Miyazawa Kenji Dowamura In commemoration of Miyazawa Kenji's 100th birthday, this museum opened in July 1996. The museum is an amusement facility based on children's tales written by Miyazawa and the image of Ihatov. In the Space Room, one feels as though he/she is floating in the sea of stars, lost in an enormous kaleidoscope. Standing above the large screen in the Heaven's Room, one can adopt the vision of a bird. And in the Earth Room, one is reduced to the size of an ant to go on a nature discovery tour. Adults 300 yen, senior high and university students 200 yen, elementary and junior high students 150 yen / Open 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., closed Mondays (the following day when Monday falls on a holiday), year end, and New Years holidays. / 0198-31-2211 From Hanamaki station take the Iwate-ken Kotsu Bus for Hareyama via Shin-hanamaki station. Get off at Miyazawa Kenji Kinenkan-mae (18 min. ride).

Kotaro's Cottage, Takamura Museum Kotaro's Cottage is where Takamura Kotaro, a sculptor and poet, spent his last 7 years of his life. During the Second World War, Takamura's studio in Tokyo was burned down. Having been a good friend of Miyazawa Kenji who had died young, Takamura moved to Hanamaki, seeking support from Miyazawa's father. In an effort to forget about the loss of his beloved wife Chieko, Takamura continued his literary career in Iwate. Takamura's manuscripts, personal articles, sculptures, and Chieko's cut-out pictures are some of the displays at the Takamura Museum. Admission 330 yen / Open 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., closed mid December - March / 0198-28-3012 From Hanamaki station take the Iwate-ken Kotsu Bus for Sanso. Get off at terminus (30 min. ride) and walk 5 min.

Sakura Chijin-kan (Sato Goshi-kan)

From Hanamaki station take the Iwate-ken Kotsu Bus for Miyazawa Kenji-hi. Get off at terminus (15 min. ride) and walk 5 min.