“夏草や　兵どもが　夢の跡”(`Natsukusa ya tsuhamonodomo ga yume no ato`) – “Grasses in summer, the warriors’ dreams… all that is left”. This poem, written by Master haikuist Matsuo Bashō after he visited the ancient temple complex of Hiraizumi, is one of the most famous in Japan. Located in Iwate on the banks of the Kitakami-gawa, these simple words…

It is a fact that many lives were lost during the 2011 triple disaster of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear accident in Japan. Since many people have a hard time enduring the bereavement of their loved ones, the so-called “Phone of the Wind” was made. It was meant as a tool for one-way communication in which…

It is always a pleasure riding luxurious trains in Japan. Besides being free from clusters of people, these trains are amenity-rich and outfitted with hotel-quality sleeping compartments. This coming summer, the “Pokemon with You” Train will be back in service! Though not that luxurious, the train has been designed to give everyone an awesome and…

Have you ever dreamed of experiencing the traditional Japanese way of living complete with the serene countryside ambiance and the absence of technology and the city’s bustle? Finding a traditional inn or hotel in Japanese provinces is now made easy given that establishment owners are only one call away. In fact, many accommodation sites are…

Iwate Prefecture (岩手県) in the northeastern region of Tohoku (東北) in Japan has the lowest population density in the whole country after Hokkaido (北海道). Its capital is Morioka (盛岡市), a beautiful riverside city with a population of just 299,169 (as of September 2015). Even though it’s a scarcely populated city, it has a lot of…

In Japan, bread rolls called “koppe pan” are extremely popular and when you go to elementary schools in Japan, these bread rolls are frequently included in the lunch menus. They are basically the Japanese equivalent of hot dog buns but slightly larger and fluffier. In Morioka City in Iwate prefecture, there is a store called…

The Morioka History and Culture Museum preserves items related to the history of its city and its rich artifacts. Are you aching to find out more about Morioka? Do you wish you had all the knowledge imaginable regarding this city? Even if you don’t live in Morioka, the stories you may hear are fascinating. I…

Iwate Museum of Art was opened in October 2001 to acquire, research, conserve, preserve, treasure, and honour masterpieces of local artists such as Tetsugoro Yorozu, Shunsuke Matsumoto, and Yasutake Funakoshi. Are you an art enthusiast that would like to marvel at these timeless artworks? Are you intrigued by what these artists have to offer? From…

Rikuzentakata is one of the cities in Iwate which was heavily devastated by the 2011 tsunami in Japan. It was even reported as being ‘wiped off the map’. However, out of 70,000 trees that once lined the shore, only one survived and soon became an iconic symbol of hope for the people and has since…

Over a thousand years ago, a Buddhist Temple was built in the rock wall of a cliff in Hiraizumi, Iwate. It was called Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo which was primarily dedicated to the warrior gods of the 9th century. At that time, Japanese territories were expanding northwards which was followed by several battles with Emishi…