- Chuson-ji Temple
- Motsuji Temple
- Ryusendo Cave
- Koiwai Farm
- Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum
- Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
- Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo Hall (Takkoku Seikoji Temple)
- Morioka Hachimangu Shrine
- Morioka Handi-Works Square
- Matsukawa Hot Spring Kyounso
- 2023-2024 Snow Resort Guide in Japan: Asia’s Winter Wonderland
- Discover Genbikei Gorge with the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
- Discover Geibikei Gorge with the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
Areas
What is Iwate?
A northern Tohoku prefecture promising peace and quiet, Iwate is sparsely populated, replacing people with snow-capped mountains, history-rich sites, and fields of crops that are to thank for the region’s delicious local cuisine. Meander along the three-city Golden Route, where you’ll visit the grand Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi and the Tono folk villages before tasting the three famed noodle dishes of Morioka.
Spot Ranking
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Itineraries
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- An itinerary to experience the peace and history of Morioka
- 1days
- If you take a leisurely walk around the charming Morioka City, you are bound to happen upon scenery nostalgic of the city's past. In this plan visitors can enjoy a trip down memory lane as they discover the town by foot and try out the local cuisine. To experience the best of Morioka’s charm, it is best to visit in the spring when the cherry blossoms are out.
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- Take the Shiji Kairo pilgrimage course to witness the beauty of Tohoku’s sacred sites
- 1days
- Shiji Kairo is a pilgrimage course that weaves along four temples in the Tohoku region. It is such a famous and beautiful route that it’s been immortalised in a number of Japanese literary works, such as “Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the Deep North)” by Matsuo Basho. Here is a plan to visit Risshaku-ji Temple in Yamagata Prefecture, Zuigan-ji Temple in Matsushima and Chuson-ji Temple and Motsu-ji Temple in Hiraizumi. Experience the pilgrimage as the great haiku poet did.
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- Picturesque Sakura in Tohoku
- 3days
- The Tohoku region in northern Japan has many places that are famous in Japan for their beautiful cherry blossom. With the opportunity to view cherry blossom amidst gorgeous scenery and a historic atmosphere, this is the classic Japan experience. You will also get to visit some “secret” cherry blossom spots that few people know about.
- Create your own itinerary
Travel Guide
View more-
- 2023-2024 Snow Resort Guide in Japan: Asia’s Winter Wonderland
- 2023.12.06
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- Discover Genbikei Gorge with the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
- 2023.01.08
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- Discover Geibikei Gorge with the JR East Pass (Tohoku Area)
- 2021.04.21
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- 2020 Top 30 Hot Springs (Onsen) in Japan
- 2020.11.22
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- Hachimantai Dragon Eye
- 2019.08.02
Best Events
Iwate Overviews
Climate
What to Wear
- Jan
- Warm Cloth
- Feb
- Warm Cloth
- Mar
- Warm Cloth
- Apr
- Jacket
- May
- Long
- Jun
- Long
- Jul
- Short
- Aug
- Long
- Sep
- Long
- Oct
- Jacket
- Nov
- Warm Cloth
- Dec
- Warm Cloth
Getting Around
Sitting against a backdrop of fantastic mountains, Iwate's capital city, Morioka, is not only a highlight of the prefecture but a transport hub in the center of the Tohoku region. Flying to Iwate-Hanamaki Airport, visitors can pop over to Morioka on a direct limousine bus in just 50 minutes - or, even easier, take the Tohoku or Akita Shinkansen a couple of hours north to Morioka.
Access
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How to get to Hanamaki Airport