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Miyazawa Kenji and the Landscapes of Iwate — Stories of his Hometown Reflected in His Works

  • Ryoko Ryoko
  • Last updated: 2025.08.19

Miyazawa Kenji was born in Hanamaki, Iwate Prefecture in 1896. His works are strongly influenced by the mountains, rivers, and seasonal beauty of his hometown. The scenery he witnessed in his daily life and the details of his daily life form the backdrop for his fantastical tales and poetic fairy tales. This time, we will introduce the scenery of Iwate as seen through Kenji's eyes and the hidden anecdotes in his works. The small discoveries you make during your travels will surely bring you closer to the world of Kenji.

Learning and nature observation at Hanamaki Agricultural School

After studying soil and fertilizer at Morioka Agricultural and Forestry Higher School (now Iwate University Faculty of Agriculture), Kenji became a teacher at Hanamaki Agricultural School during the Taisho period. While teaching, he would walk around the fields in the schoolyard and the nearby stream between classes and after school, observing the smell of the soil, the coldness of the water, and the dewdrops on the undersides of leaves. There is an anecdote that he devised handmade teaching materials to clearly explain the size of soil particles and drainage in his classes.

Rather than armchair theory, he checked things out in the fields at his feet.
This approach seems to have led to the precision of the details in his later fairy tales. For Kenji, Iwate's nature was both a place of learning and a driving force behind his creativity.

A masterpiece born from the landscape of Iwate

The fantastical train journey in
Miyazawa Kenji's masterpiece, the children's tale "Night on the Galactic Railroad The Restaurant of Many Orders " are based on the flora and fauna and customs that he actually saw in Iwate.

In this way, Kenji built up the realism of his stories through his observations of wild deer, foxes, wild vegetables, and flowers. Iwate's nature may have been a stage setting that supported the world of his stories.

Places associated with Miyazawa Kenji

the Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum in Kenji's hometown of Hanamaki , but traces of Kenji's work are not limited to that. There are also many places related to his works scattered along the city's walking paths, in the Tono poetry monument, and in Morioka, where Miyazawa Kenji spent his student days.

Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum

This facility introduces Kenji's life and works, as well as his interests in science and music, from various angles. His handwritten manuscripts and favorite items are also on display.

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Kenji Miyazawa Fairy Tale Village

A theme park-like facility where you can experience the world of the work. There are fantastical illuminations and exhibition halls with fairy tale motifs.

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Miyazawa Kenji Ihatov Museum

A base for Kenji research. Through books and videos, you can learn more about the world of his works.

Information

  • Name: Miyazawa Kenji Ihatov Museum
  • Address: 1-1-1 Takamatsu, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0198-31-2116　
  • URL: Miyazawa Kenji Ihatov Museum official website
  • Opening hours: 8:30-17:00
  • Closed: December 28th to January 1st

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Ame ni mo Makezu Poetry Monument

Ame ni mo Makezu most famous poems . It is one of the spots that symbolizes his spirit.

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  • Name: Ame ni mo Makezu Poetry Monument
  • Address: Sakuramachi 4-chome, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture

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Rasu Local People Association

This is the place where Kenji gave agricultural guidance to farmers, and is said to have put his ideal of living and working together with farmers into practice.

Information

  • Name: Rasu Jijin Association
  • Address: 1-68 Kuzu, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 0198-26-3131 (Hanamaki Agricultural High School)
  • URL: Iwate Prefectural Hanamaki Agricultural High School
  • Opening hours: 9:00-16:00
  • Closed: Winter, from the day after the first Sunday in November to the end of March

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English Coast

Kenji named this place the British Coast after the exposed mudstone layers that are reminiscent of the chalk coast of the English Channel.

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  • Name: English Coast
  • Location: Kamikofunato (surrounding area), Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture

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Morioka Agricultural and Forestry High School (currently Iwate University) Agricultural Education Museum

Source: Agricultural Education Museum, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University (Important Cultural Property, Former Morioka Higher Agriculture and Forestry School Main Building)

The school where Kenji studied. The old school building has been preserved, and you can learn about materials from his time as a student and the history of agricultural education.

Information

  • Name: Agricultural Education Museum
  • Address: 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 019-621-6678
  • URL: Iwate University official website
  • Opening hours: 9:00-16:00
  • Closed: Winter, from the day after the first Sunday in November to the end of March

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Kogensha

This is the publishing house that published " The Restaurant of Many Orders You can experience the atmosphere of the time at Kafukan

Information

  • Name: Mitsuharasha Main Store
  • Address: 2-18 Zaimokucho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Phone number: 019-622-2894
  • URL: Mitsuharasha Main Store Official Website
  • Business hours: 10:00-18:00 (Saturdays only - 17:30)
  • Closed: 15th of every month

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Kenji's Thought and View of Nature

Kenji's works are filled with respect and love for nature. For example, "Undeterred by the Rain" depicts the spirit of embracing nature and the activities of people. One of the charms of his works is that they teach us to cherish nature while experiencing the four seasons and scenery of Iwate.

In spring, melting snow on Mt. Hayachine becomes a babbling brook, fireflies dance in the summer, the mountains turn color in autumn, and a world of silver unfolds in winter. Kenji felt these changes of the seasons so close to him that he incorporated them into the backdrop of his stories. There are many similarities with modern-day nature conservation efforts, and experiencing Iwate's nature while reading his works will also help you come into contact with his ideas.

Everyday life in Iwate as seen through letters and diaries

Kenji's letters and diaries vividly depict the life and scenery of Iwate that are not mentioned in his works. His interactions with family and friends offer glimpses of humor and heartwarming daily life, making his works feel even more familiar.

By reading through the detailed records, such as records of splashing around in the river near his home on a hot summer day, or enjoying snowball fights with neighborhood children during a snowy winter, the life of Iwate that lies behind Kenji's works becomes clearer. One of the joys of getting a feel for Kenji is not just looking for tourist spots, but also finding small stories passed down by local people.

Not many of Kenji's diaries and letters remain, but they are held at the Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum and Iwate Prefectural Library, and may be available for viewing at related facilities.

Walking through Iwate from Kenji's perspective


If you look at the scenery of Iwate from Miyazawa Kenji's perspective, you'll notice that fragments of stories are hidden even on ordinary walking paths or in small forests. By walking while being conscious of the background of his works, you will be able to enjoy Kenji's world more deeply.

It's fun to sit on a bench by the river and think of a line from a poem while feeling the breeze, or imagine a story while walking through the snow-covered forest.If you visit Iwate, be sure to look at the scenery from his perspective and enjoy the small discoveries that live in everyday life.

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