Kitakami is a key station in Iwate Prefecture, providing several important train routes. The Kitakami to Morioka route, approximately 30 kilometers long, takes around 30 minutes via the Tōhoku Line. Another significant journey is from Kitakami to Sendai, covering about 160 kilometers, which requires around 1 hour and 50 minutes on the Shinkansen. Additionally, trains run from Kitakami to Tokyo, a route of approximately 600 kilometers, taking about 3 hours and 30 minutes with the fastest services. These routes facilitate travel to major urban centers and connect Kitakami with the wider Japanese rail network.