Hanamaki City, located in the central-western part of Iwate Prefecture, functions as a transportation hub thanks to Hanamaki Airport, the Tohoku Shinkansen, the Tohoku Expressway, and the Tohoku Odan Expressway. The city enjoys a Pacific coastal climate and a cold climate, making it a pleasant place to live in the cool summers. The famous tourist destination of Hanamaki Onsen, located to the west of the city, is visited by many tourists. The city's topography includes Mt. Hayachine, Mt. Komagashira, the Kitakami River, the Sarugaishi River, and Lake Toyosawa. Major tourist attractions include the ruins of Hanamaki Castle, Hanamaki Onsen, Kiyomizu-dera Temple, and the Miyazawa Kenji Memorial Museum. Hayachine Kagura is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the city also hosts a national tournament for Wankosoba, a specialty of Iwate Prefecture.