Hanamaki is a city located in the central-western part of Iwate Prefecture in Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region. It is the hometown of the renowned Japanese poet, fairy tale writer, agricultural advisor, and educator Kenji Miyazawa (1896–1933). The Hanamaki Onsen area is a large-scale hot spring resort developed locally, featuring a variety of hot springs including Hanamaki Onsen, Dai Onsen, Kinya Onsen...
Ryusendo Cave is located at the foot of Mt. Ureira in Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, in Japan's northeastern region. It is one of Japan's largest and most spectacular limestone caves and has been designated as a Natural Monument of Japan. The cave is filled with various naturally formed stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations in diverse shapes. There are also four underground lakes formed by spring water emerging from deep within the cave...
Inheritance Park is an open-air museum located in Iwate Prefecture in the northeastern region of Japan, established to promote the folk tales of the Tono area. It is also one of the most famous tourist attractions in Tono City. Visitors to Inheritance Park can not only hear many folk stories from the Tono region but also explore traditionally important cultural properties...
Established in May 1955, Rikuchu Kaigan National Park is a national park spanning the cities of Kuji in Iwate Prefecture and Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture in Japan’s northeastern region. Stretching 180 kilometers along the Pacific coastline from north to south, it covers an area of over 121 square kilometers. The park boasts stunning scenery, filled with dramatic cliffs and…
Oyanai Farm is located at the southern foot of Mt. Iwate in Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. It is a private farm with a history of 100 years, and its name originates from the first letters of the names of Gishin Ono, Yanosuke Iwasaki, and...
Iwayama Park is located at the summit of Mt. Iwayama in Morioka, the capital city of Iwate Prefecture in Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region. With an elevation of 343 meters and just a few kilometers from the city center, it is one of the best spots to enjoy the night view of Morioka. The park features an observation deck where visitors can take in the city streets…
Iwate Park is located in the hilly area where the Kitakami River and Nakatsu River meet in Morioka, the capital city of Iwate Prefecture in Japan’s northeastern Tohoku region. It is an urban park built on the site of the former Morioka Castle ruins, which is why it is often referred to as the “Morioka Castle Ruins…”
Morioka City is a city located in the central inland area of Iwate Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital of Iwate. It is the largest city in the Northern Tohoku region. This is a city with a long history and beautiful nature, and as the central city of Northern Tohoku, it is now growing dynamically and rapidly. Morioka City developed as a "castle town" centered around Morioka Castle, which was built between the 16th…
Tsugario of Mizusawa is a park built in 1933, located in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, in the northeastern region of Japan. The park is themed around recreating the luxurious architectural complex where the four generations of the Oshu Fujiwara family resided during the Heian period, authentically reproducing the golden culture of Hiraizumi established by the Fujiwara family.
Nioh Bridge Gorge is a roughly two-kilometer-long valley formed by the Satetsu River, a tributary of the Kitakami River, as it flows through cliffs on both sides that rise up to 100 meters high. The limestone within the gorge has been continuously eroded by the Satetsu River, creating a variety of uniquely shaped rocks...
Dagu Cave Bishamondō is a cave temple established in the early Heian era, located within a rock cave in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It is said to be the largest temple of its kind in the country. In 801 AD, General Sakanoue…
The Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage refers to a collective term for a series of temples located in Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. These temples were built based on the cosmology of the Pure Land sect of Buddhism, which was introduced to Japan in the 8th century, and hold significant cultural value. In 2011, the Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List...
Motsu-ji is a Tendai sect Buddhist temple located in Hiraizumi, Nishinasuno District, Iwate Prefecture, in northeastern Japan. It was founded in 850 by the eminent monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin, and its principal object of worship is Yakushi Nyorai (the Buddha of Healing), flanked by the bodhisattvas Nikkō and Gakkō. The temple holds the prestigious dual status of both a National Special Historic Site and a National Special Place of Scenic Beauty in Japan…
Chūson-ji is a Tendai sect temple located in Hiraizumi, Nishiiwa District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Also known as Hiraizumi-dera, it has the mountain name "Sekizan" and has been designated as a Special Historic Site of Japan. The principal image enshrined at the temple is Amida Nyorai. Legend says that the monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin founded Chūson-ji, though some believe Fujiwara no Kiyohira was the actual founder...
Yahiro Onsen is located in Kitakami City, in the southwestern part of Iwate Prefecture in the northeastern region of Japan. Nestled within the rugged mountainside valley of Mount Yakeishi, it is known for being a secluded hot spring hidden deep in the mountains. However, due to its remote mountain location, it closes during winter when heavy snowfall blocks access, making it a seasonally limited hot spring. About Yahiro Onsen...
Saitama City is located in the southeastern part of Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and serves as the prefectural capital. In 2003, it became one of Japan’s designated ordinance cities and a core city in the Capital Region. It is the ninth most populous city in Japan, the prefectural capital closest to Tokyo, and an important transportation hub, with many Shinkansen, conventional rail lines, and highways passing through.
The Omiya Bonsai Art Museum is located in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Established in 2010 as the world's first public "bonsai museum," it showcases comprehensive bonsai culture. The museum's goal is to promote bonsai—along with related elements such as pots, viewing stones, painting materials, and historical documents—to audiences both in Japan and abroad, highlighting the cultural heritage designated as a traditional industry of Saitama…
Kita-in Temple is located in Koshiba, Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is one of the most iconic temples representing Kawagoe. It serves as the regional head temple of the Tendai sect of Buddhism. The origins of Kita-in date back to 830 when the eminent monk Jikaku Daishi Ennin founded Muryōju-ji Temple on Mount Hoshino. In 1599, under the profound trust of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the temple flourished further under the guidance of the monk Tenkai Daishi...
Tokorozawa is regarded as "the birthplace of Japanese aviation." Although the Tokorozawa Airport was occupied by the United States after World War II, it was eventually returned to Japan through the persistent efforts of local citizens. As the birthplace of Japanese aviation, the area has a long history in the field, making the establishment of the Tokorozawa Aviation Pioneers Memorial Hall a natural progression. The Tokorozawa Aviation...
Izumo Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Ōmiya Ward, Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture, in the Kantō region of Japan. It is the head shrine of all Izumo Shrines scattered across Musashi Province (present-day Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture), and to distinguish it from other Izumo Shrines, it is also called "Ōmiya Izumo Shrine." Established in 473 BC, it is one of the oldest...