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Valley Spots in Iwate Area

Area

  • Genbikei Gorge
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Pref. Ichinosekishi Gembichou Minamitakinoue
    Genbikei is a valley of the Iwai River originating in Mt. Kurikoma and flowing to Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture. Dynamic landscapes such as waterfalls, strangely shaped and magical rocks continue for two kilometers. The specialty of Genbikei is of course the Kakko-dango Dumplings. When ordering and paying, you place your money in a basket attached to a rope stretched to the other side. After sounding a wooden hammer, the basket is pulled up and the dumplings and tea are delivered in return instead. Fun to watch, and delicious to eat.
    Genbikei Gorge image
  • Geibi Gorge
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Pref. Ichinosekishi Higashiyamachounagasaka Machi 467
    Geibi Gorge runs along the Satetsu River in Ichinoseki City, and was Iwate prefecture’s first officially designated Place of Scenic Beauty. Its main attraction is the limestone cliff walls rising more than 50 meters. Boating downstream through the river forks between those towering walls is one of Geibi’s true pleasures. There are also many unusual rock formations and caves as well, and the fall colors or spring wisteria offer lovely seasonal beauty. Summer and the fall leaf season also see boat-top tea parties in special tea boats, and in winter you can enjoy a hotpot at a heated kotatsu table as you watch the snowy landscape passing by.
    Geibi Gorge image
  • Kappabuchi Stream
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Pref. Tonoshi Tsuchibuchichoutsuchibuchi
    Kappabuchi Stream is the birthplace of the legend of kappa in Tono, mischievous water imps. According to the legend, kappa live in a pool in a stream that flows behind Jokenji Temple and like to play tricks on people or startle them. On the banks of the stream is a small outdoor shrine dedicated to the god of the kappa, and it is said that if women with children pray there with their breasts bared, their wish will be granted.
    Kappabuchi Stream image
  • Matsukawa Gorge
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Pref. Hachimantaishi Matsuoyoriki
    A gorge located a 20-minute drive from the Matsuo-Hachimantai Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. Extending out from the Matsukawa Onsen area, the gorge is one of Hachimantai's top fall foliage viewing destinations. The Matsukawa Genbugan, a local sight, consists of a riverside basalt cliff with pillar-like walls; each year in autumn, the cliff is enwrapped in a sea of beautiful fall foliage. Those walking on the Mori no Ohashi Bridge spanning the gorge can view the sprawling carpet of yellow and gold foliage directly underneath; there's also a parking area, making this a great place to stop and take in the spectacular view.
    Matsukawa Gorge image
  • Kakkonda Gorge
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Iwate-gun Shizukuishicho
    This is a 10-kilometer gorge in the upper reaches of the Kakkondagawa River, extending from Genbu Cave to Takinoue Hot Spring. Extending for 160 meters along the left bank of the river is a series of spike-like formations, 70 meters high, and Torigoe Falls drops 30 meters into a deep green pool from the rock face deep within the gorge. Extensive areas of various broad-leaf trees, especially old-growth beeches, grow in the river basin, and both the new spring greenery and the autumn colors of yellow birches and red maples are a lovely sight. The best time for seeing autumn leaves in most years is from early to mid-October.
    Kakkonda Gorge image
  • Kuji Stream
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Kuji-shi Okawamecho
    This stream is located about a 40-minute drive from the Kunohe Interchange on the Hachinohe Expressway. Its gorge has been set aside as Kuji-Hiraniwa Prefectural Nature Park. Along the stream is KagamiIwa (Mirror Rock), one of a series of limestone rocks formed over 200 million years ago by coral reefs in the South Seas. The contrast between the white rocks and the green trees is lovely, and the gorge is known as a prime spot for autumn leaves. Near Mirror Rock is Furosen, named one of the 20 Best Spring Water in Iwate Prefecture. The stream is also a prime spot for catching sweetfish and char.
    Kuji Stream image
  • Basen Gorge
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Ninohe-shi Ishikiridokoro
    This gorge is a scenic area along the Mabechikawa River in Ishikiridokoro, Ninohe City. Part of the gorge lies within Oritsume-Basenkyo Prefectural Nature Park. Ogami (male god) Rock and Megami (goddess) Rock are the largest of the so-called “married couple rocks” in Japan. Along with Mt. Torigoe on the opposite bank, they have been designated as Spots of Scenic Beauty. Tourists can admire the massive scenery of the gorge, created by the seasonal changes of foliage and the huge rocks from an observation point that has been set up for that purpose.
    Basen Gorge image
  • Shitomae Valley
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Oshu-shi
  • Kotokei
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Ichinoseki-shi
  • Tosuga
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Waga-gun Nishiwagamachi
  • Ojigokudani
    Travel / Tourism
    Iwate Hachimantai-shi
Iwate
Morioka City / Shizukuishi Town / Koiwai Hanamaki / Tono Hachimantai / Appi Highland Sanriku Coast Hiraizumi / Oshu / Ichinoseki
Travel / Tourism Nature Valley Valley

Iwate Areas

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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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