Iwate
Discover Iwate
Iwate Prefecture (岩手県 Iwate-ken) is in the northeastern Tohoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu. Second only to Hokkaido in having Japan's lowest population density, much of Iwate is remote and mountainous. Its early history was marked by fighting between the Japanese and the native Emishi people, thought to be related to the Ainu in Hokkaido. In the 11th century, the breakaway Northern Fujiwara clan formed their own independent realm here, ruling from Hiraizumi, the "Kyoto of the North", until crushed by Minamoto forces in 1189.
Taste of Iwate...
Iwate's most famous dishes are the "Morioka three great noodles" (盛岡三大麺 Morioka sandaimen), which are:
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple Options39.428611141.1352781 Iwate Hanamaki Airport (花巻空港, HNA), about 1 hr south of Morioka and 4 km away from Hanamaki Airport station (花巻空港駅) on the JR Tohoku Main Line, is the only airport in Iwate with scheduled service. It has domestic flights to most major Japanese cities except Tokyo, as well as international services to Shanghai and Taipei. Most travellers will find it easier and cheaper to fly to Tokyo and continue to Iwate by train. Iwate has a sparse network of train lines with limited services. The former trunk line north from Morioka towards Aomori, now duplicated by the Shinkansen, has been privatized as the Iwate Galaxy Railway and is not covered by JR passes. In addition, the private Sanriku Railway runs along Iwate's coast between Miyako and Kuji. Buses fill in the gaps and are often more frequent than trains, but driving is still the best option if you're planning to leave the beaten track....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Iwate has a sparse network of train lines with limited services. The former trunk line north from Morioka towards Aomori, now duplicated by the Shinkansen, has been privatized as the Iwate Galaxy Railway and is not covered by JR passes. In addition, the private Sanriku Railway runs along Iwate's coast between Miyako and Kuji. Buses fill in the gaps and are often more frequent than trains, but driving is still the best option if you're planning to leave the beaten track. Iwate's most famous dishes are the "Morioka three great noodles" (盛岡三大麺 Morioka sandaimen), which are: