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We've checked out all the cities and towns in Iwate Prefecture, including Otani and Sasaki Roki's hometowns!

It's getting warmer from now on, making it the perfect season to travel to Iwate Prefecture. Iwate Prefecture has 33 cities, towns, and villages, each with its own unique characteristics

If you are traveling to Iwate Prefecture from outside the Tohoku region, you will likely visit not just one city or town, but several. However, knowing a little bit about the cities and towns you will visit can make your trip much more enjoyable

This article provides detailed information about the locations and information of cities and towns in Iwate Prefecture

Now you too can become an Iwate expert

Iwate Prefecture has 33 cities, towns and villages

Iwate Prefecture Map

If you look at a map of Iwate Prefecture, you will see that the prefectural capital, Morioka City, is located in the center of the prefecture, while Hiraizumi Town, home to the World Heritage Site "Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage," and Oshu City are located in the southern part of the prefecture

Due to mergers and other such things, you may notice that there are many larger cities than towns and villages

Older people may be more familiar with the old town names than the current city or town names

From here on, we will introduce information about Iwate Prefecture

The city with the largest total population in Iwate Prefecture

We will introduce the most populous cities and towns among the 33 cities and towns in Iwate Prefecture

There may be prefectural capitals and city names you are unfamiliar with. We will explain them, taking into account their characteristics

Morioka City

Iwate Prefecture Tourism Association, a public interest incorporated foundation

Morioka City is the prefectural capital and has a population 285,000 as of February 2023. It is the fifth largest city in Tohoku after Sendai City (Miyagi Prefecture), Iwaki City (Fukushima Prefecture), Koriyama City (Fukushima Prefecture), and Aomori City (Aomori Prefecture).

Google Map

Morioka City is such an attractive city that it was selected as one of the "52 places to visit in 2023" published by the New York Times (online edition) in January 2023

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
Introducing the charms of Morioka City, which was selected as the world's second most travel destination by the New York Times, from a local perspective [Iwate Prefecture]
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/19150
On January 12, 2023, The New York Times announced its "52 Places to Go in 2023," ranking Morioka City second only to London, sparking excitement and delight among locals. The article was written by Craig Mod, an American writer who has lived in Japan for 23 years, and he wanted to introduce his beloved Morioka. Mod describes Morioka as "a hidden gem" and "a city with a great flow of energy," and introduces four spots within the city. What are the New York Times' "52 Places to Go?" The "52 Places for Travelers to Go" is published annually and...
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Travelers from all over the world will be visiting Morioka in the future, so be sure to enjoy the city before they arrive

Source: Morioka City was selected as one of the "52 places to visit in 2023" by the New York Times

Source: Morioka City (Population and Number of Households)

Oshu City

Iwate Prefecture Tourism Association, a public interest incorporated foundation

Oshu City was established on February 20, 2006, through the merger of five municipalities: Mizusawa City, Esashi City, Maesawa Town, Isawa Town, and Kinugawa Village

Google Map

It was the historical center of the ancient Tohoku region, and many ruins remain, including historical buildings left behind by the Oshu Fujiwara clan

Speaking of current topics, the hometown of Shohei Ohtani . I would also recommend this place to anyone who wants to learn about the city where he was born and raised, and it might even help you get a little closer to Ohtani.

If you are interested not only in Ohtani but also in cultural and historical sites and ruins, why not visit?

Ichinoseki City

Ichinoseki City has flourished as a base city not only in southern Iwate but also in northern Miyagi Prefecture

Google Map

Geibikei and Genbikei Gorge making it an ideal base for sightseeing in Hiraizumi, a town registered as a World Heritage Site

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
The specialty of Genbikei, "Flying Dango," is definitely worth a visit! Delicious activities! [Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture]
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/2037
Genbikei Gorge is a famous scenic spot in Iwate Prefecture. Many tourists visit here in search of the famous "Flying Dumplings." This time, we'll focus on Genbikei's popular dumplings. What is Genbikei Gorge? Located in Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture, Genbikei Gorge is a scenic spot designated as a national natural monument. The tuff deposited by the eruption of Mount Kurikoma (1,652m above sea level), which straddles the borders of Iwate, Akita, and Miyagi prefectures, was eroded by the Iwai River, which flows from the northern slope of Mount Kurikoma. This is Genbikei Gorge. The gorge, eroded over a long period of time, is surrounded on both sides by steep cliffs. Potholes (o...
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As the gateway to Iwate Prefecture, Ichinoseki City is the first destination for many people, and it has good access to other parts of the prefecture, so why not start your trip to Iwate from Ichinoseki City?

