Geibikei Gorge, a 2-km gorge of strange rocks and precipitous cliffs along the Sunatetsu River, a tributary of the Kitakamigawa River, can be enjoyed by boat. It was designated as a place of scenic beauty in 1925 and is one of the 100 most scenic spots in Japan. The boatmen sing "Geibi Oiwake" in the quiet stream, and the scenic view can be enjoyed to the full. Fuji Iwa and Geibi Gorge Wisteria...»
The dynamic beauty of nature's formations and the rich colors of the four seasons are woven together in this valley. Iwai River flowing from Mt. Kurikoma, the 2-km-long gorge offers scenery of oddly shaped rocks, monstrous rocks, waterfalls, and deep pools. From the promenade, visitors can enjoy the contrasting scenery of "stillness" and "movement" of the wild upstream flow and the relaxing abys...»
One of the three largest limestone caves in Japan and designated as a national natural monument. Fresh water gushing from deep within the caves forms deep underground lakes at several locations, with the third underground lake at a depth of 98 meters. The third underground lake is 98 meters deep, while the fourth underground lake, which is not yet open to the public, is the deepest in Japan at 12...»
Chuson-ji is the head temple of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism and is one of the three main temples of the Oshu Sanjusan Kannon (33 sacred places of worship). The temple was founded by Fujiwara no Kiyohira and is known as a temple associated with the three generations of the Oshu Fujiwara clan. It is particularly renowned for its many cultural assets, including Konjikido, a magnificent example of He...»
This vast theme park allows visitors to experience the history and culture of Michinoku while tracing the history of the Oshu Fujiwara Clan. There are about 120 buildings of various sizes, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle and politics of the time. The attraction of the park is its authentic reproductions based on rigorous period research. It is also known as a location for NHK's historical ...»
This is a fun place to learn as if you have jumped into the world of Kenji Miyazawa's fairy tales. Starting from the Ginga Station, there are various areas such as Kenji's School, Kenji's Classroom, Fairy Lane, Sky Plaza, and Wild Grass Garden. Immerse yourself in Kenji's world while having fun and enriching your mind. Ginga Station The entrance to Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village, where you ...»
This is an open-air museum that recreates the lifestyle of farmers in the Tono area in the past. Visitors can enjoy traditional events, folk tales, and demonstrations of folk crafts. Travel back in time to the farmhouses of the past There are many fascinating spots in the park. The former Kikuchi family residence, the oldest curving house in Tono, is designated as an important cultural property...»
Hachimantai is a beautiful plateau located on the border between Iwate and Akita Prefectures, and is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan. The mountain area is designated as Towada-Hachimantai National Park and is known as a treasure trove of nature, with virgin forests of Abies sachalinensis and a variety of alpine flora. Two of the best driving routes in Tohoku, the Hachimantai Aspite...»
It was built in 801 by Sakagami Tamuramaro to commemorate his defeat of the legendary Evil Road King, who used this place as his base of operations during the late Heian period (794-1192). Bishamondōdō refers to a hall dedicated to Bishamonten, the patron god of Buddhism. It is said that Bishamondō Hall was built in this cave in imitation of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and the temple itself is built i...»
Once you step into Tono Furusato Village, you will be greeted with a nostalgic view of a farming village. This open-air museum recreates the mountain village of Tono as it once was. Nambu-kyokuriya (farmhouses) adorn the village, with streams, water mills, and fields, as if the villagers were living their daily lives. The houses were relocated from the Edo to Meiji periods and remain in Tono Tow...»
This is one of the representative scenic spots on the Rikuchu Coast, where sharp, white, meteoric rocks adorn the beautiful coastline, each one with a different appearance. Nambu red pine and other evergreen trees tower over the rocks, creating a beautiful Japanese garden-like landscape in contrast with the green of the pine trees, the white rock surface, and the deep blue of the sea. Jodogahama...»
Visitors can enjoy sheepdog and sheep shows, horseback riding, archery, trolley rides, and other attractions while enjoying the view of Mount Iwate in the background. Visitors can also tour the barn and dairy factory. At the restaurant and store, you can taste the famous Genghis Khan and fresh milk. Contact with nature, a fun experience Koiwai Farm is one of the largest private farms in Japan, ...»
Motsu-ji Temple is designated as a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the national government, centering on the Pure Land Garden, one of the most representative gardens in Japan. The temple was founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin, and many buildings were constructed during the reigns of Fujiwara lord Motohira and Hidehira. In the past, the temple had 40 halls and towers and...»
