Southern Iwate

Chusonji Temple [World Heritage Site]

Tendai sect, Tohoku Daihonzan. The name of the mountain is Kanzan, and Jikaku Daishi is the founder of the mountain. At the beginning of the 12th century, the first Lord Kiyohira of the Oshu Fujiwara clan built many temples and pagodas, including the Tahoto and Nikai Daido. Its purpose was to comfort the spirits of those who died in the long wars of the First Nine Years War and the Second Third Year War, and to build a Buddhist nation. Unfortunately, the hall and pagoda were destroyed by fire in the 14th century, but it is still a treasure trove of Heian art, containing over 3,000 national treasures and important cultural properties, including the Kaneiroki Hall.

Ennen dance

It is dedicated to the gods and Buddha during the festival of Matara God on the 20th day of the new year (20th night festival) following the regular ritual of the Sanmiku. It is also intended to praise the guardian deity of the world. Ennen means to extend one's age, or live a long life, and it came to be used as a general term for the songs and dances performed by monks after Buddhist services at major temples, and became popular from the Heian period to the Muromachi period. It was held on. The Ennen dance at Motsuji Temple has been designated as a national important cultural property because it conveys the elegant atmosphere and old style of the Heian period. In addition to the 20th Night Festival, parts of it are also open to the public during the spring and autumn Fujiwara Festival, Ayame Festival, and Hagi Festival. Dates: January 20th, May 5th, November 3rd

Komagata Shrine

In 1903, the shrine that was located at the top of Mt. Komagatake was moved to its current location. It is a quiet shrine surrounded by cherry blossoms and old cedar trees. Along with the cherry blossoms in Mizusawa Park, it has been designated as a natural monument by the prefecture as a group of Higan cherry blossoms. A children's cavalry parade is held as an annual spring festival.

Hayachine Dam

It is a prefectural multipurpose dam completed in 2000. The dam, which was named "Hayachine Lake" after many public applications, has a roadside station "Hayachine" attached to it, as well as a water and green contact park and the Yamamura Cultural Exchange Center nearby. There is a ``Friendship Bell'' donated by the Friendship City of Austria, and it is crowded with families, young people, and groups returning from mountain climbing.

Taroshi Falls

Large icicles are formed when the river water that flows into the Kuzumaru River freezes on the mountainside. It is said that local people have used the thickness of these icicles to predict the year's harvest, and measurements are taken every February 11th. [Measurement date] February 11th

Genbikei

A place of scenic beauty and a natural monument. The Iwai River, which flows from Mt. Kurikoma, erodes the huge rocks, creating a 2km-long beautiful valley that changes its appearance from a hole to a waterfall to an abyss. As you stroll along the promenade, you can see the contrasting views of the turbulent flow upstream from the suspension bridge and the calming depths downstream. In the spring, you can see cherry blossoms in full bloom and the beauty of the valley flowing with melting snow, in the summer you can hear the cool sound of a mountain stream, in the fall you can see the changing colors of the mountains, and in the winter you can see a landscape reminiscent of an ink painting. You can enjoy the atmosphere of each. There is a shop on the other side of the mountain stream that sells Kakko Dango, a specialty of Genbikei.When you place your order and payment into a basket hanging from a rope stretched over the river and hit a mallet, the basket is pulled up and replaced. It comes with the dumplings and tea I ordered. [Best time to see cherry blossoms] Late April to early May [Best time to see autumn leaves] Mid-October to early November

Moritaka Naganuma

A sculptor from Ichinoseki City. He studied orthodox Western-style sculpture techniques at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Venice, Italy, and returned to Japan in 1889 to work at the founding office of Tokyo Fine Arts School (currently Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Fine Arts). In 1891, he established the Department of Sculpture at the same school and became its first professor. Kotaro Takamura is one of his students. His masterpiece, ``The Old Man,'' won the gold medal at the 1900 Paris Universal Exposition.

Tono City Museum

This museum is divided into three exhibition rooms: ``The World of Tono Tales,'' ``Tono People, Landscape, and Culture,'' and ``Special Exhibition Room,'' where you can learn about Tono's history and folklore in an easy-to-understand manner. It features a variety of elaborate exhibits, including video theaters and dioramas.

Kinshuko Kawajiri General Park Iris Garden

Every year from early to mid-July, approximately 120,000 colorful iris of 120 types bloom in the iris garden of Kinshuko Kawajiri General Park.

