What to do and see in Iwate Prefecture, Tohoku: The Best Things to do Good for Couples

February 22, 2022 Flossie Demartino

Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken) is a prefecture in the Tōhoku region of Japan. Located on the main island of Honshu, it contains the island's easternmost point. The capital is Morioka. Iwate has the lowest population density of any prefecture outside Hokkaido. Famous attractions include the Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi, including Chūson-ji and Mōtsū-ji with their treasures, Fujiwara no Sato, a movie lot and theme park in Esashi Ward, Oshu City, Tenshochi, a park in Kitakami City known for its big, old cherry trees and Morioka Castle in Morioka City.
Restaurants in Iwate Prefecture

1. Chuson-ji Temple

202 Koromonoseki, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun 029-4102 Iwate Prefecture +81 191-46-2211 http://www.chusonji.or.jp/index.html
Excellent
48%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 777 reviews

Chuson-ji Temple

Reviewed By W9171FFmichellec - San Diego, United States

It's good to get here early as walking around the temple buildings can be done anytime and its cool to see the small army of red smock wearing cleaning ladies do their thing. Lots of mature shade trees. Historical atmosphere. At 9am, the omikuji/temple offices/souvenir shops start opening. Multiple opportunities to get Goshuin (temple stamps) so bring your Goshuin-Cho (accordian style book) or buy one there. Museum and Golden Temple(its inside a building) combined ticket is 800 yen. Tourists start showing up in droves at 10am, on Saturday. Parking lots for this attraction start at 1000 yen, but can be found for 500yen. Not many obvious places to eat in this Hiraizumi area, (we missed our turn and drove and drove, looking for food, but settled for Expressway Rest Stop) but there is a cafe within the temple complex in the thatch roof building and near the museum.

2. Ryusendo Limestone Cave

1-1 Iwaizumi Kaminari, Iwaizumi-cho, Shimohei-gun 027-0501 Iwate Prefecture +81 194-22-2566 http://www.iwate-ryusendo.jp/
Excellent
48%
Good
41%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 224 reviews

Ryusendo Limestone Cave

3. Jodogahama Beach

Hitachihamacho, Miyako 027-0001 Iwate Prefecture +81 193-63-1327 http://www.j-marine.com
Excellent
48%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 250 reviews

Jodogahama  Beach

4. Tenshochi Park

10 Chiwari Tachibana, Kitakami 024-0043 Iwate Prefecture +81 197-72-8279 https://kitakami-kanko.jp/tourism/tensyochi/
Excellent
45%
Good
42%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 143 reviews

Tenshochi Park

5. Geibikei Gorge Sightseeing Boat

Excellent
62%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 156 reviews

Geibikei Gorge Sightseeing Boat

Geibikei gorge is in the south of Iwate Prefecture, which is in the northern Tohoku region of Japan. Our Boatmen use a simple wooden pole to both propel and steer the boats. This kind of boat ride in Japan is only found at Geibikei gorge. The gorge is special for its traditional Tohoku boats and beautiful, surrounding nature.It is great in all seasons. The"kotatsu"boats from December to February are especially good for enjoying Japanese culture along with the scenery. Throwing the "balls of luck"during the walk at the halfway point of the ride are another special feature of the experience.

6. Motsu-ji Temple

58 Hiraizumi Osawa, Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun 029-4102 Iwate Prefecture +81 191-46-2331 http://www.motsuji.or.jp
Excellent
27%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 430 reviews

Motsu-ji Temple

Special Historical Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty The garden represents the Pure Land Buddhist world and beauty of Japan. The temple garden of Motsu-ji has been doubly recognized as a Special Historic Site and Special Place of Scenic Beauty, a tribute to its extraordinary cultural value. The temple itself, like Chuson-ji, is said to have been established in 850 by Ennin (Jikaku Daishi, third head abbot of the Tendai sect.) Building began here in the twelfth century, during the time of Fujiwara no Motohira, and was completed by his son, Hidehira. At its peak, Motsu-ji was home to more than forty halls and pagodas, and more than five hundred monks' quarters. Its main hall, Enryu-ji, was considered "without peer in all the land" by medieval sources. The garden is centered on a pond known as Oizumigaike, an exemplar of the elegance of Heian era gardening technique.

7. Iwate Park (Koen)

1-37 Uchimaru, Morioka 020-0023 Iwate Prefecture http://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/shisei/midori/koen/1010491.html
Excellent
19%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
30%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 253 reviews

Iwate Park (Koen)

Reviewed By WarnerL_12 - Pasadena, United States

This park is medium in size but a very nice place for relaxation though not the standard Japanese Garden type park.

8. Gembi Valley

Iwai-gawa, Ichinoseki Iwate Prefecture
Excellent
27%
Good
51%
Satisfactory
21%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 236 reviews

Gembi Valley

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