Hanamaki City

When you hear the name Hanamaki, the first things that come to mind are probably "Kenji Miyazawa" and "wankosoba."

Google Map

Miyazawa Kenji is a Japanese poet and children's story writer. He left behind many works based on his hometown, Iwate Prefecture. There is also the Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum, so it's a place you should visit when you visit Hanamaki City

If you think of Iwate as a place known for its wanko soba, try it in Hanamaki. The unique style of eating wanko soba can also be enjoyed as an event, so if you're confident in your appetite, be sure to give it a try

There are many municipalities with numbers in them

If you look at Iwate Prefecture and the neighboring Aomori Prefecture, you will notice that there are many city, town, village, and place names that include numbers or the character "to" (pronounced "he")

Why do city and town names have so many numbers?

Ninohe City, Kunohe County, Ichinohe Town, Ninohe County, etc

Iwate Prefecture Tourism Association, a public interest incorporated foundation

The place names containing "to" such as Ichinohe, Ninohe, and even Kunohe the "Nukanobu County" , and was then divided into nine districts.

Google Map

(Shinohe does not exist today, but it is said that it existed in the past.) The word "he" can be translated into modern Japanese as "gun."

It is said that this was originally the base of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, which was located in an area with the character "to" in it, and that the base was later moved from Esashi to Hiraizumi

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
What is the mystery of the "place names that take place from the door" from Ichinohe to Kunohe? Explore the origins of place names in the numbers scattered throughout the former southern territory!
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/32507
The area from the Kamikita region of Aomori Prefecture to the northern part of Iwate Prefecture was once a vast southern domain called Nukanobu. In this area, there are place names that are numbered with the ``he'' character, from Ichinohe (Ichinohe) to Kunohe (Kunohe). These ``to'', which are not found in other regions, have remained in the names of cities, towns and villages to this day, with the exception of ``Shinohe,'' but there are various theories about their origin, and the truth is often unknown. I don't understand. In this article, we will introduce various theories about the origin of ``Tono Tsuku place names''. Doors with ``he'' dotted around the former southern territory...
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Hachimantai City

Iwate Prefecture Tourism Association, a public interest incorporated foundation

Hachimantai City is said to be the birthplace of Sakanoue no Tamuramaro, the Shogun who received orders from the Imperial Court to conquer the Emishi in the Tohoku region. He discovered a swamp filled with clear, lapis lazuli water and a place where beautiful alpine flowers bloom, and was deeply moved by its beauty

Google Map

The origin of the story goes that the people felt that it was a place where a god lived, so they gathered all their soldiers and prayed to Hachiman Daibosatsu, the god of war, for victory

Hachimantai is a truly mystical place, and it's easy to understand why people believe that Hachiman is a god

Source: Tabi no Kazuno (The origin of the name "Hachimantai")

There are many places associated with the Oshu Fujiwara clan

There are many places around Iwate Prefecture that are associated with the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and they are famous for building an urban culture around Hiraizumi

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
[Series ⑦: The first nine years of roles and the second three years of roles] The bond between the Genji and Togoku warriors, and the beginning of 100 years of prosperity of the Oshu Fujiwara clan
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/27596
Minamoto no Yoshiie's younger brother Yoshimitsu Minamoto joined Minamoto no Yoshiie's army from Kyoto to help his brother out of his predicament. The allied forces attacked Kanazawa no Saku, which was considered to be impregnable at the time, but they were unable to take down the fence, which was considered to be impregnable at the time, and they began a food raid. As a result of this food attack, the supplies in the stockade ran out, and the Kei and Buei units set fire to the stockade and fled, but both the Kei and Buei were captured and beheaded, and Yoshiie and Kiyohira took over the post of the next three years. Allied forces win. What are the roles of the previous nine years and the latter three years (Zenkunen no Eki and Gosannen no Eki)? Emaki of the Battle of the Third Year, Tokyo National Museum Collection Source:...
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What kind of relationship is there between the Oshu Fujiwara clan and Iwate Prefecture?

