Iwate Hidden Gems
La plus grande préfecture du Tohoku. Le Pavillon d'Or du Chusonji à Hiraizumi, Patrimoine mondial, est le joyau de l'ère Fujiwara. La plage de galets blancs de Jodogahama évoque un paradis bouddhique, les gorges de Geibikei se parcourent en barque au son des chants du batelier, et les nouilles froides de Morioka sont légendaires.
19 spots
Une préfecture montagneuse et paisible, riche d'un héritage bouddhiste et d'un littoral pacifique escarpé. La deuxième plus grande du Japon et l'une des moins fréquentées.
Climat et meilleure saison
Hivers froids à l'intérieur des terres, étés frais sur la côte ; le bassin de Kitakami reçoit d'abondantes chutes de neige. Idéal à la fin du printemps et en automne.
Spécialités culinaires
- Wanko soba
- Morioka reimen
- Jaja-men
- Bœuf de Maesawa
Lieux emblématiques
- Chuson-ji à Hiraizumi (UNESCO)
- Promenade en barque dans les gorges de Geibikei
- Falaises de la côte de Sanriku
- Plateau volcanique de Hachimantai
Sanriku Coast
The Sanriku Coast is a 250km stretch of dramatic Pacific coastline running through Iwate Prefecture, characterized by st…
Mt. Iwate
Mt. Iwate is a 2,038-meter stratovolcano dominating Morioka's skyline, nicknamed 'Nambu Fuji' for its symmetrical cone s…
Jodogahama Beach
Jodogahama (浄土ヶ浜, 'Pure Land Beach') is one of Tohoku's most scenic coastal landscapes — a protected cove with pure whit…
Genbikei Gorge
Genbikei Gorge is a 2km rocky gorge carved by the Iwai River, featuring dramatic boulder formations, rapids, and the fam…
Ichinoseki Mochi Culture
Ichinoseki has Japan's richest mochi (rice cake) culinary tradition, with over 300 documented mochi dishes developed ove…
Morioka Sansa Odori
Morioka Sansa Odori is one of Tohoku's greatest summer festivals, held August 1–4 annually. The festival features mass t…
Nambu Tekki
Nambu Tekki (南部鉄器) is traditional iron casting craft originating in Morioka during the 17th century, producing iron teap…
Chusonji Temple
Chusonji Temple is the crown jewel of Hiraizumi's UNESCO World Heritage sites, founded in 850 CE and expanded in the ear…
Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamon-do
Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamon-do is a Buddhist temple built into a cliff cave, dramatically perched on a rock face 15 meters…
Motsuji Temple Garden
Motsuji Temple was once larger than Chusonji, containing 40 temple buildings and 500 monks' quarters during the Northern…
Tono Folktales
Tono is Japan's folklore capital, a rural mountain city famous for preserving traditional tales of kappa (water imps), z…
Kamaishi Daikannon
Kamaishi Daikannon is a 48.5-meter tall statue of Kannon (Buddhist goddess of mercy) standing on a peninsula overlooking…
Koiwai Farm
Koiwai Farm is Japan's largest privately-owned pasture farm, covering 3,000 hectares of rolling hills used for dairy cat…
Hanamaki Onsen
Hanamaki Onsen is a collection of hot spring resort villages in the mountains west of Hanamaki City, including Hanamaki…
Wanko Soba
Wanko Soba is Morioka's most theatrical dining experience — an all-you-can-eat soba challenge where servers rapidly refi…
Geibikei Gorge
Geibikei Gorge is a narrow limestone gorge carved by the Satetsu River, famous for traditional flat-bottomed boat rides…
Morioka Reimen
Morioka Reimen is one of Morioka's 'Three Great Noodles' — cold buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth, topped with kimchi,…
Morioka Castle Ruins
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…
Ryusendo Cave
Ryusendo Cave is one of Japan's three largest limestone caves, famous for its underground lakes of exceptional clarity a…