Iwate Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It is the second-largest Japanese prefecture at 15,275 square kilometres (5,898 sq mi), with a population of 1,229,432. Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Prefecture to the north, Akita Prefecture to the west, and Miyagi Prefecture to the south.
Hanamaki is a city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the city had an estimated population of 94,691, and a population density of 100 persons per km², in 37,773 households. The total area of the city is 908.39 square kilometres (350.73 sq mi). Hanamaki is famous as the birthplace of Kenji Miyazawa and for its hot spring resorts.
Kitakami is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 June 2019, the city had an estimated population of 92,311, and a population density of 210 persons per km2 in 37,085 households. The total area of the city is 437.55 square kilometres (168.94 sq mi). The city is famous for the sakura that bloom in Tenshochi Park.
Kazuno is a city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2019, the city had an estimated population of 30.715, and a population density of 43 persons per km² in 12.970 households. The total area of the city is 707.52 square kilometres.
Shizukuishi is a town located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 16,263 in 6354 households, and a population density of 27 persons per km². The total area of the town is 608.82 square kilometres (235.07 sq mi).
Takizawa is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the city had an estimated population of 55,325 in 23,270 households, and a population density of 300 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 182.46 square kilometres (70.45 sq mi).
Iwate is a rural district located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.
Shiwa is a town in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 March 2020, the town had an estimated population of 33,090, in 12338 households, and a population density of 134 persons per km². The total area of the town is 238.98 square kilometres (92.27 sq mi).
Yahaba is a town in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the town had an estimated population of 27,227, and a population density of 400 persons per km² in 10,131 households. The total area of the town is 67.32 square kilometres (25.99 sq mi).
Kanegasaki is a town located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2020, the town had an estimated population of 15,580, and a population density of 87 persons per km² in 6,155 households. The total area of the town is 179.76 square kilometres (69.41 sq mi). In June 2001, the 34.8 hectare old centre of town was protected as an Important Preservation District by the national government for its traditional samurai residences.
Nanbu is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the town had an estimated population of 17,754, and a population density of 120 persons per km2 in 7433 households. The total area of the town is 153.12 square kilometres (59.12 sq mi).
Hachimantai is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 25,076, and a population density of 29 persons per km² in 10,531 households. The total area of the city is 862.30 square kilometres (332.94 sq mi).
Ōshū is a city located in Iwate Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2020, the city had an estimated population of 114,620 and a population density of 120 persons per km² in 45,728 households. The total area of the city is 993.30 square kilometres (383.52 sq mi). Ōshū is famous for its Maesawa Beef, numerous festivals, historic temples and shrines and Fujiwara no Sato, a theme park and movie lot based on the exploits of the Northern Fujiwaras in the 12th century. Many famous people claim Ōshū as their home, including Ichiro Ozawa, the long-time leader of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Morioka Castle is a hirayama-style Japanese castle constructed in 1611. It was the seat of the Nanbu clan, a tozama daimyō clan who ruled over Morioka Domain, Mutsu Province in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan during the Edo period Tokugawa shogunate. The castle is located in what is now the center of the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It was also referred to as Kozukata Castle, but strictly speaking this name pertains to the predecessor of Morioka Castle on the same site.
The Kitakami River is the fourth largest river in Japan and the largest in the Tōhoku region. It is 249 kilometres (155 mi) long and drains an area of 10,150 square kilometres (3,920 sq mi). It flows through mostly rural areas of Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures. The source of the river is the Mount Nanashiruge in northern Iwate, from which it flows to the south between the Kitakami Mountains and the Ōu Mountains. The river is unusual in that it has two mouths, one flowing south into Ishinomaki Bay and the other flowing east into the Pacific Ocean, both in Ishinomaki City.
The Matsumaedō (松前道) was the continuation of the Ōshū Kaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes of Japan. It connected the Sendaidō's terminus at Sendai Castle with the northern tip of modern-day Aomori Prefecture. It was established by Tokugawa Ieyasu for government officials traveling through the area. The route is named after the Matsumae Domain, the only Edo period feudal domain to have been located in Ezo ; Matsumae was accessible by boat from the northern terminus of the Matsumaedō.
National Route 106 is a national highway of Japan that connects the cities of Miyako and Morioka in Iwate Prefecture. As of June 2020, it has a total length of 92.4 kilometers (57.4 mi), though the highway is in the process of being upgraded to the Miyako–Morioka Connector, which will follow a shorter route than the older highway. It is paralleled for most of its length by JR East's Yamada Line.
Tokutan Castle was an early Heian period jōsaku-style Japanese castle located in what is now the town of Yahaba in Shiwa District, Iwate Prefecture in the Tōhoku region of far northern Honshū, Japan. The site was proclaimed a National Historic Site of Japan on 5 August 1969.
Tonomi Palisade was an early Heian period jōsaku-style Japanese castle located in what is now the town of Kanegasaki in Isawa District, Iwate Prefecture in far northern Honshū, Japan. The site was proclaimed a National Historic Site of Japan in October 2013.
Hōon-ji (報恩寺) is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple located in the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. Its main image is a statue of Shaka Nyōrai, although the temple is more famous for its statues of the 500 Rakan.
