Which Iwate Attractions Would You Like to Visit?

In Morioka, walk along the castle park’s stone walls and explore restored bank interiors at the Red Brick Building. Hiraizumi has Motsuji’s Oizumigaike garden and Chusonji’s Golden Hall and Sankozo. For sea views, travel to Jodogahama in Miyako; for Kenji’s work, visit the memorial museum in Hanamaki. Both Chusonji and the Kenji memorial museum require uphill walking after the bus ride, so allow plenty of time for access and sightseeing.

Attraction Fees, Hours, and Directions

Sightseeing and Walks

Morioka Castle Site Park

盛岡城跡公園

Walk along the stone walls and paths at Morioka Castle Site Park. After exploring around Taiko Bridge, continue with an architecture walk or a meal in the Nakanohashi area.

Walking PlansThis itinerary walks the stone walls and park paths during daylight. Paid indoor facilities and nighttime visits are excluded. If construction or an event closes a path, follow posted guidance and shorten the walk.
Getting ThereThe Morioka tourism association gives a walk of about 15 minutes from the station. By bus, take the Dendenmushi Left Loop from station stop 16 and get off at Morioka Castle Park. The tourism association writes the stop as 盛岡城跡公園前, while the operator’s timetable uses 盛岡城跡公園. The operator’s timetable gives a ride of about six minutes from the station. Allow time to explore the stone walls separately from travel time.

Tourism Association’s Park Access Guide2026-10-09Operator’s Loop-Bus Guide2026-10-09Dendenmushi Left Loop Timetable2026-10-09

Visit Morioka Castle Site Park →Two Days, One Night: Walk and Eat in Morioka Three Days, Two Nights: Hiraizumi Day Trip from Morioka Three Days, Two Nights: Morioka and Miyako’s Coast Four Days, Three Nights: Literature and Hiraizumi on Separate Days Four Days, Three Nights: Take Your Time on Miyako’s Coast Five Days, Four Nights: Kenji’s Exhibits and Two Temples at a Relaxed Pace Five Days, Four Nights: Hiraizumi’s Temples and Miyako’s Coast

Sightseeing and Walks

Iwate Bank Red Brick Building

岩手銀行赤レンガ館

The Red Brick Building opens restored bank reception and meeting rooms and displays materials from its banking years. You can visit only the free area, or pay ¥300 for individual admission to the restored interiors if you are age 16 or older. Avoid Tuesdays when planning an indoor visit.

AdmissionIndividual admission to the paid area is ¥300 for ages 16 and older and ¥100 for elementary and junior high school students. Preschool children enter free.
HoursThe building opens 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with last admission at 4:30 p.m. It closes Tuesdays and December 29–January 3.
Getting ThereTake the Dendenmushi Right Loop from outside Morioka Station, get off at Morioka Bus Center, and walk about one minute. For the return, take the Left Loop from the bus center to Morioka Station. The operator’s route map shows both directions passing through the bus center; each adult ride costs ¥150. The facility guide gives about ten minutes by bus from the station, or about 30 minutes on foot. A route via the park differs from a direct walk from the station; allow walking time separately.

Official FAQ2026-10-09Iwate Bank Red Brick Building: Facility and Restored Areas2026-10-09Facility Access2026-10-09Operator’s Loop-Bus Guide2026-10-09Dendenmushi Right Loop2026-10-09Dendenmushi Left Loop Timetable2026-10-09

Visit Iwate Bank Red Brick Building →Two Days, One Night: Walk and Eat in Morioka Three Days, Two Nights: Hiraizumi Day Trip from Morioka Three Days, Two Nights: Morioka and Miyako’s Coast Four Days, Three Nights: Literature and Hiraizumi on Separate Days Four Days, Three Nights: Take Your Time on Miyako’s Coast Five Days, Four Nights: Kenji’s Exhibits and Two Temples at a Relaxed Pace Five Days, Four Nights: Hiraizumi’s Temples and Miyako’s Coast

Sightseeing and Walks

Chusonji Temple

Chūson-ji Temple中尊寺

Visit Chusonji’s Golden Hall and Sankozo museum. From the bus stop, climb the Tsukimizaka temple approach and return down the same path afterward, allowing plenty of time for the visit and descent. Regular adult admission, including the Golden Hall and Sankozo, costs ¥1,000.

