Kitakami is a workaday city on the Kitakami River in central Iwate, best known for one thing: Tenshochi Park, a two-kilometre avenue of cherry trees along the riverbank that ranks among the finest hanami spots in northern Japan. In late April the blossom tunnel, horse-drawn carriages, and koinobori streamers over the water draw visitors from across Tohoku.
Outside cherry season the city is quiet, but it makes a convenient stop on the Tohoku Shinkansen between Sendai and Morioka, and the park's riverside walks and the Michinoku Folklore Village of relocated thatched farmhouses are pleasant year-round.