Enjoy the world heritage site Hiraizumi! This is the recommended driving route!

In June 2011, the Hiraizumi Historic Sites in Iwate Prefecture were registered as a World Heritage Site. Representative sites that make up the World Heritage Site include Chusonji Temple and Motsuji Temple, but you'll want to visit as many tourist spots as possible if you have time.
Here, we'll introduce some recommended driving routes around Hiraizumi.

A must-see for anyone planning to visit World Heritage sites

Recommended driving courses in Hiraizumi

Tohoku Expressway Ichinoseki IC or Tohoku Shinkansen Ichinoseki Station
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Geibikei Gorge Boat Trip
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Chusonji
Temple
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Kanjizaio-in
Temple Ruins
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Tohoku Expressway Mizusawa IC or Tohoku Shinkansen Mizusawa-Esashi Station

A leisurely day-long drive north

From the starting point in Ichinoseki City to the end point in Esashi Fujiwara-no-Sato, head north and stop at each tourist spot

The best season for a drive is from May to October. In spring and summer, the Motsuji Iris Festival is held, and in autumn, you can see autumn leaves everywhere, including Geibikei Gorge. Prefectural Route 14, which runs along the Kitakami River, is a pastoral landscape that will put you in a peaceful mood

However, traffic jams tend to occur during Golden Week and summer vacation, so please allow yourself plenty of time

Enjoy a boat trip down Geibikei Gorge

It takes about 40 minutes to drive from Ichinoseki IC to reach Geibikei Gorge. Here, you can get off your car and try a boat ride down Geibikei Gorge. The round-trip boat trip takes about 90 minutes, and you can enjoy the rugged and oddly shaped rock formations

The chirping of birds and the beautiful nature will soothe your soul and leave you feeling open-minded

Chusonji Temple

After driving for about an hour from Geibikei Gorge, you will arrive at Chusonji Temple, the mecca of Hiraizumi tourism

Known as the most famous temple in the Tohoku region, Chusonji Temple is home to over 3,000 national treasures and important cultural properties, including the Golden Hall, making it a must-see. It's also home to historical sites associated with famous figures like Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Matsuo Basho, making it a great place to spend a whole day exploring. The temple grounds are quite large, so we recommend allowing at least two hours for sightseeing

Motsuji Temple

Motsuji Temple, located about 3km from Chusonji Temple, is a temple associated with the Oshu Fujiwara clan

Among them, the Pure Land Garden, which represents the Pure Land world, is famous, and the Iris Festival is held there in the spring. The Pure Land Garden, which remains unchanged since it was first built, is definitely worth a visit

The ruins of Kanjizaio-in Temple, located just a one-minute walk away, are now a historic site, so be sure to visit there as well

Esashi Fujiwara Village

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Located about 33km from Motsuji Temple, Esashi Fujiwara no Sato is a historical park that recreates buildings from the time of the Oshu Fujiwara clan, and is currently used as a location for filming historical dramas

The government office where the Fujiwara clan ruled has been recreated, making you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Heian period

summary

Hiraizumi has many attractive tourist spots and famous places, and if you travel efficiently, you can see most of the famous places in a day. It's well worth a visit as you can enjoy the natural scenery and the World Heritage Sites

Enjoy historical sightseeing while experiencing Iwate's nature

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