Imagine every seaside town from London to Newcastle erased from the map in the space of one afternoon. This is the tragedy that befell Tohoku, Japan's little visited north-east corner on 11th March 2011. 20,000 people lost their lives that day and many more were made homeless. But thanks to their stoic samurai spirits, the survivors regrouped, got organised and quickly started rebuilding damaged towns and damaged lives.

We've always thought Tohoku was a hidden gem. It boasts a rugged mountain terrain where UNESCO World Heritage temples lurk in deep valleys. It is also a land of samurai castles and hot springs where even today the majority of people survive by fishing and farming. The locals are fantastic; down-to-earth and friendly, and since the tsunami the welcome is warmer than ever.

Your Japan trip starts in Tokyo's historic district Asakusa, staying in a hotel near Senso-ji Temples and the surrounding street markets. You'll have a private guide for the day to help you orientate your self and get to grips with Japanese culture and history. Then your journey into Tohoku really begins as you take the bullet train to Nikko for a day of colourful heritage shrines and temples, followed by a day exploring Nikko National Park.

A stunning train journey through the mountains will get you really off the beaten track to Aizu Wakamatsu, a town of samurai history and sake breweries; a great combination! Then you'll spend a night in Sendai, a fun city and convenient springboard for a side trip to the Yamadera mountain temple complex, or scenic Matsushima bay.

Leaving Sendai late in the evening on Day 8, you'll travel along the tsunami affected coast to Ishinomaki where you'll spend two full days volunteering (days 9 & 10) with It's Not Just Mud (INJM)

INJM are a wonderful grassroots organisation that enable English speaking volunteers to work alongside the local community and make a real difference in Ishinomaki. Volunteers need to be flexible and open-minded, as the programme of volunteering activities depends on what needs to be done at the time of your visit; for example you could be cleaning houses, clearing drains, shovelling mud, removing debris from local parks or taking part in a social project or community event at a temporary housing shelter. It will be hard work, but rewarding!

Accommodation during your 3 nights volunteering will be in INJM's guesthouse. You'll sleep on futons in a room with other volunteers (single sex) and bathing facilities are communal. Breakfast and dinner are provided; basic but hearty food, cooked and eaten together.

Please note that InsideJapan Tours do not make any profit on the volunteering section of the itinerary. The cost of this package also includes a donation of 3,000 yen per person to INJM. You can read more about INJM on their website here: www.itsnotjustmud.com

After all that hard work, you deserve a bit of break so it's on to Hiraizumi for a stay in a beautiful, traditional ryokan for two relaxing nights. Fabulous kaiseki dinners are included and after feasting you can relax in the ryokan's hot spring baths which overlook a quintessential Japanese garden. If you can tear yourself from the ryokan, you can potter around lovely Zen temples which were recently awarded UNSESO World Heritage status; a great post-tsunami boast to the region.