Leisure / Hobbies Spots in Iwate Area
Area
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Iwate
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Iwate
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- SICKth
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Pref. Moriokashi Odori 1-6-19 Odori Building B1
- Opened in 2017, this club has a high-class, laid-back atmosphere. It is known for its decor and its high-quality sound system for club music, especially house and techno. The recently installed air-cooled beer server is just one example of the care that the club takes with the quality of its drinks.
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- Stone and Kenji Museum
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Ichinoseki-shi Higashiyamacho Matsukawa Takinosawa 149-1
- A museum located a three-minute walk from Rikuchu-Matsukawa Station on the Ofunato Line in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture. The museum was established for future generations to share with and make it possible to come in contact with the ideas and lifestyles of engineer Kenji Miyazawa and Tohoku Rubble Factory owner Tozo Suzuki. The museum has lapis lazuli, amethyst, and ammonite fossils on display and a library of books collected by Suzuki. Visitors can also take a tour of the former Tohoku Rubble Factory, which was erected in 1924 and registered a National Tangible Cultural Property in 1996 (note: at the present time, tours are not possible due to renovations; tours are scheduled to reopen in the spring of 2020.)
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- The Cattle Museum
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Oshu-shi Maesawa Minamijinba 103-1
- A museum located a seven-minute taxi ride from Maesawa Station on the Tohoku Main Line in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture. The museum contains a variety of exhibits on cattle such as cattle skeletons and how milk is produced, the relationship between humans and cattle from ancient times to the present, the history of Maesawa beef, and the cattle industry. The museum holds events such as symposiums and picture book readings, as well as classes like butter making and recreating Meiji period ice cream. The museum store sells original merchandise like T-shirts featuring a cow stomach design, and leather cell phone straps.
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- Hanamaki Regional Park
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Pref. Hanamakishi Kanaya Dai5chiwari 252-1
- A large comprehensive park situated a 15-minute drive from the west entrance of Hanamaki Station in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. The park has an exercise field, golf course, tennis courts, and other sports facilities, as well as a children's field with playground, a pond where you can fish for Japanese crucian carp, and a rest house. Wildflowers such as azaleas, Japanese wood poppies, Anemone raddeana, and other wildflowers grow throughout the park. Rabbits, foxes, grey starlings, kingfishers, and other animals can be observed living in the park's conservation forest.
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- Flower and Garden Mori no Kaze
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Iwate-gun Shizukuishicho Oshuku 10-64-1
- This authentic Western style garden, located a 25-minute drive from the Morioka Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway in Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture, is one of the largest of its kind in Japan. The garden was designed by world class landscape architect Kazuyuki Ishihara. The facility is divided into the Mori no Keikoku main garden, which is filled with an abundance of seasonal flowers and waterside landscapes; and the Mori no Oka community garden, created based on the idea of a secret flower garden. The facility's store sells gifts and souvenirs like local specialty products, seasonal flower seedlings, and soft serve ice cream. Several events are held here throughout the year such as lighting up the gardens at night.
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- Iwate Prefectural Heated Indoor Pool “Hot Swim”
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Iwate-gun Shizukuishicho
- A heated indoor pool facility located a 10-minute taxi ride from Koiwai Station on the Tazawako Line in Iwate District, Iwate Prefecture. Fun for the whole family, facilities include a 50-meter pool, family pool with waterslide, and toddler pool. There's also a training room with exercise bikes and running machines, making this a perfect place for weight loss training and developing basic physical fitness. After working up a sweat, you can get clean and refresh yourself in the adjoining bathhouse.
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- Jodogahama Beach
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Pref. Miyakoshi Hitachihamachou 32-4
- A beach located a 15-minute walk from a parking area located a 10-minute drive from JR Miyako Station in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture. The beach has been selected for inclusion in a list of the Best Beach 100 of Japan. Also a picturesque destination situated in the center of Sanriku Fukko National Park/Sanriku Geopark, the beach is set off by the surrounding sharp white rhyolite boulders, green pine trees, and blue sea. There's a rest house where you can eat ramen made with local seafood, and a marine house which offers boat rentals. Pleasure cruises also leave and return near here.
