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.
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
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Matsumae-no-Hon'maguro (Matsumae)
Local Matsumae-caught fatty tuna
Nishin Soba (Esashi)
Soba noodles with herring fish
https://www.uu-hokkaido.com/corporate/esashi-kankoukyoukai.shtml