2-night, 3-day sample itinerary around Iwate and Southern Hokkaido

2-night, 3-day sample itinerary around Iwate and Southern Hokkaido

Travel around Iwate prefecture, seeing the World Heritage Site of Hiraizumi on the first day. The second and the third days will be spent in the towns of the southern Hokkaido area. This route allows you to fully enjoy Iwate and southern Hokkaido.

Sample Itinerary

  • DAY1
  • DAY2
  • DAY3
Ichinoseki Station → Hiraizumi Station → stroll around Hiraizumi, the World Heritage Site → Hanamaki Station → Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum → Morioka Station → Sightseeing in Morioka City
Morioka Station → Kikonai Station → Kikonai Town Regional Museum (Ikarin-kan) → Oyster house Shiriuchi Banya → Fukushimacho Seikan Tunnel Museum → Sightseeing in Matsumae Town
Remains of Katsuyamakan → Inishie Kaido Street → Kikonai Station

IwateIchinoseki

Ichinoseki Station

About 7 minutes via JR Tohoku Main Line

IwateHiraizumi

Hiraizumi Station

About 14 minutes on foot from JR Hiraizumi Station

Stroll around Hiraizumi, the World Heritage Site

MORE

LESS

The World Heritage Site of Hiraizumi has a lot of buildings and gardens, including the Chusonji Temple of golden culture, and Motsuji Temple, known for its Jodo (pure land) garden. They were established in the late Heian Period to embody the world after death in Buddhism.

Motsuji Temple

Basic Information
Address
58, Osawa, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumicho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate
TEL
0191-46-2331
URL
http://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/index.html

7 minutes by circle-route bus.

Chusonji Temple

Basic Information
Address
202, Koromonoseki, Hiraizumi, Hiraizumicho, Nishiiwai-gun, Iwate
TEL
0191-46-2211
URL
http://hiraizumi.or.jp/en/index.html

10 minutes by circle-route bus.

IwateHiraizumicho

Hiraizumi Station

About 45 minutes via JR Tohoku Main Line

IwateHanamaki

Hanamaki Station

About 20 minutes by local bus.

Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum

MORE

LESS

Miyazawa Kenji is a poet and fairy tale writer known for his masterpiece, "Night on the Galactic Railroad". The Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum exhibits his belongings, manuscripts and videos to introduce visitors to this writer's world.

Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum

Basic Information
Address
1-1-36, Yasawa, Hanamaki, Iwate
TEL
0198-31-2319
URL
https://www.kanko-hanamaki.ne.jp/en/kenji/index.html

About 20 minutes by local bus.

IwateHanamaki

Hanamaki Station

About 45 minutes via JR Tohoku Main Line

IwateMorioka

Morioka Station

Sightseeing in Morioka

MORE

LESS

Morioka Reimen, Jajamen, and Wanko-soba are the three great noodles dishes of Iwate. You will find many restaurants in the city serving these wonderful dishes.

Morioka Reimen

Basic Information
Address
Varies by shop
TEL
Varies by shop
Access
Varies by shop. The nearest station is JR Morioka.
URL
https://visitiwate.com/article/4864

Morioka Jajamen

Basic Information
Address
Varies by shop
TEL
Varies by shop
Access
Varies by shop. The nearest station is JR Morioka.
URL
https://visitiwate.com/article/4860

Wanko-soba

Basic Information
Address
Varies by shop
TEL
Varies by shop
Access
Varies by shop. The nearest station is JR Morioka.
URL
https://visitiwate.com/article/4866

In front of Morioka Station (overnight stay)

IwateMorioka

Morioka Station

About 1 hour and 50 minutes by Shinkansen.

HokkaidoKikonai

Kikonai Station

About 7 minutes by rental car.

Kikonai Town Regional Museum (Ikarin-kan)

MORE

LESS

At this facility you can learn about the history of Kikonai town. There are displays of ancient ruins, including an anchor which is believed to belong to the Kanrin-maru, a warship that sank off the coast of the Saraki cape in the last days of the Edo Period.

