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
Show All

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

Sekinoichi Sake Brewery
Enjoy the regional taste of sake and local beer that has garnered international acclaim
JR Kitakami Line
A local line that runs through the landscape of all 4 seasons. Once you get out of the tunnel, witness the autumn colors on the mountains and the snow-covered lake through the train windows
Goishi Coast
A landscape of the epic sea, fantastically-shaped rocks and pine forests which is a Place of Scenic Beauty along the coast
Appi Kogen Resort
A highland resort where you can fully enjoy the blessings of nature without fail all throughout the year
Nataya-cho
The scenery of machiya townhouses as vestiges of Edo when water transportation on the Kitakami River flourished
Hachiyozan Tendai-ji Temple
A history of hardship and restoration. See the masterpiece of the Standing Image of Shokannon protecting the Tohoku’s oldest temple
Iwate Snow Festival
Iwate Snow Festival, the largest snow celebration on the island of Honshu attracts 300,000 visitors annually
Hachimantai
At 40 degrees north latitude, a panorama of superb scenery that is said to have the most beautiful seasonal changes
Unosu Cliff
The landscape of soaring cliff walls carved into a zigzag shape as it juts out into the ocean
Michinoku Folklore Village
From a pit dwelling to a Nambu Magari house, this is an open-air museum with examples of old Iwate architecture
Hayachine Kagura
A 500-year-old traditional kagura (ancient Shinto music and dance) that has been registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Rasu Chijin Kyokai
Kenji Miyazawa’s private residence once located in a farming village from the good old days where his famous works bask in the afterglow
Appi Ski Resort
Ski runs that total a distance of 45,100m! One of Japan’s foremost ski resorts with accommodations
Suna Yukko (Sand Bath)
The power of nature to help you forget the cold of winter. Soothe your body through sand heated by a hot spring.
Matsukawa-so
A pure Japanese onsen inn surrounded by primeval forest, it provides healing from a simple mountain hospitality and supreme waters
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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