Hiraizumi and Geibikei Gorge in One Day Without a Car

Yes, you can see Hiraizumi (平泉) and Geibikei Gorge (猊鼻渓) in one day from Ichinoseki (一ノ関) without a car, if you go to Geibikei first. Take the 7:18 train from Ichinoseki, ride the 8:30 boat, and you are back in Ichinoseki by 11:18 with the afternoon free for Chusonji and Motsuji.^[3][4] The one thing not to miss: trains on the Ofunato Line (大船渡線) are hours apart in the middle of the day, so the train times, not the boat, set your plan.^[7]

Key facts

• Geibikei boat: 90 minutes, ¥2,000 for adults.^[2][1],[2]
• First boat: 8:30 from April 1 to November 20; 9:30 in winter.^{[1],[2][1],[2][1],[2]}
• Getting there: Ofunato Line from Ichinoseki to Geibikei Station, then a 5-minute walk.^[2]
• Best train out: 7:18 from Ichinoseki, arriving 7:50.^[3]
• Best train back: 10:44 from Geibikei, arriving Ichinoseki 11:18.^[4]
• Hiraizumi temples: Chusonji ¥1,000, Motsuji ¥700; both close at 17:00 until early November.^{[11][14],[13]}

Which order works best?

Geibikei in the morning, Hiraizumi in the afternoon. The temples stay open until 17:00 for most of the year, so they can wait.^{[11][14],[13]} The Ofunato Line cannot: on weekdays, after the 8:34 there are only three trains from Geibikei back toward Ichinoseki before the 17:51.^[7]

Hiraizumi first also works, but the boat brings you back after the 15:08 has gone, so you wait for the 17:51.^[7][2]

How do I get between Hiraizumi and Geibikei?

By train, through Ichinoseki. Geibikei is on the Ofunato Line, which starts at Ichinoseki, and Hiraizumi is 8 minutes the other way on the Tohoku Main Line.^[2][9],[8] There is no rail link between the two that skips Ichinoseki.

The Hiraizumi Tourism Association lists Hiraizumi Station as 18 km from Geibikei Gorge.^[8],[9] A taxi covers that distance directly, but no fare is published by a source we can cite, so ask at the taxi stand before you go.

From Ichinoseki you can also skip the train to Hiraizumi and ride Iwateken Kotsu’s route bus straight to Chusonji, for ¥410.^[10] For bus times inside Hiraizumi, and for walking between the temples, see the Hiraizumi guide.

What does a timed day look like?

This plan uses JR East’s current timetable. Check the times again for your date: JR East publishes a new timetable each month.^[3]

1. Take the Ofunato Line from Ichinoseki to Geibikei7:18

   The local train reaches Geibikei Station at 7:50.^[3] Walk 5 minutes to the boat landing.^[2]

2. Board the first boat8:30

   Buy your ticket at the landing and board the 8:30 boat. The ride takes 90 minutes.^[1],[2][2]

3. Take the train back to Ichinoseki10:44

   The train reaches Ichinoseki at 11:18.^[4] If you miss it, the next ones on weekdays are the 13:06 and the 15:08.^[7]

4. Continue to Hiraizumi

   Change to the Tohoku Main Line for the 8-minute ride, or take the route bus from Ichinoseki Station straight to Chusonji.^[9],[8][10]

5. See Chusonji, then Motsuji1 – 2 hours

   Chusonji says a visit usually takes around 1 – 2 hours.^[12] Both temples close at 17:00 until early November.^{[11][14],[13]}

What do I need to know about the Geibikei boat?

Geibikei is a gorge on the Satetsu River (砂鉄川), where limestone cliffs more than 50 m high line the water for about 2 km.^[2] You see it from a boat that a boatman moves with a single pole, on a ride of 90 minutes.^[2]

The fare is ¥2,000 for adults and ¥900 for elementary school children, since a fare revision on April 1, 2026.^[1],[2] Boats run every day of the year, but the weather can stop them, and extra boats may be added on busy days.^[2]

The operator’s fare page also has a button for buying tickets online, which saves time at the landing before the 8:30 boat.^[1],[2]

What changes by season?

Autumn. The Geibikei operator says the gorge turns red and yellow from mid-October to early November.^[2] For when the colors usually peak elsewhere in Tohoku, see the autumn leaves guide.

Early November. The temples switch to winter hours: Chusonji closes at 16:30 from November 4, Motsuji from November 5.^{[11][14],[13]} The Geibikei-first plan still leaves you the whole afternoon.

Winter. From November 21 there is no 8:30 boat; the first is at 9:30.^[1],[2] A 9:30 boat brings you back after the 10:44 train has left, so your train is the 13:06, and you reach Hiraizumi in the early afternoon with the temples closing at 16:30.^[7][11] The reward is the kotatsu boat, where you keep warm at a heated table.^[2]

Frequently asked questions

Does the Japan Rail Pass cover the Ofunato Line to Geibikei?

The Ofunato Line trains in this plan run on JR East’s timetable.^[3] Which passes cover JR East lines, and whether one pays off for your trip, is in the Japan Rail Pass review.

Can I do this day from Sendai?

Yes, but only with an early Shinkansen: the plan needs you on the 7:18 from Ichinoseki.^[3] If that is too early, use the Hiraizumi-first order and take the 12:45 to Geibikei.^[5]

Is the boat worth it in the rain?

The boats run every day unless the weather stops them, so check on the morning before you leave.^[2]

How much does the whole day cost in entry fees?

The boat is ¥2,000, Chusonji ¥1,000 and Motsuji ¥700 for adults, plus your train fares.^{[1],[2][11][14]}