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

Hitaka Hibuse Festival
A grand elegant festival adding color to the spring in Oshu where the absolutely gorgeous Hayashi floats are paraded through the streets
Ihatov Avenue Zaimokucho
A 400-year-old shopping avenue which thrives with activity on Saturdays when the street market is open
Michinoku Traditional Dance Festival
A festival starring over 100 types of folk entertainment winding through the streets
Oshu Samurai Residence Museum
Begin your exploration of a castle town with these formal samurai houses preserved in Oshu
Yamaguchi Water Wheel
A water mill that evokes the feeling of Tono with the appearance of an old-fashioned countryside
Hot Yuda Station
An unusual onsen inside a train station where you can begin and end your travels in a hot spring
Ishiwarizakura
The mystery behind the force of life of a cherry tree! A 360-year-old blossoming cherry tree that can break through a mighty rock
Funekko Nagashi
A 280-year-old summer event in Morioka to pray for good health towards the ancestral spirits
Basenkyo Gorge
A gorge of two mighty soaring cliffs bracketing the Mabechi River for a grand superb scenery in northern Iwate Prefecture
Gokusui-no-En (Winding Stream Banquet)
Looking back upon the gaiety of a more refined age as a poetry competition is recreated within a scene rolling out like a Heian picture scroll at Motsu-ji Temple
Snowlight in Nishi Waga
A fantasy land of snow. The soft snow light through the streets provides a scenery that warms the heart
Kamaishi Festival
Raising a banner to celebrate a big catch, fishing vessels containing objects of worship majestically cross the ocean one after another in this local festival
SL Ginga
The SL Ginga takes off! The world of the famous children’s story is realized as the dream SL dashes through
Kitayama Temples and Teramachi Street
Enjoy a day of a serene tour in the Kitayama area which has brought over temples since the era of the feudal clans
Ana Yukko (Cave Bath)
A cave bath that evokes the image of a mine with the steam having a good effect on warming you right down to the core
Morioka History and Culture Museum
A museum where you can learn about the history and culture of the castle city of Morioka from the Edo Era to the present day
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