An Introduction to Iwate prefecture : between History and Nature

2019年 10月18日


Iwate prefecture is located in the region of Tohoku, Northern Japan. Surrounded by sea and mountains, its landscapes are breath-taking, its folkloric villages will take you to a legendary world and its temples will lead to you to the Buddhist's heaven on Earth. Let's discover what the North of Japan has to offer! 

 

Essential places to see

 

- Hiraizumi : Designated as UNESCO World Heritage, Hiraizumi is one of Japan's hidden gem when it comes to History. Hiraizumi was once the headquarter of the Fujiwara clan (Heian era), one of the most important family in Japan's history as well as the main architects of the place. Do not forget to visit by gorgeous temples such as Chuson-ji (850), Motsu-ji and its huge garden representing the pure buddhist Earth, or the Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondō Pavillon dug into a cliff's rock. 


- Ryusendo cave: Designated as a national treasure, this lime creek is breathtaking. With more than 3600 meters of underground tunnels, emerald and see-through lakes, sometimes deeper than 100 meters, this cave offers dazzling perspectives. You never get bored to go to this amazing place that is still widely unexplored.


- Jodogahama beach: Like Hiraizumi garden, it is described as the pure Earth by buddhists monks. Jodogahama is one of Japan's most beautiful beach with contrasted landscapes of steep rocks, pine trees and blue turquoise water. You can venture in boat into hidden caves of the surrounding cliffs, such as the hachinohe-ana cave, on the border with the northern prefecture of Aomori. In winter, the beach and its rocks covered in snow offer a picturesque scenery.

Outdoor activities

 

- Hiking into Hachimantai national park :  This huge national park offers countless hiking trails like Mount Iwate's climbing, summit of the prefecture with a 2038 meters altitude, and nicknamed Fuji-Iwate for its ressemblance with the symbolic Mount Fuiji. We recommend other trails too, such as the path leading to "Yakehashiri's lava field" or the dragon eye of Kagami pond: after a few minutes of walking on Hachimantai mountain, a bright blue colored pond, lodged within a 6000 years old crater which strangely looks like a gigantic eye; gave it its name.
 

- Winter sports : At the South of Mount Iwate, Shizukuishi skii resort offers many tracks that can can be as long as 4500 meters, a giant slalom, and some other tracks are accessible to any levels of downhill skii or snowboard skiiers. Up North, you will also find the station Appi Kogen designated as one of Japan's biggest skiing area. 

  
- River cruise into Geibikei gorges : Its name comes from one of its rock that has the shape of a lion's face. This cruise on a traditional boat on Satetsu river, surrounded by cliffs higher than 50 meters, is spectacular. 
 

- Take a break into an onsen (hotsprings) : There are many ryokan (traditional japanese inn) equiped with thermal hotsprings in which you will be able to relax while enjoying the natural environment, on the shore of a river or in the mountains.

Cultural and historical activities

 

- The legendary Tono town : Deep inside japanese countryside, this gorgeous traditional village is the cradle of japanese folklorics tales. Many Yokai (japanese surnatural monsters), and other strange creatures await such as the Kappa living into the river, a turtle like creature that eats cucumber. 

 

- Jomon period site of Goshono : Learn about the secrets of the very first populations in Japan ( 14 500 BC - 1000 BC). Surrounded by nature, this site was discovered in 1989 where an industrial zone were supposed to be build. It spreads across 75 000 meters and is amazingly rich in archeologic discovery. 

 

- Temple Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo : One of Japan's most impressive shrine, built in the stone of a big cliff 1200 years ago. We discovered very rare marks of Japan's northern old indigenous people, called Emishi.

Local food 

- Iwate beef : on the top of the list of Japan's best Wagyu beefs. You can eat it as a steak, yakiniku (japanese barbecue) and even as sashimi. 

- Seafoods : the Pacifique coast offers high quality seafoods, and Iwate is the perfect place for savouring delicious sashimi, sushi or fish soup; with many varieties available. 

- Reimen from Morioka : cold noddles cooked with hard-boiled eggs, watermelon, tomatoes, kimchi (korean sour cabbage with pepper), and cucumber. 

- Wanko soba : Wanko soba is some kind of culinary challenge consisting on eating little bowls of soba noddles, served repeatedly. 

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