Wrapping up our November events, Miyagi brought on beautifully crafted sweet and savory snacks including walnut rolled in Japanese basil, a local confectionary. But the highlight of the event was a kokeshi doll painting workshop participants got to take home as souvenir.

On December 5, we presented the decadent sweets from Fukushima, including mamadors and local gummy snacks. Participants also joined us for a tasting of the prefecture's best sake such as Kaitou Otokoyama Junmai Ginjo sake. The event wrapped up with a more hands-on activity: painting of Fukushima's iconic akabeko (red cow figurines)!

At the end of every event, participants could ask for an impromptu consultation with one of the advisers from the JR counter. There, visitors can plan their trip to Tohoku with full bilingual support.

Part of the welcome package was tons of useful information to plan a trip to Tohoku. For each prefecture, we provided guides to the must-see places and best accommodations, all easily accessible with JR EAST Welcome Rail Pass 2020!

It was important to not only gift participants with some knowledge but with a tangible souvenir to take home. This is why all events included some type of interactive workshop or tasting with plenty of trinkets and snacks.

Namahage, these demon-like creatures that represent the spirit of Akita culture, had to make an appearance during the Akita event. At the end of the cultural performance, participants were invited to partake in a quick photo session.

XX performing a piece of tsugaru shamisen, a more lively, rhythmic and intense way of playing the traditional Japanese instrument. The tsugaru shamisen is a must-see in Aomori and it a rare opportunity to witness it in Tokyo.

Visitors could also purchase and take home some Tohoku snacks featuring regional delicacies and crafts. Some of the items are impossible to find in Tokyo!

Because even if we have a brief idea of what each prefecture is famous for, there's always room to learn just how deep it goes! Aomori greeted participants with some delicious apple treats before treating them to a groovy Tsugaru Jamisen performance, while those who joined for the Akita event had the chance to sample a few sake from the region. Other tastings throughout the showcase also included yogurt from Iwate, savory snacks from Miyagi, sweets from Fukushima and vegetarian food from Yamagata.

While the activities greatly varied based on each prefecture's specialties, almost all included food!

Every event started with a brief introductory video and presentation with representatives of each prefecture. Whether it was seasonal festivals or regional delicacies, we made sure to prep participants with a quick overview of what each prefecture is best known for. Participants applied for the event for the prefecture that they were most interested in and were able to deepen their understanding of its unique culture, allowing them to imagine how their trip to Tohoku would be.