Hiraizumi

Surrounded on three sides by rivers, a small mountain to the west, and the “Oku Taido Road” in the centre. The World Heritage sites in Hiraizumi act as a great starting point for exploration into Iwate’s rich heritage and natural beauty.

Infinite Light is honoured by halls of gold at Chusonji Temple’s, Konjikido Golden Hall. Built by the Oshu Fujiwara clan in the 12th century when highly skilled craftspeople covered the hall in gold leaf inlaid with mother-of-pearl. See Chusonji sutras are Buddhist scriptures penned in silver and gold and the regenerated Chusonji lotus bloom each July germinated from 800-year-old seeds discovered at the site. Find additional historical artefacts at Sankozo storehouse.

Spring and fall festivals you can see plays on the Noh Stage also in Autumn are the Fujiwara Autumn Festival parade of period clothing on the morning on November 1st, and a Chrysanthemum Festival with spectacular floral displays.

At the base of Mt. Doyama drink ennen-cha tea and engage in Zazen meditation in Motsuji Temple, to quiet the mind and prolong life. A restored structure in a rare Pure Land Buddhist garden, with a repository of cultural artefacts from the temple founded in 850. Rocks are arranged to resemble coastal Iwate, and the pond is fed by a stream, the only surviving example of this design according to principles from the oldest garden manual. Glimpse Heian times at Gokusui-no-En poetry writing event and Fujiwara Festival in May.