Iwate Prefecture

Region · Tohoku region, 🇯🇵 Japan

Population 1,205,698

Area 15,263 km²

Time zone Asia/Tokyo

Official website www.pref.iwate.jp

Iwate Prefecture

Iwate Prefecture – Planning a Trip?

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Featured Lists

のりまき / Cc-by-3.0

Iwate Essentials

Iwate’s historical landscape features the UNESCO-listed Hashino Iron Mining and Smelting Site, showcasing 19th-century blast furnace technology. In Tono and Kitakami, open-air museums such as Tono Furusato Village and Michinoku Folklore Village preserve traditional Nambu Magariya farmhouses and regional rural life. Military history is highlighted at the ruins of Isawa Castle, a 9th-century administrative center, and Kunohe Castle, the site of Toyotomi Hideyoshi's final unification battle. The collection is rounded out by Morioka Racecourse and the extensive cherry blossom rows of Kitakami Tenshochi Park.

Iwate Prefecture — Map

Iwate Prefecture — Map

Climate & when to visit

Select a month

Typical weather in January

Poor

2° (feels like -4°) · extremes -8°–7°
-3° at night
12 rainy days
4 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
10°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Typical weather in February

Poor

3° (feels like -3°) · extremes -8°–8°
-4° at night
11 rainy days
5 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
7°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in March

Poor

7° (feels like 1°) · extremes -5°–13°
0° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
6°C · too cold to swim
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in April

Poor

12° (feels like 8°) · extremes 0°–19°
4° at night
12 rainy days
10 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
8°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in May

Good

17° (feels like 15°) · extremes 5°–22°
10° at night
12 rainy days
9 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
10°C · too cold to swim
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in June

Great

21° (feels like 20°) · extremes 10°–25°
14° at night
13 rainy days
5 sunny days
6 hours of sunshine per day
Comfortable humidity
Calm winds
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in July

Good

24° (feels like 26°) · extremes 14°–29°
19° at night
17 rainy days
4 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Muggy, humid air
Calm winds
19°C · cool for a dip
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in August

Good

26° (feels like 28°) · extremes 16°–30°
20° at night
16 rainy days
5 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Oppressive humidity
Calm winds
22°C · cool for a dip
UV index 6 · high

Typical weather in September

Good

23° · extremes 12°–28°
17° at night
15 rainy days
7 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Humid air
Calm winds
21°C · cool for a dip
UV index 5 · moderate

Typical weather in October

Good

17° (feels like 15°) · extremes 6°–22°
11° at night
13 rainy days
8 sunny days
5 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
18°C · cool for a dip
UV index 3 · moderate

Typical weather in November

Poor

12° (feels like 8°) · extremes 0°–17°
5° at night
13 rainy days
6 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
15°C · too cold to swim
UV index 2 · low

Typical weather in December

Poor

5° (feels like 0°) · extremes -5°–11°
0° at night
14 rainy days
3 sunny days
4 hours of sunshine per day
Dry air
Light breeze
13°C · too cold to swim
UV index 1 · low

Climate data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2); NASA POWER + Copernicus ERA5-Land and ERA5 · 1996–2025

Practical information

Currency: Japanese Yen JPY ¥ · Card payments · Commonly accepted
Emergency numbers: 118
Electricity: Type A / Type B
100 V · 60 Hz

Languages: Japanese
Tap water: Safe to drink
Driving side: Left
Calling code: +81

Tours & Activities

Related destinations

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