Enclosed on three sides by mountains, the former castle town of Kakunodate is famous for its samurai tradition and hundreds of cherry trees that line a two kilometre stretch of the Hinokinai-gawa River and make it one of Tohoku's most popular sakura viewing spots and the town has been tagged the little Kyoto of Tohoku.
Just out of town, the Dakigaeri Valley, reputedly one of the most beautiful in Japan, runs along the banks of the Tamagawa River and it's fairly obvious from the time you arrive that you're in for something special, particularly when autumn leaves are starting to turn.