Iwate Hidden Gems
A quiet, mountainous prefecture of Buddhist heritage and a rugged Pacific coastline — the second-largest prefecture, and one of the least crowded.
5 spots
Climate & Best Season
Cold winters inland, cool summers on the coast; the Kitakami basin sees heavy snow. Best in late spring and autumn.
Famous For (Food)
- Wanko soba
- Morioka reimen
- Jaja-men
- Maesawa beef
Signature Sights
- Hiraizumi's Chuson-ji (UNESCO)
- Geibikei Gorge boat ride
- Sanriku coast cliffs
- Hachimantai volcanic plateau
Morioka Reimen — Pyonpyansa's Cold Buckwheat Noodles
Morioka Reimen is one of Morioka's 'Three Great Noodles' — cold buckwheat noodles in icy beef broth, topped with kimchi,…
Morioka Castle Ruins — Stone Walls & Cherry Blossoms
Morioka Castle (盛岡城跡公園, now Iwate Park) was built in the early 17th century by the Nanbu clan, who ruled the Morioka Dom…
Wanko Soba — All-You-Can-Eat Rapid-Fire Noodle Challenge
Wanko Soba is Morioka's most theatrical dining experience — an all-you-can-eat soba challenge where servers rapidly refi…
Morioka Sansa Odori — World Record Drum Festival
Morioka Sansa Odori is one of Tohoku's greatest summer festivals, held August 1–4 annually. The festival features mass t…
Nambu Tekki — Traditional Iron Teapot Craft
Nambu Tekki (南部鉄器) is traditional iron casting craft originating in Morioka during the 17th century, producing iron teap…