This time on my “Tohoku adventure using only public transportation,” I headed to Hiraizumi in Iwate Prefecture.Feeling pretty bold, I rented a bike and zoomed all the way to the next city — Ichinoseki.And guess what I found there? FLYING DANGO. Seriously!!!From the UNESCO World Heritage Site Chuson-ji Temple to FLYING DANGO — Iwate’s got it all. And I saw it all from the seat of my trusty rental bike.
（*Tohoku is the northeastern region of Japan.)
Missed the last post? Catch it here ↓
Wait, what?! There’s a place in Iwate where dango fly through the air!?
While planning our Tohoku trip, my sister — who had totally left the itinerary to me — suddenly dropped this wild tip she got from someone at work.
Apparently, there’s this thing in Iwate called ‘Flying Dango.’ Someone at work told me about it.。
What the heck!? That sounds way too cool — we HAVE to go see it!!
And just like that, “Flying Dango” became a non-negotiable stop on our Iwate adventure checklist.
What is Flying Dango?
The so-called “Flying Dango” is actually a quirky local specialty from Genbikei Gorge — it’s called Kakkō Dango.
Here’s how it works: you bang a wooden mallet to call the staff at Kakkōya teahouse across the river, place your money in a basket, and then —a basket comes flying back across the gorge with dango and tea inside.es, really. Your snacks arrive via a zipline over the river. Totally Japanese. Totally awesome.
I mean, how could that not be amazing!?
So I grabbed a rental bike at Hiraizumi Station and pedaled my way through endless rice fields, heading straight for Genbikei Gorge.
When I arrived at Genbikei Gorge, I was greeted by a crystal-clear river and a bunch of wild, oddly shaped rocks.Genbikei is famous for its dramatic cliffs and uniquely shaped stones carved by the river over centuries.Soaking in the peaceful scenery, I made my way to the legendary dango spot.
And finally… drumroll please…!!!
I came face-to-face with the one and only… Flying Dango! 😂
Here’s the Flying Dango in action!
Photos don’t quite do it justice, so…
Here’s a video for the full flying-dango experience! 😂
Heads-up: you might hear me giggling awkwardly in the background.
Please ignore it and enjoy the magic 🤣
You put your money in the basket, bang a wooden mallet, and the staff across the river pulls the basket up.
Wait a few moments, and voilà — your tea and dango come flying back to you.
Yes, over the river. On a rope. In a basket.
This is so fun!! 😆
The basket comes flying down at a decent speed, but somehow — not a single dango is out of place! 😂
Must be the work of a true dango delivery master.
The set came with three flavors: mitarashi (sweet soy glaze), anko (red bean paste), and goma (sesame).
Personally, I was totally team sesame 💗 It had this rich, nutty flavor that really hit the spot!
Sahara Glass Park
Just a short walk from Genbikei Gorge is Sahara Glass Park,a charming spot where you can see glass art and products from all over the world.The vibe inside is super cozy and retro, with soft lighting and reflections from the glass displays —it’s honestly a super photogenic spot. 📸✨
Bonus: it’s totally free to enter!So if you’re visiting Genbikei, definitely pop in here too — it’s a hidden gem worth checking out♪
Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondō
I was full-speed biking from Genbikei Gorge to the World Heritage site Mōtsū-ji Temple,
when suddenly — boom! — I spotted a shrine built right into the side of a cliff.
Turns out, it was Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondō, a nationally designated historic site in Japan.It’s been standing here for over 1,200 years — pretty wild to just stumble across something like that on a bike ride.
毛越寺
Mōtsū-ji Temple
Mōtsū-ji is a historic temple in Hiraizumi, Iwate, famous for its stunning Jōdo-style garden* —
a classical Japanese garden designed to represent the Buddhist concept of paradise.
(*Jōdo means “Pure Land,” the ideal peaceful world in Buddhism.)
Surrounded by a serene pond and lush greenery, it truly feels like you’ve time-traveled back to the Heian period.
(That’s around the year 800–1200 — the golden age of classical Japan.)
Chūson-ji Temple
After hiking up a peaceful mountain path, you’re suddenly surrounded by this sacred, awe-inspiring atmosphere.
It’s one of those places that makes you think, “Yeah… I’m really glad I came here.”
Heads-up: No photos allowed inside the Golden Hall — you’ll just have to see it with your own eyes.
Hiraizumi Rice Art
I heard a rumor about some rice paddy art in Hiraizumi, and with only vague info to go on,
I rode the train around town hunting for it… and guess what — I FOUND IT!!
Soooo cool!! 🌾✨
(Rice paddy art = giant pictures created by planting different colored rice plants. Totally unique to Japan!)
It was located near the roadside station Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi.
Not sure if it’s happening again this year,
but if you’re in town, definitely take a peek — it’s worth a visit! 😊
Biking Around Hiraizumi & Ichinoseki — My (Totally Unofficial) Model Course
It might not be the most helpful itinerary ever…
but hey, here’s my model course just in case it inspires your ride 😂
And don’t worry — they’ve got electric bikes available too!!
- Start at Hiraizumi Station
Rent a bicycle (they have electric ones too, so no worries!)
- Arrive at Genbikei Gorge
・Try the legendary Flying Dango
・Explore Sahara Glass Park
・Enjoy the natural beauty of Genbikei Gorge - Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondō
- Mōtsū-ji Temple
- Chūson-ji Temple
- Rice Art Hiraizumi(near Michi-no-Eki Hiraizumi)
Final Thoughts
By the end of the day, we had biked around 20 kilometers in total 💦
We couldn’t find the rice paddy art at first, so we ended up zooming back and forth across Hiraizumi in full-on “where the heck is it!?” mode.
We pretty much saw all of Hiraizumi… and even ended up in the neighboring city.
It was one of those days that just screamed: “Yep, we really traveled today.” ☺✨
After biking 20 km under the blazing summer sun, we were nicely sunburned and very ready to move on to the next town… 😂
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