Tucked away in the mountains of northern Honshu, Morioka is one of Japan's most underappreciated cities — and the world is finally catching on. When the New York Times named Morioka #2 in its 52 Places to Go list for 2023, travelers everywhere started asking: what is so special about this castle town? The answer is everything.
Complete guide to Hiraizumi UNESCO World Heritage sites in Iwate Japan — Chuson-ji Golden Hall, Motsu-ji garden, admission fees, best time to visit.
Discover Iwate Prefecture in Tohoku — UNESCO heritage at Hiraizumi, Morioka noodle culture, Geibikei Gorge, and the Sanriku Coast. Easy Shinkansen access from Tokyo.
There are moments in travel that stop you mid-breath — and gliding through Geibikei Gorge on a flat-bottomed wooden boat, propelled by a single bamboo pole, is absolutely one of them. Towering limestone cliffs rise 50 metres on either side while jade-green waters carry you into one of Japan's most enchanting natural landscapes.
Complete guide to a Beppu day trip from Fukuoka: train details, hour-by-hour itinerary, budget breakdown, and insider tips for visiting Japan's onsen capital in one day.
