Iwaizumi: Caves, Craftsmanship and Landscapes

Iwaizumi invites you to discover different sides of a stay: at Ryusendo, the visitor route leads to an underground lake; at Mount Ureira, you can go hiking; and at Tedo no Kura, you can learn about traditional crafts. There is also a walking path along the Shimizu River, a nature park, and a look at the history of coal mining. This gives you the option to choose a focus for your trip, from caves and landscapes to outdoor activities and culture.

Ryusendo: Underground Lake and Science Museum

The third underground lake at Ryusendo is currently the endpoint of the visitor route. It was discovered in 1967 during a diving survey. These two details give the cave visit a clear focus: the route leads to the lake, which was discovered during a diving survey.

One admission ticket lets you visit both Ryusendo and the Ryusendo Shin Cave Science Museum. If you are interested in the cave, you can include a museum visit in the same outing. For families looking to bring together different interests, a cave visit and a museum offer two distinct points of interest.

Mount Ureira and Trails Through Nature

Mount Ureira is located directly above Ryusendo. The hiking season is listed as April to November, and the round trip takes two to three hours. This timing can help you plan the hike as a separate activity. If outdoor exercise is part of your travel plans, Mount Ureira offers a different kind of experience from visiting the underground lakes.

You can also experience Iwaizumi’s natural surroundings in different seasons along the Shimizu River. A walking path follows the river, whose underground water flows from the lakes at Ryusendo to the center of Iwaizumi. The riverside path thus connects the underground world of water with a walk outdoors, without requiring a hike up Mount Ureira.

Hayasaka Kogen is a prefectural nature park in the west-central part of Iwaizumi, extending along the former National Route 455. The Hayasaka Kogen Visitor Center is registered as an Iwate Cycle Station. It offers free toilets and seating, as well as bike racks, bicycle repair tools, and an air pump. These specific amenities may also interest travelers who want to explore Iwaizumi by bicycle.

Along the Moshiru coast, strata of the Early Cretaceous Miyako Group are exposed. Ammonites, as well as fossilized clams and snails, have been found there. This geological perspective adds another way to experience Iwaizumi’s natural environment, complementing the river and mountain.

Crafts and Local History

Tedo no Kura is a traditional storehouse complex in the Ureira road-trading area. There, you can learn about traditional crafts from Iwaizumi and try them out yourself, including weaving, spinning yarn, and pottery. If you would like to include regional craft traditions alongside nature experiences during your trip, this visit offers a distinct cultural focus.

The Iwaizumi Town History and Folklore Museum presents the history of coal mining in the Ogawa district and the tools used at the time. The visit offers a look at the district’s working history. Together with the craft experiences at Tedo no Kura, it gives you a choice of different cultural themes: traditional skills on the one hand, and mining history on the other.

When choosing a vacation rental in Iwaizumi, consider which of these experiences you would like to shape your stay. Ryusendo and the science museum, a hike on Mount Ureira, walks and nature, or crafts and local history each offer a different focus for planning your trip.

More destinations: Rikuzentakata, Ōshū, Hanamaki, Tono, Kamaishi, Miyako, Kitakami, Morioka.

For the overall travel guide: Iwate Prefecture.