This is the "Kingdom of the Wild" where 600 African animals of about 60 species, including lions, tigers, giraffes, and zebras, live. Visitors can enter the park by their own cars or buses and slowly experience the ecology and behavior of wild animals as if they were zoologists. The Safari Park also has a monkey theater, a flamingo show, a monkey center, and an elephant village, offering a varie...»
Nanshoso, built in 1885 by a Morioka-born businessman, is a modern Japanese-style historical building and a garden that took several years to complete. The garden is a registered national monument and has been visited by celebrities such as Takashi Hara, the 19th Prime Minister of Japan. The garden is a harmony of historical buildings and a beautiful garden, where visitors can enjoy the seasonal...»
This historical park was built on the site of Morioka Castle, the residence of the feudal lord of the Nanbu domain, which was completed in 1633. Morioka Castle was a flat castle that utilized the confluence of the Kitakami River flowing in the west and the Nakatsu River flowing in the southeast as a natural shelter (hori), and spread out on a granite hillside. Today, stone walls, ponds, and othe...»
A historical building, the Akarengakan was established in 1911 as the head office of the Bank of Morioka, and later served as the head office of the Bank of Iwate for many years. Designed by Kingo Tatsuno and Manji Kasai, the same architects who designed Tokyo Station, it is known as the only Tatsuno work in the Tohoku region. In 1994, it became the first active bank building to be designated an...»
This 27 km long drive route traverses the Hachimantai Mountains and connects Iwate and Akita. It winds through the mountainside of Chausu-dake (Mt. Chausu), and offers the unique scenery of Hachimantai, a magnificent volcanic belt, including Mt. Iwate, blue lakes and marshes, and the unique landscape of dead ash trees. Especially just after the opening of the road in mid-April, several meters of...»
This museum is related to the anecdotes and folklore of the Tono region written in Tono Monogatari (Tales of Tono) and its author, Kunio Yanagida. The museum has the "Folktales Storehouse" where visitors can learn about the world of folktales, the "Kunio Yanagida Exhibition Room" in the reconstructed Takazen Ryokan where Kunio Yanagida stayed, and the "Tono Theater" where visitors can enjoy folkt...»
Standing 48.5 meters high on a hill overlooking the coastline of Kamaishi City is the 48.5 meter tall statue of the Uoan Kannon. This standing concrete statue of the Kannon was erected in 1970 as a prayer for peace by Meibozan Seiozenji Temple, which was founded in 1665. The womb of the Great Buddha has a spiral staircase and is divided into 13 floors. Each floor, starting from the second floor,...»
The cave is a limestone cave made of marble that was formed over hundreds of millions of years, with a total length of over 3,635 meters. The vermilion drum bridge "Fu Koi Bridge" crosses the upper reaches of the Kesen River, which flows in front of the entrance of Taki Kankan-do, and visitors crossing the bridge will be overwhelmed by the mysterious natural formations that lie beneath the ground...»
The Hachimantai Aspite Line is a 27 km long driveway connecting Iwate and Akita. It is closed to traffic during the winter, and after it is lifted in mid-April, it becomes a "snow corridor" that opens up to the snow-covered mountains. The highest wall is 8 meters high and is overwhelmingly powerful. Visitors can also enjoy the spectacular view from the cherry blossoms and the rest house at the ...»
The Hachimantai Dragon Eye, which appears in Kagami-numa near the summit of Hachimantai Mountain from late May to early June, is a natural phenomenon created by melting snow. The surrounding snow melts and the center remains, creating a doughnut-like shape, and the various elements intertwine to create a fantastic sight reminiscent of the eye of the dragon. A work of art created by Mother Nature...»
In the zone where visitors can experience the impressions of Kunio Yanagida, the author of "Tales of Tono," when he traveled to Tono, a multi-screen theater shows Tono's scenery, folk tales, and an animation of Shigeru Mizuki's Tales of Tono that can only be seen here. In the zone introducing the life and culture of Tono's "mountains," "villages," and "towns," visitors can see Tono's unique cultu...»
The Miyamori River Bridge, affectionately known as the "Megane Bridge," is known as the motif of writer Kenji Miyazawa's masterpiece "Night on the Galactic Railroad," which creates a fantastic view of the world. There were two generations of the Miyamori River Bridge. The old bridge was completed in 1915, and was renovated in 1943 to become the present bridge. Before the renovation, it was used ...»
Kakko-ya's Kakko-Dango, a teahouse founded in 1907, is known as a specialty of Genbikei Gorge for its unique method of selling dango that crosses the Iwai River. Located in the beautiful valley of Genbikei, the store is on the opposite bank of the river across the stream. Visitors put money in a basket hanging from a rope at the pavilion, tap a piece of wood with a mallet, and the basket is smoo...»