Hiraizumi
Discover Hiraizumi
Hiraizumi (平泉) is a small town of 7,400 people (2020) in Iwate, in the northeastern Tohoku region of Japan. During the reign of the Fujiwaras (866-1184), Hiraizumi was said to rival Kyoto in grandeur and sophistication, but now all that remains are the temples of Chusonji and Motsuji, both of which are mostly in ruins at that. Famed haiku poet Matsuo Basho penned the famous haiku quoted above, with the end result that now Basho is quite possibly more idolized in Hiraizumi than anywhere else, and you can't throw a rock in Hiraizumi without hitting a Basho statue, a Basho monument, an inscribed copy of a Basho haiku or at the very least a coffee shop waving its "As mentioned in Narrow Road to the Deep North!" banners.
What to Experience in Hiraizumi
Taste of Hiraizumi...
There are a number of small teahouses and souvenir stands in the grounds of Chūsonji.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsHiraizumi is on the JR Tohoku Main Line, connecting to Morioka in the north and Sendai to the south. The nearest Shinkansen stop, Ichinoseki, is 10 minutes away (¥200). Trains from Tokyo reach Ichinoseki in about 2½ hours (¥12,820 for the one-way trip to Hiraizumi; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). Hiraizumi Navi is a multilingual guide site by the local tourist association. Local buses connect JR Hiraizumi station to points of interest, although you can also reach them on foot. Bicycle hire is available just to the right of the station, it is ¥1,000 for the whole day (lesser periods are available) it allows you to get around quickly and enjoyably. In 2011, six of the city's attractions were made World Heritage Sites under the name "Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens, and Archaeological Sites Representing Pure Land Buddhism". Those sites are: Chuson-ji, Motsu-ji, Kanjizaio-in Ato, Muryoko-in Ato, Yanaginogosho Iseki, and Mount Kinkeisan....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Local buses connect JR Hiraizumi station to points of interest, although you can also reach them on foot. Bicycle hire is available just to the right of the station, it is ¥1,000 for the whole day (lesser periods are available) it allows you to get around quickly and enjoyably. In 2011, six of the city's attractions were made World Heritage Sites under the name "Hiraizumi - Temples, Gardens, and Archaeological Sites Representing Pure Land Buddhism". Those sites are: Chuson-ji, Motsu-ji, Kanjizaio-in Ato, Muryoko-in Ato, Yanaginogosho Iseki, and Mount Kinkeisan. There are a number of small teahouses and souvenir stands in the grounds of Chūsonji.
Money & Budget
There are a number of small teahouses and souvenir stands in the grounds of Chūsonji.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Hiraizumi
A body of water surrounded by lots of trees
The roof of a building with a blue sky in the background
pink and white flower in tilt shift lens
brown wooden house surrounded by trees during daytime
Exterior of old buildings with balconies and washing.
gray and white concrete building
A tree with red leaves and a blue sky in the background
A stone birdhouse in front of a red tree
A tree with red leaves in the fall
A group of trees that are next to each other
A body of water surrounded by lots of trees
The roof of a building with a blue sky in the background
pink and white flower in tilt shift lens