Sights

Culture & History

Chuson-ji Temple
The Golden Hall (Konjiki-do) is a World Heritage site showing Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region.
Motsu-ji Temple
A beautiful World Heritage site. There is an elegant garden of the Heian aristocrats who lived in the Tohoku region
Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo Temple
Bishamondo Temple seems to grow out of the rock wall
Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Park)
The castle of a “Nambu” feudal lord inside a park. The remains of the stone walls have history carved into them
Esashi Fujiwara Heritage Park
The magnificent culture of the Tohoku Heian nobility is recreated here, and the park is famous as a location for filming samurai dramas
Geibikei Cruise
Cruise down the beautiful Geibikei Gorge as you listen to the strains of the “minyo” folk song “Oiwake Uta”
Morioka Hachiman-gu Shrine
Iwate’s finest grand shrine with its magnificent red shaden and large torii gate piercing the sky
Hanamaki Festival
The 400-year-old Hanamaki Festival with its procession of glittering floats during fiery and fantastic nights
Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
Vivid and energetic dancing to provide an overwhelming performance
Tono Furusato Village
Rural districts, water wheels, thatched-roof houses…experience the region of Tono within the landscape of a recreated agricultural village
Show All (20+)

Nature

Koiwai Farms, Makiba-en Park
A large historical farm with green pastures and Mt. Iwate in the background
Chuson-ji Temple
The Golden Hall (Konjiki-do) is a World Heritage site showing Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region.
Motsu-ji Temple
A beautiful World Heritage site. There is an elegant garden of the Heian aristocrats who lived in the Tohoku region
Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo Temple
Bishamondo Temple seems to grow out of the rock wall
Genbikei Gorge
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the four seasons at this gorge created from the natural rocks and waterfalls
Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Park)
The castle of a “Nambu” feudal lord inside a park. The remains of the stone walls have history carved into them
Geibikei Cruise
Cruise down the beautiful Geibikei Gorge as you listen to the strains of the “minyo” folk song “Oiwake Uta”
Jodogahama
The world of the “Pure Land” as the scenery of mysterious stone mountains rises up from the bay
Hanamaki Festival
The 400-year-old Hanamaki Festival with its procession of glittering floats during fiery and fantastic nights
Tono Furusato Village
Rural districts, water wheels, thatched-roof houses…experience the region of Tono within the landscape of a recreated agricultural village
Show All (20+)

Family

Koiwai Farms, Makiba-en Park
A large historical farm with green pastures and Mt. Iwate in the background
Genbikei Gorge
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the four seasons at this gorge created from the natural rocks and waterfalls
Esashi Fujiwara Heritage Park
The magnificent culture of the Tohoku Heian nobility is recreated here, and the park is famous as a location for filming samurai dramas
Geibikei Cruise
Cruise down the beautiful Geibikei Gorge as you listen to the strains of the “minyo” folk song “Oiwake Uta”
Jodogahama
The world of the “Pure Land” as the scenery of mysterious stone mountains rises up from the bay
Tono Furusato Village
Rural districts, water wheels, thatched-roof houses…experience the region of Tono within the landscape of a recreated agricultural village
Ryusendo
A limestone cave with a deep blue, clear and tranquil lake of mystery
Morioka Handi-Works Square
An interactive facility where the artisans of Morioka gather to show the traditional handicrafts from the good old days
Kita Yamazaki
Take a dynamic walk along the grand panorama of precipitous cliffs that boast “Japan’s Most Beautiful Coastline”
Densho-en
An open-air museum relating the old hometown traditions of Tono
Show All (10+)

Must See Spots

Koiwai Farms, Makiba-en Park
A large historical farm with green pastures and Mt. Iwate in the background
Chuson-ji Temple
The Golden Hall (Konjiki-do) is a World Heritage site showing Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region.
Motsu-ji Temple
A beautiful World Heritage site. There is an elegant garden of the Heian aristocrats who lived in the Tohoku region
Genbikei Gorge
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the four seasons at this gorge created from the natural rocks and waterfalls
Esashi Fujiwara Heritage Park
The magnificent culture of the Tohoku Heian nobility is recreated here, and the park is famous as a location for filming samurai dramas
Geibikei Cruise
Cruise down the beautiful Geibikei Gorge as you listen to the strains of the “minyo” folk song “Oiwake Uta”
Jodogahama
The world of the “Pure Land” as the scenery of mysterious stone mountains rises up from the bay
Kita Yamazaki
Take a dynamic walk along the grand panorama of precipitous cliffs that boast “Japan’s Most Beautiful Coastline”
Densho-en
An open-air museum relating the old hometown traditions of Tono
Goishi Coast
A landscape of the epic sea, fantastically-shaped rocks and pine forests which is a Place of Scenic Beauty along the coast
Show All (10+)

Romance

Ryusendo
A limestone cave with a deep blue, clear and tranquil lake of mystery
Appi Kogen Resort
A highland resort where you can fully enjoy the blessings of nature without fail all throughout the year
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Shopping