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- Kitakami City Oni no Yakata
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Kitakami-shi Wagacho Iwasaki 16-131
- "A museum located a 20-minute drive from JR Kitakami Station. The museum was opened in 1994 to present information on oni, mythical Japanese creatures alternately translated as ""ogres"" and ""demons."" The museum introduces all kinds of oni, from scary ones to cute and cuddly ones. Exhibits include a large number of oni masks, including a giant mask three-meter-tall and weighing 80 kilograms. The museum also introduces masks depicting oni-like creates from around the world with a focus on Thailand, Nepal, and other Asian countries."
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- Abasse Takata
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Rikuzentakata-shi Takatacho Tate no Oki 1
- A shopping mall located a 20-minute walk from JR Rikuzen-Takata Station. Designed around the concept of gathering, eating, and having fun, there are 14 shops in the mall primarily consisting of local businesses, a supermarket, and drug store. Confectionary and stationary shops as well as cafes and restaurants can be found in the A Building. The B Building is occupied by large specialty stores, while the C Building is dedicated to a drug store. All three buildings are connected by shaded walkways ensuring that customers can enjoy their shopping experience no matter what the weather is like.
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- Higamori Camping Ground
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Ichinoseki-shi Senmayacho Okutama Tobi Ke Mori 11-80
- A campground in Tobigamori at the foot of Mt. Murone in Iwate Prefecture. The extensive grounds feature an area that doubles as a stage for outdoor concerts and music festivals. It has all the facilities required for camping, such as toilets, tent decks, and a cooking area. The campground is closed during the snowy October-April period.
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- Chiba Farm
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Ichinoseki-shi Kawasakicho Usuginu Shimomaki 93
- A tourist farm where strawberry picking is the main activity. They grow large Yayoihime and Sachinoka strawberries–with their nice sweet and sour balance–in large vinyl greenhouses. In addition to soil plantings, there are also hydroponic beds where you can harvest strawberries without bending over. Visitors pay the entry fee and enjoy all-you-can-eat strawberries without a time limit. They also sell strawberries to bring with you as gifts.
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- Tsuriyama Park
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Ichinoseki-shi Tsuriyama
- This park was built on the site of Ichinoseki Castle. The hilltop castle was originally constructed to take advantage of the topography of the small hill that was called Tsuriyama. The castle was demolished in the Meiji period and the area became the park it is today. Inside the park, visitors can see Japanese gardens, and the castle ruins, including remains of the moat and a well. The park is slightly elevated in comparison to its surroundings and visitors can enjoy a view that overlooks the town of Ichinoseki from the hilltop. It is also famous as a cherry blossom viewing spot, and many people come to see the blossoms during the season.
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- Nabekura Park
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Tono-shi Tonocho
- A park on the site of a castle built in the Azuchi-Momoyama period. Made by the Asonuma clan, it later became the residence of the Tono-Nanbu clan until it was abandoned in the Meiji period. More than 1,000 hill cherry trees and Yoshino cherry trees are planted across the site, and it is famous throughout Japan as a cherry blossom viewing spot. The Tono Cherry Blossom Festival is held when the trees are in bloom. There is an observatory modeled on a castle on the site of the former outer castle area with a view of Tono town.
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- Oshu Koromogawa History Fureai Museum
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Oshu-shi Koromogawa Hina 60-18
- A museum that conveys the history of the Abe clan, progenitor of the Northern Fujiwara clan. It has an impressive display of wax figures of Abe no Sadato and Minamoto no Yoshiie depicting a scene in which they compose poems during the Former Nine Years’ War. The exhibition begins with a display of artifacts excavated from a Jomon period site. It also showcases the history and traditions of the region including Masuzawa-nuri lacquerware, first developed during the Northern Fujiwara period and further advanced during the Meiji to Taisho periods. Every Tuesday the Koromogawa Lacquer Association gets together to make Masuzawa-nuri lacquerware at the museum's studio. It’s open to public viewing with a reservation.
