Despite its small size, the shrine exudes an intense presence, and the sight of countless red cloths tied around it is bizarre. This is Une-Tori, an ancient place of worship that also appears in Kunio Yanagita's "Tono Monogatari Shūi" (Supplementary Tales of Tono) in Tono City, Iwate Prefecture...
Among the various regional udon varieties found throughout Japan, there are some that are nationally famous and known as "brand udon." Examples include Sanuki udon from Kagawa Prefecture and Hakushin udon from Fukuoka Prefecture, considered the birthplace of udon in Japan...
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Located in the mountainous area of Ayaori-cho, Tono City, Iwate Prefecture, the "Gohyaku Rakan" (Five Hundred Arhats) is a group of stone Buddha statues erected in the late Edo period. While now a well-known tourist spot in Tono City, its background...
The Esashi Jinku Festival, held annually on May 3rd and 4th in Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture, will feature a grand performance of the folk art "Shishiodori" (deer dance), known as "Hyakushika Taigun" (Hundred Deer Grand Group), on May 4th, 2026, the second day of the festival.
Aoiwa
In Towa-cho, Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture, there is a shrine that enshrines a massive rock as its sacred object, and also worships a local pioneering deity, a practice not seen in other regions. Incidentally, the title "animism" refers to the worship of non-human beings...
Aoiwa
Located in front of Kamaishi Station, where the JR Kamaishi Line and Sanriku Railway intersect, "Sun Fish Kamaishi" is a market built on an elevated platform, housing a complex of shops selling seafood and processed goods, as well as restaurants. Also located in front of the station is the Kamaishi City Information Center...
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Shiwa Town, considered the birthplace of Nanbu Toji (sake brewing masters), has a population of about 33,000, but it boasts five small sake breweries that produce delicious sake. One of them, "Shiwa Sake Brewery," is featured in a separate brewery tour report...
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Finding souvenirs for Golden Week can be surprisingly difficult, right? You want to avoid anything too heavy, but something too bland won't leave a lasting impression. That's when I discovered this mushroom soup, sold exclusively at the Iwateyama Service Area (downbound).
The hit song "Ore-ra Tokyo sa Ikuda" (We're Going to Tokyo), sung by Ikuzo Yoshi, includes the line, "The bus comes once a day." This raises the question: do buses that only come once a day actually exist...?.
Shiwa Town, known as the birthplace of Nanbu Toji (sake brewers), currently has five sake breweries. One of them, Shiwa Sake Brewery, founded in 1903 (Meiji 36), was formerly known as "Hirota Sake Brewery," named after its founder...
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