko in Tochigi, Abukuma mountanious and Mount Bandai. The water is clear with lots of minerals, and the variety of hotsprings and their quality is impressive. Since the hotsprings are in nature, you are surrounded by fresh green leaves in early summer, have dappled sunlight through the forest leaves during summer, are surrounded with fall foliage in the autumn, and surrounded by snow in winter. The possibilites to enjoy the landscape of hotspring in each season are unlimited.
8
Outdoor Activities
Get off the beaten track with outdoor sports. Whether you are looking for running in the mountains, swimming in the ocean, paddling in a river or walking in the forest, you can connect to nature with different sports like mountain biking, kayaking, paragliding or snow walking. You'll find the wild side of nature. One of the best regions for outdoor sports in Japan is waiting for you.
9
Sports
In 2020, the Olympic year starts in Fukushima. With the call "Play ball!" in a baseball match, Japan contributes to the spreading of athletics around the world. Baseball, soccer, handball, tennis and badminton, three prefectures where you can enjoy every type of sports.
10
Explore it All
Diamond Route is a place where you can experience the deep and rich Japanese culture such as Samurai culture, outdoor sports, local culture and regional cuisine. Visiting Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki where the culture of East Japan has been concentrated, and which continues from anciant times is a sure way to discover the real Japan. The feeling you have when walking through villages, breathing and feeling with your five senses at your own pace, will provide you exactly the experience you have been looking to have in Japan. Diamond Route is always waiting for you.
VIDEOS
Diamond Route Japan
Channel
You can see in the video the charm of Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki. The video shows a wide range of topics from Samurai culture to hot springs and extreme sports.
You can see in the video the charm of Fukushima, Tochigi and Ibaraki. The video shows a wide range of topics from Samurai culture to hot springs and extreme sports.
PHOTOS
“GOKAN” Photo Gallery
"GOKAN", an international photographers group, traveled the Diamond Route for a year to capture the beautiful landscape across all four seasons.
SOUNDS
Sound Scape
The area has a unique sound landscape. When traveling on Diamond Route you can enjoy its mountains, streams, ocean as well as locals festivals and its people.
LOCATION
HOW to GO
SightseeingGuideFukushima,Tochigi,Ibaraki ItineraryDiamond Route