Explore Iwate with the JREAST PASS and Exchange for Special Gifts

Located in the central part of Japan’s Tohoku region, Iwate Prefecture boasts not only mountainous hills but also vast plains, with its magnificent scenery attracting visitors time and again. Iwate holds significant importance in Japanese history. Morioka, known as the castle town of the Nanbu Domain with a stipend of 200,000 koku, now stands as an important commercial and cultural hub in the Tohoku region. It is most famous for literary figures such as Kenji Miyazawa and Ishikawa Takuboku, who have deep ties to Morioka, adding a rich cultural and artistic atmosphere to the city.

When traveling to Iwate, besides exploring the vibrancy and historical sites of Morioka, the Hiraizumi area—aiming to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is also worth a visit. Hiraizumi was the capital established 900 years ago by the powerful Northern Fujiwara clan, who once ruled over northern Japan. Even back then, it was a thriving city rivaling Kyoto in splendor, leaving behind many temple ruins that invite deep reflection. A must-visit in Hiraizumi is Chuson-ji Temple, one of the Three Great Sights of Tohoku, where you can experience the thousand-year-old charm of this ancient temple that preserves numerous treasures from the Heian period.

Chuson-ji is the oldest temple in the Tohoku region

The JR EAST PASS is a special discount pass designed for foreign tourists visiting Japan, allowing unlimited access to all stations on JR East Japan lines—it’s a great way to save money on long-distance travel. Now, when you use the JR EAST PASS to explore Iwate, you can exchange your pass for a Nanbu ancient-style dyed Japanese towel at three tourist information centers: Hiraizumi Station Front, inside Morioka Station, and Plaza Odette. The Nanbu ancient-style dyeing is called “ancient” to distinguish it from modern dyeing techniques—it refers to towels made entirely by hand using traditional dyeing methods passed down through the ages. You can admire the craftsmanship of skilled artisans and take home a piece of Tohoku’s traditional craft.


JR Shinkansen


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