[Rental bicycle Rinrin] Hiraizumi town course

[Model course] Why not explore Hiraizumi town freely by renting a bicycle? [Contact information] ・Hiraizumi Rental Cycle TEL0191-46-5086 ・Gold Renta Hiraizumi TEL0191-46-4031

[Oshu Pretaku] Aterui no Sato history tour

[Tourist taxi] A 3-hour course where our sightseeing crew will show you the charms of the Oshu City and Kanegasaki Town areas with love for their hometown and hospitality. 【Fee】 Regular car 15,000 yen [Contact information] Iwate Prefecture Taxi Association Ile Branch TEL0197-23-3714 ◆Oshu Premium Taxi◆ *Other 1-4 hour courses are also available. Please see the homepage for details.

[Oshu Pretaku] Esashi Historical Park Tour

[Tourist taxi] A 2-hour course where our sightseeing crew will show you the charms of the Oshu City and Kanegasaki Town areas with love for their hometown and hospitality. 【Fee】 Regular car 10,000 yen [Contact information] Iwate Prefecture Taxi Association Ile Branch TEL0197-23-3714 ◆Oshu Premium Taxi◆ *Other 1-4 hour courses are also available. Please see the homepage for details.

[Oshu Pretaku] Tour of popular spots in Kanegasaki-cho Denkengun

[Tourist taxi] A 3-hour course where our sightseeing crew will show you the charms of the Oshu City and Kanegasaki Town areas with love for their hometown and hospitality. 【Fee】 Regular car 15,000 yen [Contact information] Iwate Prefecture Taxi Association Ile Branch TEL0197-23-3714 ◆Oshu Premium Taxi◆ *Other 1-4 hour courses are also available. Please see the homepage for details.

[Sightseeing taxi] Acorn-go (morning course)

[Tourist taxi] Let's take a jumbo taxi and explore the sights of Hanamaki! [Operation period] April 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025 Courses change from April to June, July to September, October to December, and January to March. 【Fee】 3,000 yen per person over 3 years old [Application/Inquiry] (One company) Hanamaki Tourism Association TEL 0198-29-4522 ◆Click here for details◆ There is also a one-day course called ``Donguri and Yamaneko,'' which combines the Donguri (morning) and the Yamaneko (afternoon).

[Oshu Pretaku] Visiting the scenic spots of Lake Oshu

[Tourist taxi] A 3-hour course where our sightseeing crew will show you the charms of the Oshu City and Kanegasaki Town areas with love for their hometown and hospitality. 【Fee】 Regular car 15,000 yen [Contact information] Iwate Prefecture Taxi Association Ile Branch TEL0197-23-3714 ◆Oshu Premium Taxi◆ *Other 1-4 hour courses are also available. Please see the homepage for details.

[Hiraizumi Loop Bus] ～Runrun～

[Circuit bus] Starting from Hiraizumi Station, we will tour tourist spots in Hiraizumi Town. No matter where you get on or where you get off, it's 200 yen per ride. A great value one-day free ticket costs only 550 yen no matter how many times you ride in a day. [Operation period] Operates only on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from April 15, 2023 (Saturday) to November 26, 2023 (Sunday) [Single ride fee] Adults 200 yen, children 100 yen [1 day free ticket] 550 yen (same amount for adults and children) 【inquiry】 Iwate Prefectural Transportation Co., Ltd. Ichinoseki Office TEL 0191-23-4250 ●Click here for the Iwate Prefectural Transportation Co., Ltd. homepage

[Iwate Fully Enjoyable Model Course] World Heritage Site Hiraizumi and History and Culture Trip

[Model course] A course around the World Heritage Site Hiraizumi and the southern coast [Iwate Travel Map] Iwate Prefecture Tourism Association TEL 019-651-0626

[Tono sightseeing model course] ~Tono story course~

[Tono Sightseeing Model Course] ~Tono Story Course~ (Tono Guide Map) (One company) Tono City Tourism Association TEL0198-62-1333 FAX0198-62-4244 Tono City Industrial Promotion Department Hometown Exchange Division TEL0198-62-2111 FAX0198-63-1124

Iwate’s autumn leaves & day trip hot spring special feature

Exquisite! Iwate’s liquor special – beer

Cherry blossom information 2023 – Southern area of ​​the prefecture

Famous place for flowers “Summer”

Winter events & gourmet 2022-2023 special feature

Exquisite! Iwate’s alcohol special feature – Doburoku

“Hiraizumi” 10th anniversary of registration as a world cultural heritage site – Part 1

Famous flower spot “Autumn”

Famous cherry blossom viewing spots in the southern area of ​​the prefecture