Kuji (久慈市 Kuji-shi?) is a small town located on the coast of Iwate Prefecture with a population of about 40,000 people. Most of the population live in Kuji proper, but there are many smaller villages dotting the area. Kuji is roughly 1 hour to Ninohe and 3 hours to Morioka, both by bus. It has a scenic train that goes up to Hachinohe and down to Miyako.