IWATE
Iwate is the biggest prefecture in Honshu and has endless beautiful coastlines. A glorious buddhist culture which flourished at the end of the Heian era still remains and captivates visitors in Hiraizumi, which is a world heritage. There is also a lot of traditional culture such as Nanbu ironware and Hidehira-nuri.美しい海岸線がどこまでも続く本州最大の県。世界遺産「平泉」には平安末期に栄えた華やかな仏教文化が残され人々を魅了する。南部鉄器、秀衡塗などの伝統文化も豊か。
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1. Kitakami Tenshochi Park 北上展勝地
Stretching out along the banks of Kitakami River, Kitakami Tenshochi Park is one of Tohoku’s best spots for seeing cherry blossoms. The 293-hectare park has 10,000 trees of about 150 varieties with flowers that vie with each other in beauty. You can also take a ride through a cherry blossom tunnel in an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage.
北上川河畔に広がる東北有数の桜の名所。293haの公園に約150種1万本が美しさを競うように花を咲かせる。観光馬車で桜のトンネルを巡れば、ノスタルジックな気分に浸れそう。
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2. Genbikei Gorge 厳美渓
This 2-kilometer river gorge features waterfalls and fantastically shaped rocks that were carved out by the rushing waters. The beautiful scenery of the clear meltwater and 200 cherry blossom trees lining the riverbanks looks like a Japanese painting. Gaze out over the gorge while eating “flying dango” (sweet rice dumplings)—a local specialty.
急流で削られた奇岩や滝などが約2km続く渓谷。雪解け水と川岸を彩る約200本の桜が一体となり、日本画のような美しさを醸し出す。名物の空飛ぶだんごを頬張りながら眺めたい。
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3. Mount Iwate 岩手山
Also known as Nanbu Fuji due to its similarity to Mount Fuji, Mount Iwate is the highest mountain in Iwate Prefecture. At the base of the mountain, rice fields planted along the rivers seem to go on forever, with vivid, bright green rice plants covering the land. Seeing the picturesque fields against the awe-inspiring Mount Iwate is an unforgettable sight.
岩手県の最高峰で南部富士とも呼ばれる。川沿いに形成された田園がどこまでも広り、若草色の稲穂が大地を鮮やかに彩る。美しい田園風景と岩手山の神々しい姿を同時に眺望できる。
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4. Kagami-numa Pond 鏡沼
Located in the city of Hachimantai, Kagami-numa Pond is a beautiful 50-meter-wide blue pond in the middle of a wetland marsh. When the snow starts to melt and new growth begins to appear, the pond looks like a gigantic “dragon eye.” The white snow and sparkling blue water is a magical, must-see sight.
八幡平にある湖沼群のひとつ。直径約50mの青く美しい沼として知られ、雪解けがすすむ新緑の時期だけ巨大な「龍の目」が現れる。雪色と青く輝く水面がもたらす神秘は必見だ。
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