Wanko sobaわんこそば
A Morioka tradition where servers keep flicking bite-sized portions of soba into your bowl until you cover it with the lid.
Tohoku
Iwate Travel Guide
Local tips, regional food and places off the tourist trail
Honshu’s largest prefecture, with the castle town of Morioka, the UNESCO temples of Hiraizumi, the Geibikei Gorge and the rugged Sanriku coast.
Open Iwate on the map46 places on the map · 12 local favourites
Local tips
- TipIwate is very large: the coast is a long drive or train ride from inland Morioka, so don’t plan both in one day.
- DoReach Hiraizumi by a short local train from Ichinoseki shinkansen station, then cycle between Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji.
- TipGeibikei’s gorge boats run in winter too, with kotatsu heated tables on board.
- TipThe Sanriku Railway runs along much of the rebuilt coast, and memorial museums tell the story of the 2011 tsunami.
- TipHidden gem: Tono, the countryside setting of the Tono Monogatari folk tales, with old farmhouses and kappa legends.
What to eat
Morioka reimen盛岡冷麺
Chewy, translucent cold noodles in a beef broth, often served with kimchi and seasonal fruit.
Jajamenじゃじゃ麺
Flat udon-style noodles mixed with meat miso; finish by cracking an egg into the bowl for a soup called chii-tan-tan.
Local favourites
Places mostly visited by people who live here — quieter, and often the highlight of a trip.
Hayachine Shrine
早池峰神社 Temples & GoshuinchoMountain shrine in rural Tono among giant cedars, home of the ancient Hayachine kagura dance.
● Mostly localsAnbe (Tono Jingisukan)
遠野 じんぎすかん あんべ Local FoodTono butcher-restaurant serving jingisukan grilled lamb, the town's favourite meal, on a domed iron grill.
● Mostly localsKamasada
釜定 ShoppingFamily ironware maker in Morioka's Konyacho selling elegant Nanbu tekki kettles and small cast-iron pieces.
● Mostly localsKamaishi Daikannon
釜石大観音 Sights & HistoryGiant white statue of Kannon on a headland overlooking Kamaishi Bay; you can climb inside to a viewing deck in her hands.
● Mostly localsHoon-ji (500 Rakan)
報恩寺 Temples & GoshuinchoMorioka Zen temple whose hall holds 499 lacquered wooden rakan statues with individual faces; locals say you'll find one that looks like you.
● Mostly localsMiyako City Fish and Vegetable Market
宮古市魚菜市場 ShoppingLocal FoodLocals' market in Miyako with Sanriku seafood, sea urchin and seaweed; some stalls will make you a fresh seafood bowl.
● Mostly localsSekinoichi Brewery
世嬉の一酒造 Local FoodOld sake brewery in Ichinoseki whose storehouses hold a restaurant serving the local mochi cuisine and its own Iwate Kura craft beer.
● Mostly localsDenshoen
伝承園 Sights & HistoryTono folk museum with a magariya farmhouse and a room hung with over a thousand Oshira-sama deity dolls from local folklore.
● Mostly localsToshichi Onsen Saiunso
藤七温泉 彩雲荘 Hot SpringsHigh-altitude hot spring near the Hachimantai plateau with open-air pools of milky water under big skies.
● Mostly localsBaeren Brewery
ベアレン醸造所 Local FoodMorioka craft brewery making German-style beer with antique brewing kit; there's a taproom next to the brewery.
● Mostly localsMorioka Hachimangu
盛岡八幡宮 Temples & GoshuinchoMorioka's main shrine, with colourful carved halls and many seasonal goshuin designs.
● Mostly localsOdori, Morioka
盛岡 大通商店街 NightlifeMorioka's main downtown street, lined with izakaya, bars and late-night noodle shops.
● Mostly localsThe famous sights
The places most visitors come for. Worth it — just go early.
Chuson-ji
中尊寺 Temples & GoshuinchoSights & HistoryWorld Heritage temple complex in Hiraizumi, home to the Konjikido, a hall entirely covered in gold leaf.
Chūson-ji Temple
Temples & GoshuinchoSights & HistoryA UNESCO World Heritage Site in Hiraizumi, Chūson-ji is a historic Buddhist temple complex famous for the dazzling gold Konjikidō (Golden Hall), a masterpiece of…
Miyako Station
Stamp RalliesSights & HistoryMiyako Station is a railway station in Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture, serving as a key transit hub on the Sanriku Railway Rias Line. It's a popular stop for travelers…
Azumaya Honten (Wanko Soba)
東家 本店 Local FoodExperiencesMorioka's historic wanko-soba house, where a server keeps flicking tiny bowls of soba into yours until you cover it with the lid.
Souvenirs to bring home
Nanbu tekki cast-iron kettles, Kamome no Tamago sweets and Morioka’s noodles to cook at home are popular choices.
When to go
Autumn is lovely for Hiraizumi and Geibikei, and early August brings Morioka’s Sansa Odori; inland winters are cold and snowy.