AdmissionRegular admission is ¥1,000 for adults, ¥700 for high school students, ¥500 for junior high school students, and ¥300 for elementary school students. This covers the Golden Hall, Sankozo, Sutra Repository, and Former Covering Hall. It is separate from the ¥1,600 combined ticket for the special opening of normally concealed Buddhist images.
HoursThe temple's visiting facilities open 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. March 1–November 3 and 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. November 4–the end of February. The guide lists year-round opening.
Getting ThereThe seasonal Runrun loop bus connects Hiraizumi Station with Chusonji. Each adult ride costs ¥200; two rides cost ¥400, less than the ¥550 day pass. Check service dates, days of the week, and return departures with the operator. When Runrun does not operate, check the regular Ichinoseki–Hiraizumi Line (一関平泉線), which has different fares and valid tickets. The uphill Tsukimizaka temple approach starts at the stop. The temple’s approximately 850 m distance from parking lot 1 to the main hall is not the distance from the bus stop to the Golden Hall.

Chusonji2026-10-09Runrun Service Calendar2026-10-09Chusonji Access2026-10-09Official English Guide2026-10-08

Visit Chusonji Temple →Two Days, One Night: Visit Hiraizumi’s Two Temples on Separate Days Three Days, Two Nights: Hiraizumi Day Trip from Morioka Four Days, Three Nights: Literature and Hiraizumi on Separate Days Five Days, Four Nights: Kenji’s Exhibits and Two Temples at a Relaxed Pace Five Days, Four Nights: Hiraizumi’s Temples and Miyako’s Coast

Sightseeing and Walks

Motsuji Temple

毛越寺

Walk around Motsuji’s garden, centered on Oizumigaike Pond, then return toward Hiraizumi Station. If you also plan to visit Chusonji’s Golden Hall and Sankozo, give the garden walk and exhibitions their own time.

AdmissionAdmission is ¥700 for adults, ¥400 for high school students, and ¥200 for elementary and junior high school students.
HoursThe temple opens 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m., closing at 4:30 p.m. from November 5 through March 4.
Getting ThereThe facility guide lists about 0.7 km, or a seven-minute walk, from Hiraizumi Station. Visit Motsuji first, then return to the station for a Chusonji-bound bus. This route does not depend on a direct service between the temples.

Motsuji2026-10-09

Visit Motsuji Temple →Two Days, One Night: Visit Hiraizumi’s Two Temples on Separate Days Three Days, Two Nights: Hiraizumi Day Trip from Morioka Four Days, Three Nights: Literature and Hiraizumi on Separate Days Five Days, Four Nights: Kenji’s Exhibits and Two Temples at a Relaxed Pace Five Days, Four Nights: Hiraizumi’s Temples and Miyako’s Coast

Sightseeing and Walks

Jodogahama

浄土ヶ浜

Walk along Jodogahama’s beach for views of white rocks against blue water. Choose a beach walk, sightseeing cruise, or small-boat experience separately. For any boat trip, check the product’s price and that day’s operating status.

Walking PlansThis itinerary visits the beach during daylight. Sightseeing boats, paid activities, and parking cost extra; nighttime visits are excluded. Follow notices for your date on beach access, weather, and path restrictions. The free grounds shuttle is seasonal and separate from regular city buses.
Getting ThereFrom Miyako Station, take a bus toward Miyako Hospital that stops at the visitor center and get off at 浄土ヶ浜ビジターセンター. Miyako City separates a bus ride of about 13 minutes from the approximately 15-minute walk after getting off. This itinerary uses the adult ¥500 Jodogahama–Miyako Port day pass for the round trip. Check the operator’s day-specific timetable for the return.

Miyako City2026-10-08City Bus Day Pass2026-10-09

Visit Jodogahama →Three Days, Two Nights: Morioka and Miyako’s Coast Four Days, Three Nights: Take Your Time on Miyako’s Coast Five Days, Four Nights: Hiraizumi’s Temples and Miyako’s Coast

Sightseeing and Walks

Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum

宮沢賢治記念館

Explore exhibits about Miyazawa Kenji’s work and life, then look out over Hanamaki from the viewing lounge. Individual adult admission costs ¥350. Even after the bus from Shin-Hanamaki Station, an uphill walk remains; check the stair section in the access guide before visiting.

AdmissionAdmission is ¥350 for adults, ¥250 for high school and college students, and ¥150 for elementary and junior high school students.
HoursThe city guide updated March 31, 2026 lists 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Tuesday closures (the following weekday if Tuesday is a public holiday), and closures from December 28 through January 3. Check the city’s calendar separately for temporary closures on your date.
Getting ThereFrom Shin-Hanamaki Station, take the Tsuchizawa Line (土沢線) to Kenji Kinenkan-guchi (賢治記念館口), then walk uphill for about 15 minutes. Hanamaki City’s July 6, 2026 guide and the tourism association both give an approximately 15-minute walk; the association also specifies 367 steps. If the stairs are difficult, ask the facility about alternative access first. The city’s latest guidebook lists an adult fare of ¥170 from Shin-Hanamaki Station, with a timetable ride of about four minutes. For the return, take a bus toward Michi-no-Eki Towa from the museum entrance stop and get off at Shin-Hanamaki Station stop 5. The timetable gives about two minutes for the return section. Check outbound and return services for your date in the city’s transportation guide.

