IWATE

Iwate

Located in the north of Japan's main island, Iwate prefecture is home to a number of ski resorts that are perfect for the winter and some golf clubs to occupy you during the summer months. With a rich culture and history, the Iwate snow festival comes especially recommended to those looking to learn about the local culture or just to have fun. If that starts getting too chilly for your tastes, a trip some of Iwate's onsen hot springs is sure to warm you up. For those travelers looking to go to the out-of-the-way locations, Iwate has a number of rare and interesting temples and shrines. In Hirazumi village, a set of five of them has even been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spots in this area(16)

View all
Beautiful SceneryHistoryCulture ExperienceOutdoor ActivitiesTrendy PlacesEntertainmentArt & ArchitectureOnsen(Hot Springs)Food & Drink
Takamuro Suikoen Park

Iwate

Takamuro Suikoen Park

Lamb BBQ, sake soft-serve, and a hot bath in farm country.

Beautiful SceneryFood & DrinkOnsen(Hot Springs)
Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Koen Park)

Iwate

Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Koen Park)

Granite walls from 1663, etched in verse by two hometown poets.

Beautiful SceneryHistory
Jodogahama Beach

Iwate

Jodogahama Beach

White volcanic spires, pine-crowned, framing an emerald cove in Sanriku.

Beautiful Scenery
Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass

Iwate

Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass

Snow walls nine meters tall flank the road each spring at 1,541 m.

Beautiful Scenery
Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium

Iwate

Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium

Where tsunami rubble became a Rugby World Cup pitch in 2019.

Entertainment
Tsuzuki Ishi Stone

Iwate

Tsuzuki Ishi Stone

A warrior monk may have stacked this stone—no one really knows.

Beautiful SceneryHistoryTrendy Places
Kappabuchi Pool

Iwate

Kappabuchi Pool

Fish for river goblins here — cucumber bait sold at the desk.

Outdoor ActivitiesTrendy Places
Kamaishi Daikannon

Iwate

Kamaishi Daikannon

A 48-m white goddess gazes over the bay from 120 m up.

Beautiful SceneryArt & Architecture
Takkoku no Iwaya Temple

Iwate

Takkoku no Iwaya Temple

A warrior god's shrine, chiseled into a cliff face 1,200 years ago.

Art & ArchitectureCulture ExperienceHistory
Koiwai Farm

Iwate

Koiwai Farm

A poet's muse since 1891, where you make cheese under Iwate skies.

EntertainmentOutdoor ActivitiesBeautiful Scenery
Motsuji Temple

Iwate

Motsuji Temple

A Heian paradise in moss and still water, 900 years intact.

Beautiful SceneryCulture ExperienceHistory
Geibikei Gorge

Iwate

Geibikei Gorge

Drift beneath 100m cliffs in a heated boat, hot-pot in hand.

Beautiful SceneryOutdoor Activities
Genbikei Gorge

Iwate

Genbikei Gorge

Ring a gong, and dango glides across the gorge on a rope.

Beautiful Scenery
Ryusendo Cave

Iwate

Ryusendo Cave

An underground lake so clear, you can see 40 meters straight down.

Beautiful Scenery
Tono Furusato Village

Iwate

Tono Furusato Village

Thatched roofs and bent farmhouses frozen in Edo-era mountain life.

Culture ExperienceHistory
Chusonji Temple

Iwate

Chusonji Temple

A gilded hall built to mourn war dead, deep in Tohoku's hills.

Culture ExperienceHistory

Frequently asked questions

What is Iwate known for?
Located in the north of Japan's main island, Iwate prefecture is home to a number of ski resorts that are perfect for the winter and some golf clubs to occupy you during the summer months. With a rich culture and history, the Iwate snow festival comes especially recommended to those looking to learn about the local culture or just to have fun. If that starts getting too chilly for your tastes, a trip some of Iwate's onsen hot springs is sure to warm you up. For those travelers looking to go to t…
Where is Iwate?
Iwate is an area in IWATE, Japan.
What are the best places to visit in Iwate?
WOW U lists 16 spots in Iwate. Popular spots include Takamuro Suikoen Park, Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Koen Park), Jodogahama Beach, Hachimantai Mikaeri Pass, Kamaishi Unosumai Memorial Stadium.
What is WOW U?
WOW U is a booking platform that connects travellers directly with local guides in Japan, called Locals. You book, message your Locals host and pay on WOW U, and every experience can be reviewed afterwards. More than 6,100 Locals are registered on WOW U. Reviews left by travellers average 4.7 out of 5.