Iwate Prefecture

Located in northern Honshū and bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east, Aomori Prefecture on the north, Akita Prefecture on the west, and Miyagi Prefecture on the south. The terrain consists of mountain and plateau areas, with the Ōu mountains running through the western section of the prefeture and the Kitakami mountains rising in the east. Between them lies the basin of the river Kitakamigawa, the prefecture's main level area and population center. The climate is generally cool and dry. It is one of Japan's leading sources of both iron and copper ore, offers some of Japan's most dramatic coastal scenery, and is known for its traditional crafts including doll-making and iron-casting. (adapted from Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Tokyo: Kodansha, 1993)