Hanamaki City’s Current Operating Information2026-10-08Museum Hours and Access2026-10-09Hanamaki Tourism Association2026-10-08Weekday Timetable Currently Linked by the City2026-10-08City’s Latest Guidebook: Tsuchizawa Line Timetable and Section Fares2026-10-09Hanamaki City’s July 2026 Transportation Guidebook2026-10-09

Visit Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum →Four Days, Three Nights: Literature and Hiraizumi on Separate Days Five Days, Four Nights: Kenji’s Exhibits and Two Temples at a Relaxed Pace

History and Exhibitions

Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center

平泉文化遺産センター

Stop at the Cultural Heritage Center to see exhibits on historic Hiraizumi after exploring the temples. View the terrain model with video and audio and artifacts excavated in the town. This is a different facility from the similarly named World Heritage Guidance Center.

AdmissionExhibition admission is free.
HoursThe center opens 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. April–October, with last admission at 4:30 p.m. November–March hours are 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with last admission at 4:00 p.m. The center closes over New Year’s and during exhibition changes; check your date.
Getting ThereThe address is 44 Hanadate, Hiraizumi. The five-day, four-night temple-and-coast itinerary takes Runrun from outside Hiraizumi Station to the Cultural Heritage Center stop. The official timetable gives seven minutes outbound and 13 minutes back to the station on the loop; each adult ride costs ¥200. In 2026, Runrun operates Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from April 11 through November 29, plus August 13–16. The first morning bus leaves at 10:15 a.m. On other dates, check regular-bus return services and fares separately.

Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center2026-10-09Runrun Service Calendar2026-10-09Hiraizumi Tourism Association: Center’s English Name and Runrun Access2026-10-09

Visit Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center →Five Days, Four Nights: Hiraizumi’s Temples and Miyako’s Coast Official Cultural Heritage Center Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is admission to Chusonji and Motsuji?

For an individual adult, regular Chusonji admission is ¥1,000 and Motsuji admission is ¥700, for a combined ¥1,700. This excludes Chusonji’s special-opening combined ticket and transportation.

Chusonji2026-10-09Motsuji2026-10-09

Can I use Jodogahama’s free shuttle in October?

No. The verified 2026 service runs on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from July 1 through September 30. In October, plan to take a regular city bus from Miyako Station via the visitor center, then walk about 15 minutes from the center to the beach. The regular bus fare or city day-pass cost is separate.

Jodogahama Free Shuttle Service Dates2026-10-08Miyako City2026-10-08

Can I visit the Red Brick Building on a Tuesday?

It is closed on Tuesdays. Move the indoor visit to another day and arrange your park walk and meals around it. It also closes from December 29 through January 3.

Official FAQ2026-10-09

Sources and Verification Dates

Tourism Association’s Park Access Guide · 2026-10-09
Operator’s Loop-Bus Guide · 2026-10-09
Dendenmushi Left Loop Timetable · 2026-10-09
Official FAQ · 2026-10-09
Facility Access · 2026-10-09
Runrun Service Calendar · 2026-10-09
Chusonji · 2026-10-09
Chusonji Access · 2026-10-09
Official English Guide · 2026-10-08
Motsuji · 2026-10-09
Miyako City · 2026-10-08
Jodogahama Free Shuttle Service Dates · 2026-10-08
Hanamaki City’s Current Operating Information · 2026-10-08
Hanamaki Tourism Association · 2026-10-08
Dendenmushi Right Loop · 2026-10-09
City Bus Day Pass · 2026-10-09
Weekday Timetable Currently Linked by the City · 2026-10-08
Museum Hours and Access · 2026-10-09
Hiraizumi Cultural Heritage Center · 2026-10-09
City’s Latest Guidebook: Tsuchizawa Line Timetable and Section Fares · 2026-10-09
Hanamaki City’s July 2026 Transportation Guidebook · 2026-10-09
Iwate Bank Red Brick Building: Facility and Restored Areas · 2026-10-09
Hiraizumi Tourism Association: Center’s English Name and Runrun Access · 2026-10-09