[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] Good old retro trip! 5 spots where you can feel history!

Morioka City, the prefectural capital of Iwate Prefecture, is a city that combines old and new, with not only an urban streetscape, but also a retro atmosphere.

Morioka Castle, which still has its stone walls, and the Red Brick Hall, which retains the vestiges of the Meiji era, are popular tourist attractions and photo spots.

Therefore, this time we will introduce 5 recommended spots in Morioka City where you can feel the history. All of them are about 15 to 20 minutes walk from Morioka Station, making them easy to incorporate into your sightseeing route.

Morioka Hachimangu Shrine

Morioka Hachimangu Shrine was built in 1680, more than 300 years ago, and is a shrine that has continued to watch over the town and people near Morioka Castle.

There are 12 shrines within the precincts, including the main shrine, where various gods are enshrined, including prayers for good business, marriage, and safe childbirth.

The bright vermilion main building is dedicated to Hondawake-no-Mikoto, the god who is the source of food, clothing, and shelter, and the decoration, which is decorated with carvings of paulownia flowers, is also a highlight.

Another feature of the store is that it has a wide variety of goods, including around 450 types of amulets and the ``Successful'' item with nine horses drawn on it, which is fun to see just by looking at it.

 

INFORMATION
  • Spot name Morioka Hachimangu Shrine
  • Address 13-1 Yahatacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Business hours: Main shrine is open 24 hours a day
  • Phone number 019-652-5211
  • URLMorioka Hachimangu Shrine
  • Google map

 

Morioka Takuboku/Kenji Seishunkan

The main building of the 90th Bank, which was built in 1910, was reused. Inside the museum, you can learn about the works and lives of Takuboku Ishikawa and Kenji Miyazawa, who both spent about 10 years of their youth in Morioka.

The building has a design that reflects the European architectural movement of the time, and is unique in that it combines brick construction with granite, a specialty of Morioka. In July 2004, the value of the design was recognized and it was designated as a national important cultural property.

Admission is free, so it's a good idea to stop by while sightseeing around the Morioka Castle ruins.

 

INFORMATION
  • Spot name : Morioka Takuboku/Kenji Seishunkan
  • Address 1-1-25 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Business hours 10:00~18:00
  • Phone number 019-604-8900
  • URL Morioka Takuboku/Kenji Seishunkan
  • Google map

 

Iwate Bank Red Brick Building

Iwate Bank Red Brick Building was built in 1911 as the head office building of Morioka Bank. It was designed by Kingo Tatsuno, who also designed the Tokyo Station Marunouchi station building, and it feels somewhat similar to Tokyo Station.

The inside of the building is divided into the Iwate Bank Zone, which is free, and the Morioka Bank Zone, which has a fee.The highlight is the Morioka Bank Zone. For a fee of 300 yen, you can tour the red brick reception room, executive office, and conference room, which have been preserved in their original condition.

Photography is allowed outside and inside the building for personal use, so it is also recommended as a photo spot.

 

INFORMATION
  • Spot name: Iwate Bank Red Brick Building
  • Address 1-2-20 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Business hours 10:00-17:00 (closed on Tuesdays)
  • Phone number 019-622-1236
  • URL Iwate Bank Red Brick Building
  • Google map

 

Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Park)

This park is located on the site of Morioka Castle, which was built at the end of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The castle is surrounded by various trees, and you can enjoy the colorful scenery each season, with cherry blossoms at the end of April, hydrangeas in June, and autumn leaves at the end of October.

The restored stone walls in the park are also a highlight, and what's interesting is that the stones were stacked in three different ways depending on the era.

 

INFORMATION
  • Spot name Morioka Castle Ruins Park
  • Address: 1-1-37 Morioka Ichimaru, Iwate Prefecture
  • Business hours 24 hours
  • Phone number 019-681-0722
  • URLMorioka Castle Ruins Park
  • Google map

 

Soba restaurant Higashiya main store

Local gourmet food is also essential when traveling. ``Soba Restaurant Higashiya Honten'' is a long-established soba restaurant that was founded in 1909 and serves Morioka's famous Wanko Soba.

Wanko Soba is a set of condiments and desserts that can be ordered for 3,150 yen (tax included), and the waitstaff will put the soba into your bowl as you chant, "Hai, Janjan. Hai, Dondon."

For 15 cups, you'll receive a bowl of kakesoba, and for 100 or more cups, you'll receive a handout, so if you're confident in your stomach, it'll be a good memory to try.

We also have a wide variety of regular menu items such as mushroom soba and kakiage tempura soba, so we recommend using it as a meal.

 

INFORMATION
  • Spot name Soba restaurant Higashiya main store
  • Address 1-8-3 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
  • Business hours 11:00~15:00/17:00~20:00
  • Phone number 0120-733-130
  • URL Soba restaurant Higashiya main store
  • Google map

 

Why not take a trip to Morioka, which has a retro feel?

This time, we introduced five spots in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, where you can enjoy an old-fashioned townscape. Just looking at the building, which retains the atmosphere of the time it was built, is interesting and makes you feel the passage of time.

If you get tired of walking, we recommend enjoying tea in the retro space and enjoying Morioka's specialties. Please use this as a reference when exploring Morioka.

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