Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken) is perhaps most famous for Chuson-ji and Motsu-ji, which are two of the five sites that make up the World Heritage Site “Historic Monuments and Sites of Hiraizumi.”
Iwate is enjoyable any time of the year - ski at Appi Ski Resort in the winter, marvel at Tenshochi’s cherry blossoms in the spring, swim in the pristine waters of Jodogahama Beach and cool down in Ryusendo Limestone Cave in the summer, and hike at Mount Iwate while being surrounded by fall foliage in autumn.
![[2013夏‧東北四祭] 盛岡さんさ踊り](https://a0.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/6675-47251/360x240!/岩手-2013夏-東北四祭-盛岡さんさ踊り-47251.jpg "[2013夏‧東北四祭] 盛岡さんさ踊り")