Iwate Prefecture, Prefecture in northern Tohoku, Japan
Iwate Prefecture is an administrative division in northern Tohoku that extends along a long Pacific coastline and several mountain ranges inland. It borders Aomori to the north and Miyagi to the south, covering an area larger than any other prefecture except Hokkaido.
During the twelfth century, the Hiraizumi region formed an important power center, whose traces remain visible today in Buddhist temple complexes and garden remnants. After centuries as part of Japan's northern frontier, it became a distinct prefecture only in the late nineteenth century.
Each region within the prefecture maintains distinct craft traditions, including handmade iron kettles and lacquerware produced in small workshops using techniques passed down through generations. Local matsuri combine temple rituals with street processions, during which residents carry portable shrines through their neighborhoods on their shoulders.
A longer stay allows travelers to explore different coastal stretches and mountain valleys at their own pace, with several main rail lines connecting larger towns. Spring and autumn bring milder temperatures well suited to outdoor activities, while winter brings snow to higher elevations.
The Michinoku Coastal Trail runs for many kilometers along the entire coast, linking small fishing villages with cliffs and beaches that often remain empty outside summer months. Inland, the Ryusendo Cave holds underground lakes counted among the clearest in Japan and home to several bat species.
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Chūson-ji
78.3 km
Lake Towada
88.4 km
Miracle Pine Tree
87.9 km秋田八幡平クマ牧場
45.7 km
Mount Iwate
20.8 km
Oirase Steam
92.7 km
Ryusendo Cave
57.8 km
Mōtsū-ji
79.8 km
Morioka Castle
454 m
Hachimantai
38.1 km
Mount Kurikoma
88.4 km
Mount Hayachine
33.1 km
Isawa Castle
58.3 km
Kabushima
99.2 km
Ōyu Stone Circles
69.9 km
Geibikei
79.9 km
Akita-Komagatake
31.1 km
Ne Castle
93.1 km
Takadachi Gikeidō
78.7 km
Genbikei
85 km
Jōdogahama
71.3 km
Esashi-Fujiwara Heritage Park
56.8 km
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium
76 km
Kunohe Castle
64.1 km
Iwagin Stadium
6.3 km
Akkadō
58.8 km
Takkoku-no-Iwaya
82.3 kmRock-Breaking Cherry Tree
145 m
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