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

Kappabuchi
A deep pool of a clear stream which is the home of the kappa water sprites mentioned in folklore!
Yakehashiri Lava Flow
A wild landscape consisting of a cooled and hardened lava flow down the mountain
Fukusen-ji Temple
Japan’s biggest wooden Kannon statue at 17ｍ is enshrined here in a temple that was built in 1912
Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
A beautiful classically-designed Western-style building from the Meiji Era with its red brick and a green dome
Densho-en
An open-air museum relating the old hometown traditions of Tono
Ho’on-ji Temple
An ancient temple in a town of temples which has retained a charm from the feudal era which was dedicated to the 500 Buddhist arhats (statues)
Matsukawa Geothermal Plant
With its gigantic cooling tower jutting out from within a heavily-wooded mountain, this is Japan’s first geothermal plant
Meganebashi Bridge (Miyamori River Bridge)
A railway that soars up to the galaxies runs here. A bridge in a remote woodland that spurs thoughts of nostalgia.
Unedori-sama Shrine
A matchmaking shrine built in the Edo Era at the foot of Mt. Atago, it is said to bring romantic fulfillment
Kitakami River
The Tohoku’s largest river flows quietly with the grand ridge of the Iwate Mountains in the background
Kamaishi Sakura Festival (Toni Daimyo Procession)
A large festival with 300 years of history. The highlight is the atmospheric daimyo (feudal lord) procession that passes under the cherry trees
Gohyaku Rakan (The 500 Arhats)
Arhat (people who have achieved Nirvana) statues carved into natural rock in prayer for the repose of souls of those lost during a great famine which struck the Tohoku area
Aragami Shrine
A simple shrine that just seems to pop up in the middle of a rice paddy, it is a Japanese scene from out of memory that is filled with nostalgia
Sakurayama Shrine
The local shrine of the Nambu clan built in 1749 on the outermost region of Morioka Castle
Mt. Hayachine
A famous place for lovely mountain flora that has been selected as one of the Top 100 Mountains for Flowers in Japan
Miyako Jodogahama Boat Cruise
A 40-minute excursion with a refreshing sea breeze in which you can enjoy the scenic beauty of a tour of the strangely-shaped rocks
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