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- Esashi Local Culture Hall
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Oshu-shi
- An experience-based museum showcasing the history, culture, and local industries of the Esashi region. It is located about 15 minutes by car from the Mizusawa Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway, adjacent to the Esashi-Fujiwara Heritage Park. It consists of an agricultural center and the Okunoin exhibition area. It's display of the Nakazen Obara family's 101 statues of the Bodhisattva Kannon are notable and exemplify the beliefs of the region. They also have hands-on programs with culinary and craft themes that let you try making soba noodles, pottery, magatama amulets, and more. During the summer and winter holidays they organize other special hands-on programs too.
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- Atagoyama Natural Park
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Oshu-shi Esashi Fujisato
- A nature park built to commemorate the 1993 marriage of Crown prince Naruhito. Located in the Ishiwada district with the winding Idegawa River, sites include the sheer cliffs along the river as well as silicified wood. There are also lots of seasonal flowers such as wisteria and lilies, as well as colored foliage in the fall. An observatory has a view overlooking the city, and lots of visitors come for the hiking course too. Its many other highlights include historic features such as Atago Shrine at the top of the park and the site of Numajiri Castle, as well as a monument to poets with ties to Morioka City such as Tachihara Michizo and Takeshima Shigetaro.
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- Oshu City Archaeological Research Center
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Oshu-shi
- A historical museum that showcases the culture of Ezo (pre-modern Northern Japan) and exhibits buried cultural properties excavated from Oshu City. It's on Prefectural Road 270, a five-minute drive from Mizusawa Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. Isawa Castle Ruins Historical Park is right in front. Displays focus on the way of life of the Ezo culture during ancient times. It has anime screenings about Ezo leaders known as Aterui that even children can understand. There are also hands-on classes making clay figurines, Jomon period accessories, and more. It's an accessible way to learn about the world of archaeology and ancient history.
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- Oshu Space and Astronomy Museum
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Oshu-shi Mizusawa Hoshigaokacho 2-12
- This museum is located approximately a 10-minute drive from the Tohoku Shinkansen Mizusawa-Esashi Station. It has a long history spanning over 100 years, and was reconstructed and recreated in the image of Japan's first international latitude observatory, in 1921. Visitors can see equipment that is currently in use, as well as historical astronomical instruments. The permanent exhibition room on the first floor teaches visitors about the universe, from the things that we can experience from the ground to space and the universe. There is also a theater room with 4D digital space theater screenings, as well as a permanent Universe Exhibition Room, where visitors can experience the universe by touch. Visitors can also listen to various event lectures while relaxing at the cafe.
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- Ryusenshindo Science Museum
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Shimohei-gun Iwaizumicho Iwaizumi Kannari
- A limestone cave discovered after the Ryusendo Cave–one of Japan's three major caves–in Iwaizumi-cho. In 1967, Ryusendo Cave was discovered during construction to widen a prefectural road. The well-developed cave system and its water course markings have scientific value, and in 1975 it was opened to the public as a science museum. In addition to the stalactites and stalagmites that are still being surveyed, there are abundant traces of pre-modern people. The cave has displays depicting life in the cave, which acted as shelter from the elements. There is also an area of water that looks beautiful when lit up.
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- Ryusendo Youth Travel Village
- Leisure / Hobbies
- Iwate Shimohei-gun Iwaizumicho Iwaizumi Kannari 12
- 15 minutes by bus from JR Iwaizumi Station, this leisure facility is right next to Ryusendo Cave, one of Japan's three major caves. It has a campground, a sports field, a lighted tennis court, etc. It's open from May to October, the perfect season for spending time outdoors. The travel village is connected to the Ryusendo Cave property, so you can visit it while camping just a ten-minute walk away. The campground has tent sites and bungalows as well as facilities for outdoor recreational activities.
Iwate Areas
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.
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