Iwate Prefecture (岩手県, Iwate-ken) is located in the Tohoku region on Honshū island, Japan. The capital is Morioka.

History
Iwate faces the Pacific Ocean to the east, and borders Aomori Prefecture on the north, Akita Prefecture on the west, and Miyagi Prefecture on the south. The prefecture has mountains in the west, north and east, with the valley of the Kitakami River running from north to south through the center of the province and including the capital. The coast is very rugged, with little in between the mountains and the sea.

Geography
Thirteen cities are located in Iwate Prefecture:

Hachimantai
Hanamaki
Ichinoseki
Kamaishi
Kitakami
Kuji
Miyako
Morioka (capital)
Ninohe
Ofunato
Ōshū
Rikuzentakata
Tono Cities
Towns and villages in each district:
Fujisawa
Kanegasaki
Iwate
Kuzumaki
Shizukuishi
Takizawa
Otsuchi
Sumita
Karumai
Kunohe
Noda
Hirono
Ichinohe
Hiraizumi
Fudai
Iwaizumi
Kawai
Tanohata
Yamada
Shiwa
Yahaba
Nishiwaga

Higashiiwai District
Isawa District
Iwate District
Kamihei District
Kesen District
Kunohe District
Ninohe District
Nishiiwai District
Shimohei District
Shiwa District
Waga District Towns and villages
(as of March 6, 2006)

Main article: Merger and dissolution of municipalities of Japan Mergers
Iwate's industry is concentrated around Morioka and specializes in semconductor and communication manufacturing.

Economy

Culture
Bashō visited and wrote about Iwate in the journey described in Oku no Hosomichi. Hiraizumi in particular inspired him.

Tourism