🇯🇵Japan, Iwate
Spots to fully enjoy Iwate's natural beauty
Iwate
Kannari-１番地１ Iwaizumi, Shimohei District, Iwate 027-0501, Japan
One of Japan's three great limestone caves. The mysterious blue of the underground lake
Ryusenodo, located in Iwaizumi Town, Iwate Prefecture, is one of Japan's three great limestone caves. Inside the cave lies an underground lake boasting some of the world's clearest waters, with its deep blue color known as "Dragon Blue."
The 3rd underground lake has a depth of 98 meters, and its illuminated blue surface is breathtakingly beautiful. The cave maintains a constant temperature of around 10 degrees Celsius year-round, making it a perfect natural air conditioner in summer.
You can see natural formations up close, including stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites formed over long periods of time.
About 2 hours by car from Morioka. The cave floor can be slippery, so wearing comfortable walking shoes is recommended.
Jodogahama Beach, Hitachihamacho, Iwate 027-0001, Japan
Pristine white rocks and azure waters as beautiful as Pure Land Paradise
Jodo-ga-hama is a representative scenic spot in the Sanriku Reconstruction National Park located in Miyako City. The striking contrast between white rhyolite rocks and blue sea is so beautiful that it was named after Pure Land Paradise.
While the views from the walking trail are spectacular, a tour by sappa boat into the blue cave is highly recommended. The way the water inside the cave glows blue is enchanting, allowing you to rediscover the beauty of Iwate's coastal waters.
Summer swimming is also available, making it popular with families.
Japan, 〒028-0661 Iwate, Tōno City, Tsukimoushichō Kamitsukimoushi, 4 Chiwari−５−８９−１
A folktale village preserving Japan's original rural landscape
Tono Furusato Village is an experiential facility in Tono City, where traditional thatched-roof farmhouses called magariya—unique to the Nanbu region—have been relocated and preserved. It's a place where you can directly experience the world of Kunio Yanagita's 'Tono Monogatari.'
The facility's main appeal is the opportunity to experience rural farm life, with seasonal programs including straw crafts, mochi pounding, and charcoal making.
Machiura-467 Higashiyamachō Nagasaka, Ichinoseki, Iwate 029-0302, Japan
Experience the luxury of cruising through a scenic gorge ranked among Japan's 100 Best Landscapes
Keibi Gorge is a scenic valley in Ichinoseki City that was selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Landscapes. Towering cliffs nearly 100 meters high stretch for about 2 kilometers. You can take a boat operated by a boatman using a traditional pole, cruising through the gorge for approximately 90 minutes round trip.
At the turnaround point, you can get off the boat and take a walk. The signature "unma toss" game lets you try your luck by throwing small balls into holes across the river, adding to the fun.
The boatman's singing of "Geibi Oiwake" (a traditional folk song) adds atmospheric charm, allowing you to experience a time away from the everyday.
