When you don't have much cash, but you have some time, you can also get down to Tokyo via overnight buses from many cities in Iwate. Also, more and more JETs are buying or renting cars which makes getting around to see the sights and friends even easier. Iwate is on about the same latitude as New York City, so we experience all four seasons. You will definitely want some lightweight rain gear for your first month here. Autumn is full of crisp, windy days that are great for enjoying the outdoors and watching the leaves change into brilliant reds and yellows.
Autumn soon gives way to a rather frigid winter.
The central and northern parts of Iwate are very cold and blanketed with snow from late December until March. The winter would not be that harsh except for the fact that because most Japanese homes do not have central heating, it is often the same temperature inside your apartment as it is outside. The winters are generally more mild along the coast and in the southern parts of Iwate, and there is not as much snow, but the chill is nevertheless hard to escape. No matter from where you hail, a good parka, warm sweaters, long underwear, and gloves are a wise investment. Well, the above are just a few general facts about life in Iwate.