Hiraizumi 平泉町

Historic town calms the soul

Hiraizumi, designated as a World Heritage site in 2011, is well worth a two-day visit. From Hiraizumi Station you can easily walk to many of the historic places. The town has put in a great effort to keep the modern architecture of the shopping and residential areas low-key. No distracting flashy signage or big buildings here distracting visitors from the rolling landscape and historical spots. I recommend renting a bicycle at the station to get away to scenic spots further away such as Genbikei Gorge. The ride will take you about 40 minutes along quiet roads.