Iwate Hidden Gems
10 spots
Chusonji Temple — Golden Hall of Pure Land Buddhism
Chusonji Temple is the crown jewel of Hiraizumi's UNESCO World Heritage sites, founded in 850 CE and expanded in the ear…
Geibikei Gorge — Boatman's Song Through Limestone Cliffs
Geibikei Gorge is a narrow limestone gorge carved by the Satetsu River, famous for traditional flat-bottomed boat rides…
Morioka Castle Ruins — Stone Walls & Cherry Blossoms
Morioka Castle (盛岡城跡公園, now Iwate Park) was built in the early 17th century by the Nanbu clan, who ruled the Morioka Dom…
Wanko Soba — All-You-Can-Eat Rapid-Fire Noodle Challenge
Wanko Soba is Morioka's most theatrical dining experience — an all-you-can-eat soba challenge where servers rapidly refi…
Tono Folktales — Kappa Legends & Magariya Farmhouses
Tono is Japan's folklore capital, a rural mountain city famous for preserving traditional tales of kappa (water imps), z…
SL Ginga Steam Train — Vintage Railroad Journey
The SL Ginga is a restored steam locomotive operating tourist trains between Hanamaki and Kamaishi (90km) through the mo…
Sanriku Coast — Dramatic Cliffs & Tsunami Recovery
The Sanriku Coast is a 250km stretch of dramatic Pacific coastline running through Iwate Prefecture, characterized by st…
Ichinoseki Mochi Culture — 300 Mochi Dishes
Ichinoseki has Japan's richest mochi (rice cake) culinary tradition, with over 300 documented mochi dishes developed ove…
Nambu Tekki — Traditional Iron Teapot Craft
Nambu Tekki (南部鉄器) is traditional iron casting craft originating in Morioka during the 17th century, producing iron teap…
Kamaishi Daikannon — 48-Meter Ocean Goddess
Kamaishi Daikannon is a 48.5-meter tall statue of Kannon (Buddhist goddess of mercy) standing on a peninsula overlooking…