L'Aureole Tanohata
Northeastern Iwate
Wanko Soba Restaurant Kajiya
Southwestern Iwate
Daido-en
Northwestern Iwate
Kamariba restaurant and bar hub
Southeastern Iwate
Plunging 200m-high, 8km-long cliffs along the coast, a mysterious cavern boasting an iridescent blue underground lake, and 2000m-high mountain ranges. Iwate is blessed at every turn by beautiful natural gems that take the breath away.
Iwate Prefecture, ruled as separate northern and southern domains by samurai families until the 1870s, has distinct historic and cultural heritage in each region. Beginning with the shrines, temples and gardens of the 9th to the 12th century that are now world heritage sites, there is a world to discover of traditional entertainment and crafts in each district.
The rich produce of Iwate is made possible by nature, its mountains and seas. It is also the result of the care taken by farmers in nurturing organic soils and ensuring that livestock receive the best feed and purest water. Be sure to taste Iwate’s finest products, including some of its many luxury rice, wagyu beef, apples and oyster brands.
Outdoor sports like skiing and mountaineering, and hot springs where you can truly relax while gazing out over a bank of clouds, valleys or the sea? Or will you take part in the world’s record-breaking no. 1 taiko drums parade, an unforgettable experience of mingling with locals?
Breathtaking natural sights to fill you with wonder, World Heritage shrines and temples that pull you into the spiritual world of the Japanese, and cultural events deeply rooted in local communities. Look, touch, feel and taste Iwate Prefecture for yourself.
The east of Iwate Prefecture overlooks the Pacific, while the west is overlooked by the Ou Mountains. Iwate is the place to feast on seafood including sushi as well as products of the land such as wagyu beef and sake made from rice.
Food products from the fertile lands and seas of Iwate, and historic or traditional crafts. Take home Made-in-Iwate souvenirs for you to remember your trip or for your friends and family to enjoy.
Full-service resort, a traditional Japanese-style inn where you can sleep in a tatami mat room, or a pension that welcomes you with open arms? Let’s find the lodgings that suit you.
Iwate has a great diversity of sights and experiences depending on the season and region. Let’s have a look at what to do and where to go to find those that will pique your interest.
Presented here are some variety-filled model tour routes to discover the diverse attractions of Iwate: mountain and sea, city and wilderness, novelty and history.
Find the sights, restaurants and bars, shop and lodgings you need in Iwate here. Try exploring appealing destinations by activity or area.
Check the latest information when planning your Iwate trip for special events such as festivals and activities.
Where is Iwate? How do I get there? Find out how to get to Iwate in just over 2 hours by Shinkansen from Tokyo here.
The four major means of transport around Iwate are train, bus, rental car and taxi. Check details for each mode before you arrive for your peace of mind.
Click here to find vital information for foreign travelers such as the location of tourist information desks, how to connect to Wi-Fi during your trip and Iwate weather.
The rich produce of Iwate is made possible by nature, its mountains and seas. It is also the result of the care taken by farmers in nurturing organic soils and ensuring that livestock receive the best feed and purest water. Be sure to taste Iwate’s finest products, including some of its many luxury rice, wagyu beef, apples and oyster brands.
Even in Japan, the home of wagyu, the quality and production of beef in Iwate is top class. Cattle are raised with painstaking care from calves, enjoying clear air and beautiful water. The “Iwate-gyu” beef brand is the leader in quality, safety and confidence, characterized by the umami and sweetness of the marbling in Japanese Black beef. This is Japan’s top brand, clinching the title for No. 1 meat quality in the national contest no less than 11 times, the most of any wagyu brand.
Three major ocean currents meet in the Pacific waters off Iwate, making it one of the world’s three greatest fishing zones, with a diverse array of species available. The little coves and bays along the coastline are also home to an abundance of seaweed, oysters, scallops and other seafood that promote health and beauty. Seaweed and seafood are rich in nutrition and flavor as a result of nutrients from mountain forests and soils, dissolved by rain, washing down the rivers and streams and into the sea. Taste our fresh sashimi and sushi.
Wanko soba is eaten in a unique way in Iwate: each bowl contains a mouthful of noodles, and is quickly replaced by the next. Diners compete to see who can demolish the most bowls. The roots of this custom are said to lie in the tradition that good hospitality means ensuring guests eat a lot. The waitress stands beside the challenger, adding a bowl of soba just as soon as the last one is finished and not stopping until the challenger places a lid on the last bowl. The waitress urges the challenger on with unique phrases like “dondon!” and “janjan!”, producing an exciting atmosphere that leads to more and more noodles being consumed. Some restaurants offer a memento to customers achieving 100 bowls, so why not take up a memorable challenge during your stay?
There are more than 20 sake rice wine brewers in Iwate, applying traditional skills passed down the generations that make Iwate one of the top three sake regions in Japan. Sake is made from rice and water, both of which carry unique local flavor characteristics, and the brewer also brings a subtle influence to bear on the taste of the final product. While sake brewers along the coast tend to create flavors that complement seafood, inland brewers supply a wide variety of brews to match any cuisine. Enjoy the marriage with food from the same region.
Iwate is home to six local beer breweries, including some that have taken out top prizes in beer contests in Japan and overseas. There are highly distinctive offerings in Iwate, from beer brewed using techniques from the sake brewery, beer that uses locally-produced hops, and flavored beers that use local food ingredients like yuzu, wild grapes, strawberries and oysters. Try a few different drops and find one you love.
Northeastern Iwate
Southwestern Iwate
Northwestern Iwate
Southeastern Iwate
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