Located at the tip of Japan's main island of Honshu, the Tohoku region is made up of six prefectures: Aomori, Akita, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata.

Though devastated by the tsunami and earthquake in 2011, Tohoku's recovery has been swift.

Japanese and foreign visitors alike are returning to the area -- and visiting in greater numbers -- for its timeless art, culture, food and scenery that's truly breathtaking in every season.

We've put together a gallery of natural Tohoku highlights that offers a glimpse of the beauty this region has to offer.

Getting there

Sendai, in Miyagi prefecture, is Tohoku's largest city and serviced by regular flights from Japan's major cities.

However the entire Tohoku region is easily accessed by train, with the country's Shinkansen bullet trains making the journey to several cities and towns in the region multiple times a day.