Relax and Recharge: 19 Classic Things to Do in Iwate

Surrounded by mountains, rivers, and ocean, nature-filled Iwate is best in summer.
Be sure to enjoy the contrast of lush greenery and bright blue skies created by its rich natural environment.

From Tokyo, you can get there by shinkansen in 2.5 hours.
With Iwate Hanamaki Airport, flying from Osaka or Nagoya to Hanamaki takes Approx. 1.5 hours.
There are also international flights, making it easy to access from overseas.

A temple founded in Kasho 3 (850) and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This temple carries a strong wish to comfort the souls of those who died in the conflicts that once continued in the Tohoku region, regardless of side, and to help bring about a peaceful society.

A scenic spot designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument.
The Iwai River, which originates from Mt. Kurikoma, has eroded massive rocks, creating a chain of unusual rock formations stretching for around 1.2 miles (Approx. 2 km).
The dramatic scenery, created by expressive rock surfaces and beautiful emerald-green waters, is truly captivating.

A farm with a vast property at the foot of Mt. Iwate, spanning Shizukuishi Town and Takizawa City, and it operates a wide range of businesses including dairy farming, forestry, food, and tourism.
On its 3,000-hectare grounds, it raises Approx. 2,200 cows and produces high-quality, flavorful milk, making and selling many in-house brand products such as butter, cheese, and yogurt.

Hanamaki Onsenkyo is a hot spring area with onsen scattered mainly along the Daigawa River and Toyosawa River, which flow through quiet mountain valleys in western Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture.
With 12 hot springs, including Hanamaki Onsen, Dai Onsen, and Osawa Onsen, it’s known as the “Hanamaki 12 Hot Springs.” Each has a long history, and their sources are said to have been discovered 300 to 400 years ago.

Motsu-ji Temple is doubly designated by the Japanese government as both a “Special Historic Site” and a “Special Place of Scenic Beauty.” Many remains, including foundation stones of Heian-period Buddhist structures, are still preserved, and it is said to have once had 40 halls and pagodas and 500 monks’ quarters—on a scale even larger than Chuson-ji Temple.
Its Pure Land garden is also preserved in an almost perfect state, making it a rare place where you can feel the world of around 800 years ago.

Built in 1911 as the head office of Morioka Bank, designed by the Kingo Tatsuno and Mashi Kasai Architectural Office.
It is the only remaining building in the Tohoku region designed by Kingo Tatsuno, who is also famous for designing Tokyo Station.
The exterior is characteristic of Tatsuno’s style, with red brick accented by white granite bands and a dome on the roof. This Renaissance-style building is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan.

A gorge rising along the Satetsu River, a tributary of the Kitakami River that runs north to south through Iwate Prefecture. Formed by erosion, sheer cliffs from 160 to 330 feet (50–100 m) continue for around 1.2 miles (Approx. 2 km). Its fantastical scenery, dotted with unusual rocks, caves, and waterfalls, is counted among Japan’s 100 Scenic Spots and is also designated as a National Historic Site, Place of Scenic Beauty, and Natural Monument.

Jodogahama is a rocky inlet along the Sanriku Coast and one of Japan’s representative scenic spots. Around 1680, a monk named Reikyo, moved by its white rocky shore, crystal-clear waters, and otherworldly terrain, is said to have exclaimed, “It is just like the Pure Land,” giving the beach its name.

A vast national park spanning mountainous areas across three prefectures: Aomori, Iwate, and Akita.
It is broadly made up of two areas: the Towada-Hakkoda area, which includes famous scenic spots like Oirase Stream, Lake Towada, and Mt. Hakkoda, and the Hachimantai area, which includes Mt. Iwate and Mt. Akita-Komagatake.

Said to have been built in 1680 by Nanbu Shigenobu, the third lord of the Mutsu Morioka Domain. It is one of the largest shrines in the prefecture and a power spot with 12 shrines within its grounds. Deities closely tied to everyday life are enshrined here, including those of agriculture, commerce and industry, learning, and food, clothing, and shelter.

A hands-on facility themed around the fairy tales of Kenji Miyazawa. It includes “Galaxy Station,” “Sky Plaza,” “Kenji’s Classroom,” “Fairy Path,” “Owl Path,” “Wildflower Garden,” and “Kenji’s School,” all designed with a fantastical touch.

A park located along the Kitakami River, which flows from north to south through central Iwate Prefecture. Known as a cherry blossom spot, it has around 10,000 cherry trees planted across its Approx. 315,000 sq ft (29,300㎡) grounds. The famous cherry tree-lined path continues for around 1.2 miles (Approx. 2 km) from the base of Sango Bridge inside the park, and it’s also selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots.

A retro-style amusement park on rolling hills, around 15 minutes by car from downtown Morioka. With over 10 types of attractions, visitors of different ages can enjoy a variety of rides. It is closed in winter (November 28–March 18), and it’s only open on weekends and holidays during other periods, so plan accordingly.

A tourist facility that recreates the old mountain village life of Tono, featuring relocated thatched-roof magariya (traditional L-shaped houses that combine the main home and stable) built from the mid-Edo period to the mid-Meiji period, preserved in their original form. A small stream flows through the village, with fields and rice paddies, a charcoal kiln hut, and more, offering a glimpse into Tono’s past.