Morioka Mikoda Morning Market
You gotta get up early! An inexpensive market selling vegetables of the season raised on the great land under the pure sky
Morioka Handi-Works Square
An interactive facility where the artisans of Morioka gather to show the traditional handicrafts from the good old days
Sekinoichi Sake Brewery
Enjoy the regional taste of sake and local beer that has garnered international acclaim
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Nightlife

Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
Vivid and energetic dancing to provide an overwhelming performance
Michinoku Traditional Dance Festival
A festival starring over 100 types of folk entertainment winding through the streets
Show All

World Heritage

Chuson-ji Temple
The Golden Hall (Konjiki-do) is a World Heritage site showing Buddhist culture in the Tohoku region.
Motsu-ji Temple
A beautiful World Heritage site. There is an elegant garden of the Heian aristocrats who lived in the Tohoku region
Hashino Blast Furnace Ruins
The World Heritage blast furnace is in the middle of a forest. The history of its modern-day iron manufacturing is related to the present day
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Hotspring

Genbikei Gorge
Immerse yourself in the beauty of the four seasons at this gorge created from the natural rocks and waterfalls
Hanamaki Onsen
A relaxing onsen village surrounded by the nature of a deep gorge whose onsen hotels with their own personality are charming
Matsukawa-so
A pure Japanese onsen inn surrounded by primeval forest, it provides healing from a simple mountain hospitality and supreme waters
Sukawa Kogen Onsen
A mountain onsen with a wild feeling and hot waters roaring through the rough rock
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Famous Foods

Jodogahama
The world of the “Pure Land” as the scenery of mysterious stone mountains rises up from the bay
Tono Furusato Village
Rural districts, water wheels, thatched-roof houses…experience the region of Tono within the landscape of a recreated agricultural village
Morioka Handi-Works Square
An interactive facility where the artisans of Morioka gather to show the traditional handicrafts from the good old days
Densho-en
An open-air museum relating the old hometown traditions of Tono
Sekinoichi Sake Brewery
Enjoy the regional taste of sake and local beer that has garnered international acclaim
Show All

Cherry Blossom (Sakura)

Koiwai Farms, Makiba-en Park
A large historical farm with green pastures and Mt. Iwate in the background
Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo Temple
Bishamondo Temple seems to grow out of the rock wall
Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Park)
The castle of a “Nambu” feudal lord inside a park. The remains of the stone walls have history carved into them
Show All

Festivals & Events

Hanamaki Festival
The 400-year-old Hanamaki Festival with its procession of glittering floats during fiery and fantastic nights
Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
Vivid and energetic dancing to provide an overwhelming performance
Michinoku Traditional Dance Festival
A festival starring over 100 types of folk entertainment winding through the streets
Show All

All Sights

Tsuzuki Ishi
Who, when and why did someone place this rock? A gigantic rock standing stealthily in the middle of a forest
Todogasaki Cape
A beautiful cape with a white lighthouse where you can catch the earliest sunrise on the island of Honshu
Morioka Yukiakari
The snowy streets are wondrously lit up with candles to soothe the soul in an annual winter event from Morioka
Morioka Hachiman-gu Shrine Hadakamairi (Half-Naked Pilgrimage)
A venerable event in the bitterly cold Morioka held by half-naked participants in prayers for sound health
Kenji Miyazawa Fairytale Village
Kenjiy Miyazawa Fairytale Village where you can enjoy a whole day as the protagonists of the author’s works can potentially pop up.
Tono City Museum
Japan’s first ethnic museum where you can learn about Tono’s unique traditional culture
Takamuro Suiko-en
Stroll through the garden and relax in a hot bath. Spend a soothing time in Tono
Chagu Chagu Umakko
100 horses are on parade dressed in colorful costumes and jingling bells in a 200-year-old traditional event
Takuboku Shinkon House
The residence where early 20th-century poet Takuboku Ishikawa lived with his newlywed wife
Senkin Sake Brewery
With sake brewed from the water and caverns of Ryusendo Cave, it is a venerable brewery in operation since the Edo Era that has earned numerous awards
Hayachine Shrine
A mysterious shrine deep in nature which has been in worship of a mountain since ancient times
Hanamaki English Coast
The area that was dubbed the English Coast by Kenji Miyazawa due to his love for the Dover Strait
Ofunato Fish Center
Fresh seafood abound in Ofunato. A treasure trove of the fruits of the sea in Sanriku!
Goishi Coast Anatoshi Cruise
A spectacular cruise led by expert fishermen! A thrilling ride through fantastically-shaped rocks that are Places of Scenic Beauty
Sukawa Kogen Onsen
A mountain onsen with a wild feeling and hot waters roaring through the rough rock
Nanshousou
A historical residence remaining within the city of Morioka, it has a beauty and serenity that can only be found in such an old home
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