Ichinoseki City is located at the southernmost tip of Iwate Prefecture, surrounded by Mount Kurikoma, Mount Tsutsuina, and the Kitakami River. Located midway between Sendai and Morioka, the city is located in the heart of the Tohoku region. This area has long been a checkpoint, and there are various theories about the origin of the name "Ichinoseki." Following a merger in 2005, Ichinoseki City became the third city in its history. The First Kitakami River Bridge, a railway bridge for the Tohoku Shinkansen line located in the city's flood control basin, is known as the longest railway bridge in Japan and among the longest in the world. Major tourist attractions in the city include Genbikei Gorge, designated a national scenic spot and natural monument; Ichinoseki Onsen; and the cultural heritage sites of Hiraizumi, including the Honedera Village Manor Ruins and Hanaizumi Ruins.