Discover Ōshū: Festival Traditions, Temples and the Isawa Dam

Ōshū offers a range of cultural and scenic points of interest for planning a trip: an ongoing festival tradition, historic temples and the Isawa Dam. If you are looking for a hotel for your stay, considering which of these topics interests you most can be a useful starting point.

Festival Traditions and Seasonal Dates

The Esashi Jinku Festival has been celebrated as a community-led traditional festival in present-day Esashi, Ōshū City, since 1974. It originated as the Hifuse Festival in Iwayadō. This makes both the festival’s present location and its traditional origins clear. The 2026 program includes the Esashi Shishi Odori dance “Hyakuroku-gunmai,” performed by 100 participants, and the Esashi Jinku Parade, in which more than 1,000 residents dance. Groups from the 42 and 25 age groups also take part.

A seasonal spring event is the cherry blossom festival at Mizusawa Park. It takes place every year from early to late April and includes a festival teahouse and stalls. The specific dates may vary from year to year, so check the dates for the relevant year before your trip.

Castle Site and Temple History

The Isawa Castle ruins are the remains of a Heian-period castle complex commissioned by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro in 802 as a political and military administrative base. The southern outer gate area was developed as the Isawa Castle Ruins History Park and opened in late June 2019. This provides a timeline for both the history of the castle complex and the later development of the park area.

Shōhō-ji was founded in 1348 as the first Sōtō Zen temple in the Tōhoku region. Its main hall, kitchen (kuri) and main gate are designated Important Cultural Properties of Japan. The temple’s founding history places it in the region’s historical context; the designation applies to these three buildings.

The Tamasaki Shrine houses objects associated with Minamoto no Yoshitsune; reservations are required to visit the treasure hall. According to one tradition, Yoshitsune survived and visited the shrine on his journey north to pray for good fortune and safety. The objects handed down at the shrine and the account of Yoshitsune’s visit are separate aspects of the shrine’s tradition.

Daumehekazan Endong Shoboji Temple offers various Zen meditation sessions and vegetarian meals by reservation. If you plan to take part in either offering, allow for the reservation requirement.

Isawa Dam and Summer Activities

The Isawa Dam was completed in 2013. As a central-core rockfill dam, it is one of the largest dams of this type in Japan. It is 127 meters high, and its crest is 723 meters long. The height and crest length describe two different dimensions of the structure.

Exhibitions about the Isawa Dam can be seen at Ōshū-ko Kōryūkan, located close to the dam. Summer activities such as rafting are possible in the area around the dam. Check whether rafting is available before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Kamaishi, Ichinoseki, Kitakami, Rikuzentakata, Hachimantai, Tōno, Iwaizumi, Hanamaki

Return to the main travel overview: Iwate Prefecture.