Iwate

“Wanko” in Wanko Soba is a dialect of Iwate Prefecture that means a wooden bowl. It is said that wanko originated from the fact that it served in small bowls in small amounts each time to serve a large amount of boiled in Morioka and Hanamaki, where there are a tradition of hospitality with soba. Visitors compete for the number of bowls with a server’s chants "Jan Jan, Don Don," while serving.

A traditional mountain village with these thatched roof magariya houses built after the middle of the Edo period, have been relocated to and restored in this facility, this recreation of the unspoiled landscape of old Tono include a water wheel, rice patties and a charcoal burner’s hut. Amid the bucolic landscape, visitors can try their hand at "Mochitsuki" (pounding rice cakes), "Sobauchi" (making soba noodles), and other activities of a farming village (reservation required), to gain a...

Located in Ichinoseki City in Iwate Prefecture, Geibi Gorge (Geibikei) was formed by the erosion of limestone layers which created steep cliffs of more than 50 meters in height towering on either side of the river for about two kilometers. The beautiful gorge has been designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument and counted as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. Be sure to take a leisurely boat ride down the gorge pushed along with a pole by a boatman. The seasonal...

If you are going to see Hiraizumi in Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture, take a recommended UNESCO World Heritage Sites tour. A number of World Heritage sites and related facilities are scattered around the town in walking distance from each other, they include the Konjiki-do of Chuson-ji Temple, head temple of the Tendai sect in the Tohoku region, and Motsu-ji Temple, the special-status head temple of the Tendai sect, which has a famous stone slab with a poem by Matsuo Basho inscribed on it....

Miyazawa Kenji Dowa Mura (Village of Fairy Tales) is a facility that lets you fully enjoy the world of fairy tales written by Kenji Miyazawa, a poet known globally for "Ginga Tetsudo no Yoru (Night on the Galactic Railroad)." It is designated as one of the 88 anime pilgrimage sites selected by the Anime Tourism Association.

Jodogahama Beach in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, is a place of scenic beauty on the Sanriku Fukko National Park. Its stunning views can be enjoyed from sightseeing boats. Jodogahama Beach is a popular swimming spot in summer, but can be enjoyed throughout the year. There, you can enjoy and beautiful sunrise that change in every season.

On the Sanriku Coast in Iwate Prefecture lie the magnificent Kitayamazaki Cliffs soaring as high as 200 meters that were formed due to major volcanic activities dating back 130 million years. Stretching across 8 kilometers, the rugged cliffs feature sculpted rocks and mysterious caves. Stunning in every season, the Kitayamazaki Cliffs never fail to impress visitors.

Ryusendo Cave in Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture, is one of Japan's three greatest limestone caves and designated as a national natural monument. The underground lake created by pristine water welling out of the cave is one of the most transparent in the world, called "dragon blue." The spot has also been drawing attention in recent years as a "lover's sanctuary," a romantic setting often visited by couples.