Iwate

Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi

Iwate Prefecture (岩手県 Iwate-ken) is in the northeastern Tohoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu.

Understand

Visit Iwate is the prefecture's official multilingual guide site.

Cities

• 1 Morioka — The prefectural capital.
• 2 Hachimantai
• 3 Hanamaki — Hanamaki is most famous as the birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa and for its onsen.
• 4 Hiraizumi — once rivaled Kyoto, but now known for two temples and a poet who visited 400 years ago.
• 5 Ichinoseki
• 6 Iwaizumi — the town has Ryusendo, one of Japan's three famous caves.
• 7 Kamaishi
• 8 Kuzumaki — has rich nature.
• 9 Miyako
• 10 Ninohe
• 11 Otsuchi
• 12 Rikuzentakata
• 13 Tono — a small city famous for its folk tales.
• 14 Tanohata — is proud of Kitayamasaki Cape, seaweed and farm products.

Other destinations

• 1 Ryusendo limestone cave — located in Iwaizumi, considered one of the three major limestone caves in Japan. It also boasts one of the largest underground lakes in Japan, with crystal-clear water.
• 2 Appi Kogen Ski Resort — one of the best ski grounds in Tohoku, with runs for all levels.

Get in

By plane

Hanamaki Airport (HNA ^IATA)

By train

• The Tohoku Shinkansen barrels through Ichinoseki and Morioka on its way from Sendai north to Aomori.
• IGR Iwate Ginga Tetsudo It's north train of Iwate
• JR Yamada Line
• JR Hanawa Line
• JR Tazawako Line
• Sanriku Railway (Kita-Lias Line) runs between Miyako (Iwate) and Kuji.

See

Geibikei Gorge in Ichinoseki

• Visit Geibikei Gorge and enjoy a ride on one of the boats and listen to the singing of your guide. Feed koi carp in warmer weather, enjoy the changing leaves in the fall and the snow in the winter. (Ichinoseki)
• Explore the remains of the former northern capital (Hiraizumi)
• Make your way through Ryusendo Cave, one of Japan's Top Three caves. (Iwaizumi)
• Search for kappa in one of the most famous kappa towns (Tono)
• Walk through art inspired by the books of Kenji Miyazawa in the Miyazawa Kenji Dowa-Mura (Hanamaki)

Eat

• Azumaya (東家). Eat wanko-soba, served indefinitely before you stop. (updated Mar 2024)
• Pyonpyonsha (ぴょんぴょん舎). famous for Morioka Reimen (cold noodles). Many branches in Akita and other prefectures. (updated Mar 2024)

Go next

• Aomori Prefecture
• Akita Prefecture
• Miyagi Prefecture