Kikonai Town Regional Museum (Ikarin-kan)

Basic Information
Address
74-1, Tsuruoka, Kikonaicho
TEL
01392-2-4366
Access
About 15 minutes by rental car.
URL
http://www.town.kikonai.hokkaido.jp/tourism/

About 15 minutes by rental car.

Oyster house Shiriuchi Banya

MORE

LESS

Shiriuchi is known for its plump oysters with no fishy odor. This restaurant serves grilled oysters and offers various meal sets also featuring oysters.

Oyster house Shiriuchi Banya

Basic Information
Address
10-15, Omonai, Shiriuchicho, Kamiiso-gun, Hokkaido
TEL
01392-6-7511
URL
* Reference
https://en.visit-hokkaido.jp/

About 30 minutes by rental car.

Fukushimacho Seikan Tunnel Museum

MORE

LESS

At 53.85km, the undersea Seikan Tunnel passes beneath the Tsugaru Strait and connects the railway between Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido. The museum describes the process behind this incredible project.

Fukushimacho Seikan Tunnel Museum

Basic Information
Address
32-2, Mitake, Fukushimacho, Matsumae-gun, Hokkaido
TEL
0139-47-3020
Access
About 30 minutes by rental car.
URL
https://be-happy-fukushima.com/attractions/seikan-tunnel-kinenkan/

About 30 minutes by rental car.

Sightseeing in Matsumae Town

MORE

LESS

Matsumaecho is the only castle town in Hokkaido, with Matsumae Castle being the last Japanese-style castle ever built in Japan. Feel the atmosphere of Edo Period through the castle and samurai residences.

Matsumae Castle

Basic Information
Address
144, Matsushiro, Matsumaecho, Hokkaido
TEL
0139-42-2216 (Matsumae Castle Museum)
URL
http://www.asobube.com/

About 15 minutes on foot.

Matsumaehan Yashiki

Basic Information
Address
68, Nishidate, Matsumaecho, Matsumae-gun
TEL
01394-3-2439 (Matsumaehan Yashiki)
URL
http://www.asobube.com/

Matsumaecho (overnight stay)

About 1 hour by rental car

Remains of Katsuyamakan

MORE

LESS

Katsuyamakan was a castle built on a mountain in the late 15th century. About 150,000 artifacts and some bone tools used by Ainu people have been excavated. It is now an important historical site for learning about the medieval period of Hokkaido.

Remains of Katsuyamakan

Basic Information
Address
Katsuyama, Kaminokunicho, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido
TEL
0139-55-2400 (Remains of Katsuyamakan Guidance Center)
URL
https://www.uu-hokkaido.com/corporate/esashi-kankoukyoukai.shtml

About 15 minutes by rental car.

Inishie Kaido Street

MORE

LESS

Esashi town has prospered as a port town where Kitamaebune merchant ships once used it as a hub in the Edo Period. There are many historic buildings such as wholesale stores, warehouses, and merchants' residences from those days. People enjoy visiting those buildings and other historical sites, as well as eating local food like the Nishin (herrings)-soba.

Inishie Kaido Street

Basic Information
Address
Nakautacho - Ubagamicho, Esashicho, Hiyama-gun, Hokkaido
TEL
URL
https://www.uu-hokkaido.com/corporate/esashi-kankoukyoukai.shtml

About 1 hour by rental car

HokkaidoKikonai

Kikonai Station

Recommended Dishes

Morioka Reimen (Morioka)
Morioka-style chilled noodles

https://visitiwate.com/article/4864

Matsumae-no-Hon'maguro (Matsumae)
Local Matsumae-caught fatty tuna

http://www.asobube.com/

Nishin Soba (Esashi)
Soba noodles with herring fish

https://www.uu-hokkaido.com/corporate/esashi-kankoukyoukai.shtml