WHAT TO EXPECT IN IWATE
Second biggest prefecture in Iwate
Snows in the winter
Plenty of fresh meat and produce to enjoy
Lots of nature to explore and enjoy
Iwate is the second biggest prefecture in Japan. It also has some of the coldest areas in Japan outside of Hokkaido during the winter. Some parts get more snow than others but it’s safe to assume you will need some snow boots during your time living here.
Many people in Iwate drive since the prefecture is so big. The distances between cities with almost nothing in between are quite large in many cases and might be different than what you are used to at home. There are local train lines, express busses and Shinkansens that help connect the cities, but departure times are infrequent so travel times can still be quite long between cities. For those without a driver’s license getting a bike might be a good idea.
Iwate has a thriving agricultural industry and so you can get a variety of delicious locally grown meat and vegetables throughout the year.
Iwate has 4 distinct seasons
Seasons change quickly
Snow will be on the ground for around 2-3 months depending on where you are
Seasonal allergies are common and may flare up here
For those of you coming from countries with no snow this is will be a big shock. For some people they experienced their first ever snowfall in Iwate.
Central heating is not a thing in Japan and so people frequently use kerosene powered heaters in the winter or Air conditioners to heat their home. You if you have a kerosene heater you won’t want to leave it on at night since you might die of carbon monoxide poisoning and it could catch on fire. This means that you will have to wake up every morning to a cold house. This can be a shock to people who have central heating in their homes but keeping a sweater by your bed or wearing pajamas is a good way to get out of bed in the morning.
In the summer, it is humid and hot (but still much cooler than Tokyo). Many of the yearly typhoons Japan experiences also tend to not directly hit the prefecture. Air conditioning is considered pretty necessary here so you might need to buy some extra things to cool down. Iwate has a few nice beaches to enjoy along the coastline during the summer, and hiking is also quite popular here.
