Iwate Prefectural Museum is a general museum opened in 1980 to commemorate the centenary of Iwate Prefecture. There are 100 steps to the museum building to mark the 100th anniversary. The climb is a bit tough, but the view of Mt. Iwate on a clear day is superb!

The museum has on display a rich variety of materials ranging from geology, archaeology, history, folklore, and creatures including exhibits from geological history, such as stuffed animals and replicas of fossils, to restoration models around Hiraizumi and Motsuji Temple that help visitors understand the vast nature and culture of Iwate.

The Experiential Learning Room is popular with children who can play the games of the past in the room. Children can play with old-fashioned toys such as windmills and tops, or try on armour and dresses. The museum also offers a ""challenge quiz"" and a museum theatre.

In the Iwate Cultural History Exhibition Room, the ""Old Lifestyle Encyclopaedia"" shows various tools and home appliances used in most homes some decades ago, and is an exhibition that supports studies for children in elementary school.