The Oshu Fujiwara clan

The Oshu Fujiwara clan was a powerful clan in the Tohoku region during the late Heian period, and is said to have ruled the entire Mutsu Province area with Hiraizumi as its base city

The family enjoyed great prosperity over three generations, leaving behind Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
Mokoshiji Temple, the world heritage site with Japan's oldest garden, the Jodo Garden [Iwate Prefecture]
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/62
Motsuji Temple, located in Hiraizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, is a Tendai sect temple whose principal image is a standing statue of Yakushi Nyorai, and is said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin in 850. It is said to be one of the temples that make up the ``Shijikairo'' that includes Chusonji Temple in Hiraizumi, which was also founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin, Risshakuji Temple in Yamagata Prefecture, and Zuiganji Temple in Miyagi Prefecture. Link: Michinoku Ancient Temple Pilgrimage "Four Temples Corridor" Motsu-ji is a Tendai sect temple founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin. Motsu-ji is a Tendai sect temple founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin in 850, similar to Chuson-ji. The shrine grounds attached to the Etsuji Temple Precincts have been designated as a national special historic site.
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The culture left behind by the Oshu Fujiwara clan is still strongly present in the area around Hiraizumi today, and it has been registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title "Hiraizumi - Architecture, Gardens and Archaeological Heritage Representing the Buddhist Pure Land .

The reason for the registration is that a group of buildings built with the Pure Land philosophy that forms the basis of the Fujiwara clan's philosophy still remain

The reason why the Oshu Fujiwara clan flourished

There are many mysteries surrounding the reason why the Oshu Fujiwara clan prospered, but one of the main reasons is said to be "gold dust and high-quality horses."

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
The legend of the golden buried gold of the Fujiwara clan of Oshu! What is Mt. Kinji in Hiraizumi? [Iwate Prefecture]
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/2739
When it comes to buried treasure in Japan, many people may think of the Tokugawa buried treasure, but legends of buried treasure actually exist all over the country. One such legend exists in Hiraizumi, Iwate Prefecture. This mountain is Kinkeiyama, a sacred mountain designated as part of the World Heritage Site "Hiraizumi - Architecture, Gardens and Archaeological Sites Representing the Buddhist Pure Land." Kinkeiyama and the Legend of Buried Treasure: Located in Hiraizumi Town, Nishiiwai District, Iwate Prefecture, Kinkeiyama is a small, tree-covered hilltop less than 100 meters above sea level. Legend has it that it is a mysterious mountain, "an artificial mountain created in the likeness of Mount Fuji in just one night." This...
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Many people say that Hiraizumi was able to develop an urban culture because it was blessed with these two things

However, some say that this alone is not enough of a reason for their prosperity, and that the northern part of Kyushu and the Tsugaru Peninsula were also gateways for trade with the continent and the Korean Peninsula, so perhaps it makes sense that the Oshu Fujiwara clan prospered

The Fujiwara clan of Oshu and mummies?

If you search for the Fujiwara clan of Oshu or the Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple, you will probably come across the word "mummy."

It may sound frightening, but the Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple houses the heads of the successive heads of the Oshu Fujiwara clan - Kiyohira, Motohira, Hidehira, and Yasuhira, who was defeated by Yoritomo

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT
[Iwate Prefecture] Chusonji, a world heritage site famous as the temple of the third generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan
https://jp.neft.asia/archives/74
Chusonji, located in Hiraizumi-cho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate Prefecture, is the head temple of the Tendai sect of Tohoku. It is the outer temple of the Oshu 33 Kannon temples, the name of the temple is Kanzan, and the principal image is Shaka Nyorai. Chusonji Temple is said to have been founded by Jikaku Daishi Ennin.According to the history of Chusonji Temple, it is said that it began in 850 when Jikaku Daishi Ennin founded Sekizan Kodaijuin. However, no reliable historical materials or excavation results have been found to date that support the founding of Jikaku Daishi Ennin, and it is believed that Fujiwara no Kiyohira, the first generation of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, founded the mountain in the early 12th century. A large-scale temple and pagoda was built to enshrine Shakyamuni Buddha and Taho Nyorai...
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Hiraizumi is the only place in Japan where three generations of powerful people have been mummified

It's not possible to see the mummies, but you can visit the Golden Hall of Chusonji Temple, so why not try to get a feel for the atmosphere of that era?

Why not take a trip to Iwate Prefecture, a prefecture rich in nature and history?

We introduced the names of cities, towns, and villages in Iwate Prefecture

Iwate Prefecture has many recommended places this year, including Morioka City, which was introduced as a must-visit place in 2023, and Oshu City, the hometown of Angels player Shohei Ohtani

The coming season will be perfect for sightseeing and food, so why not take a trip to Iwate Prefecture?

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