Morioka Castle, once the residence of the Nanbu clan of the Morioka Domain, was developed in 1906 as “Iwate Park,” designed by Yohei Nagaoka, known as a pioneer of modern parks.
It is designated as a National Historic Site as the “Morioka Castle Ruins,” and is also selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Castles and one of Japan’s Top 100 Historic Parks.

A complex facility made up of three zones: a handicrafts workshop area, a Nanbu magariya (traditional farmhouse), and the Morioka Local Industry Promotion Center. You can watch skilled artisans at work making items like Nanbu ironware, Morioka reimen (cold noodles), and Nanbu senbei rice crackers, and there are also hands-on workshops held at each studio. Experiences like indigo dyeing, pottery, and weaving are especially popular.

The museum mainly exhibits works by artists connected to Iwate Prefecture, such as Western-style painter Tetsugoro Yorozu, who was active from the Taisho era to the early Showa era; Shunsuke Matsumoto, who was active as a Western-style painter while also actively writing; and postwar sculptor Yasutake Funakoshi, one of Japan’s leading sculptors.

One of Japan’s three great limestone caves, Ryusendo is a natural limestone cave at the foot of Mt. Ureira (Ureira). Its total known length is 13,412 ft (4,088 m), and 2,297 ft (700 m) is open to the public. Highlights include the mystical space shaped by nature and the subterranean lakes formed by water springing from the cave.

Appi Kogen is a nature-rich highland area at 2,625–2,953 ft (800–900 m) above sea level, spanning a vast Approx. 2,000 hectares. With birch forests, grassy areas, and pristine beech woods, plus stylish pensions and hotels, this ski resort has the atmosphere of a European highland resort.

Genbikei Gorge, a famous scenic spot in Iwate, is known for its rare gorge beauty, with unusual rocks and huge boulders stretching for around 1.2 miles (Approx. 2 km).
A local specialty here is this dango, known for its unique ordering method.
To order, put the payment into a basket hanging from a rope stretched from the shop across the stream to your side, then hit a wooden board with a mallet to signal the staff.
Once the staff notices, they pull the basket in, take the payment, then place dango and tea inside and send it back across. Because it’s delivered “flying” over the clear river, it’s affectionately known as “flying dango.”

Wanko soba is beloved in Morioka, Iwate, along with jajamen and reimen as the three great Morioka noodle dishes, and it’s one local food you’ll definitely want to try when visiting Iwate. Founded in 1907, Azumaya is a long-established soba restaurant that has preserved the tradition of wanko soba in Morioka for many years. Located on Nakanohashi-dori, an area that strongly retains the atmosphere of a castle town and is dotted with historic buildings, it’s easy to stop by during sightseeing, and visitors never stop coming for the taste.

Pyonpyonsya serves yakiniku and Korean home-style dishes made with carefully selected ingredients from Iwate’s mountains and sea, including branded beef. It’s a popular restaurant with locations mainly in Morioka as well as in the Kanto area, and this Morioka Station Front branch is also appealing for its convenient location—just a 3-minute walk from JR Morioka Station.

Kogensya Main Store carries Kogensya original lacquerware, ceramics from across Japan, glassware, and Iwate homespun textiles. On the grounds are several buildings including the “Mazieru-kan,” which houses first editions of The Restaurant of Many Orders and materials related to Kenji Miyazawa; “Campanella,” which sells imported goods; and the “Kahi-kan” cafe. Across from the main store is the “Morio” product hall, selling ironware, baskets, and more.

Directly connected to JR Morioka Station, this station building brings together around 160 diverse shops, including fashion, interior goods, lifestyle items, cosmetics, restaurants, and grocery stores. With many well-known nationwide brands opening their first Iwate locations here, weekends are lively with locals and tourists alike.

In addition to “AEON” for groceries and daily necessities, around 80 specialty shops come together at this large-scale shopping center in southern Iwate, loved by locals for over 40 years.
The center opened in 1981 as a locally led shopping mall, a rare concept at the time. Today, it offers a diverse lineup of specialty stores, ranging from fashion and lifestyle goods to dining and amusement facilities. “Fresh Field,” which gathers carefully selected sweets and foods from Iwate and specialty shops across Japan, plus fresh Sanriku seafood, is recommended for both locals and tourists.

Tsunagi Onsen sits on the shore of Gosho Lake, a dam lake on the Shizukuishi River in the Kitakami River system.
The hot spring is said to have been named after Minamoto no Yoshiie, who tied his beloved horse to a rock and bathed here. With over 900 years of history since its opening, it’s loved as “Morioka’s inner parlor,” surrounded by rich nature despite its convenient location about 30 minutes by car from Morioka City.

A luxury hot spring ryokan located right in the middle of the Hanamaki Minami Onsenkyo area.
Surrounded by nature, it’s a quiet inn with sweeping mountain views from the guest rooms.
Inside the building, you’ll find coffered lattice-pattern ceilings and finely crafted details throughout, showcasing the craftsmanship of master temple and shrine carpenters.

A small hot spring ryokan on a hill with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, a 5-minute drive from Sanriku Railway Nittano Station. Overlooking the only coastal national park in Tohoku, all guest rooms offer views of the dynamic ria coastline with its dramatic cliffs.