IWATE PREFECTURE
Driving Instructions
There are two ways to get get to places in Iwate Prefecture. You can use Route 45 and take the scenic coastal road or you can go down the Hachinohe Expressway to the Tohoku Expressway. These instructions take you via the Expressway. You would be better off using this route to get to Morioka City, Nango, Kenji World, etc as well as some of the more popular ski slopes.- Exit the base from the POL gate and proceed straight about 3 KM until you reach the Momoishi Toll road. It is the first overpass you will come to.
- Turn left at the traffic light just prior to the overpass and you are on the entrance ramp to the toll road. As you get on the bypass, set your trip counter.
- You will pass through the Shimoda Toll Gate (¥200) and continue on past the Shimoda and Hachinohe Kita exits.
- Follow this highway as it turns seemlessly into the Hachinohe Expressway and then into the Tohoku Expressway.
Morioka Zoo and Iwayama Parkland
GPS 39.697137 - 141.194803
- Get off the Tohoku Expressway at the first Morioka exit. You will have travled about 140KM from where you entered the toll road in Shimoda and you will see the Jusco Mall on the left side of the expressway.
- The last time I checked, the toll was ¥3650.
- As you exit the toll booth bear left and get on Route 46 following the signs for Morioka. The JUSCO Mall will be on the left.
- At the traffic light at the end of the mall (2nd light I think), turn right. You will still be on Route 46.
- Follow Route 46 for about 7km until you come to a "T" Intersection with Route 4 and turn left onto Route 4.
- Continue on Route 4 for 2.7km and turn right at the traffic libht. There are signs that say
Iwayama Parkland and 
Morioka Zoo but they are not easy to see. - You will go up a winding mountain road for 2.3km. You will see Iwayama Park on the left.
- The zoo is 300 meters past the amusement park. Parking is on the left, the zoo entrance is on the right.
- Note: The mountain raod is sometimes steep and winding with some off-shoots that look like the correct road. Its possible to take the wrong road. Just be sure to pay attention to your odometer and you will know pretty quickly if you took a wrong turn. On the way to the Amusement park, the road should no go down hill.
- The Amusement park is small. They have a few good rides but we did the whole thing in about an hour and spent ¥5,000.
- Wear walking shoes for the zoo. It is built into the side of the mountain. The paths are paved but it is all downhill from the entrance. Of course, that means its all uphill to get back to the entrance.
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