Iwate Hidden Gems
A quiet, mountainous prefecture of Buddhist heritage and a rugged Pacific coastline — the second-largest prefecture, and one of the least crowded.
4 spots
Climate & Best Season
Cold winters inland, cool summers on the coast; the Kitakami basin sees heavy snow. Best in late spring and autumn.
Famous For (Food)
- Wanko soba
- Morioka reimen
- Jaja-men
- Maesawa beef
Signature Sights
- Hiraizumi's Chuson-ji (UNESCO)
- Geibikei Gorge boat ride
- Sanriku coast cliffs
- Hachimantai volcanic plateau
Goishi Coast
The Goishi coast runs about six kilometres around the end of the Massaki peninsula and is named for the beach of flat bl…
Kitayamazaki
Kitayamazaki is eight kilometres of cliff on the Sanriku coast, two hundred metres straight down to the water, and it is…
Hiraniwa Highland
Hiraniwa sits at eight hundred metres on the shoulder of Mt. Hiraniwa, on the boundary between Kuji and Kuzumaki, and it…
Hachimantai Aspite Line
The Aspite Line runs twenty-seven kilometres across the Hachimantai massif from Gozaisho in Iwate to Toroko Onsen in Aki…