[Tohoku] I went! 150th anniversary of railway opening! Travel with JR East Pass. Day 1, Part 1 (Morioka to Kakunodate)

As I wrote in my previous article, ``Let's go to Tohoku! Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the railway's opening! Traveling with the JR East Pass. Explanation - Preparation'', on the first day we will aim for Akita City.

A simple way to reach Akita City is to take the Tohoku Shinkansen to Morioka and then transfer to the Akita Shinkansen, which is a quick and easy way to reach Akita City.

This time, I will also take that route and get off on the way to my destination.

I'll head to Morioka Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa, which departs from Sendai Station at 8:05

Arrive at Morioka Station! What's within a 3km radius?

takes 39 minutes to arrive at Morioka Station . It's early.

The time was around 8:45, and of course I thought, "Hmm, I arrived too early."

I'm thinking about how many years it's been since I last visited Morioka, but I can't remember.

I was searching within a 3km radius on my smartphone, but the distance to the back of Morioka Castle ruins was 2.5km.

Since it is within range, cross the Kitakami River and Nakatsu River and aim for the former Dai90 Bank Main Building and Iwate Bank Red Brick Building.

Of course, at this time (9am), none of the facilities have yet opened, so the main thing to do is just take a walk.

Viewing Mt. Iwate from Kaiun Bridge on the way,

We passed by the Morioka Castle ruins, and the stone walls were currently being repaired, which was really good timing.

Although we were not able to touch the stone walls, it was a valuable experience to be able to see each stone wall in front of our eyes.

It is said that construction of Morioka Castle began in 1597 with Toshinao, the eldest son of the castle, as chief magistrate.

Later, I looked into the restoration of the stone wall and found that the last restoration was in 1705, the first restoration work in about 300 years.

We will also stop by Sakurayama Shrine next to Morioka Castle.

Sakurayama Shrine, whose main shrine is located on the ruins of the Sannomaru of Morioka Castle, was built in the 2nd year of Kan'en in the middle of the Edo period and is worshiped as the guardian deity of the Nanbu domain.It is a work by Kuninaga from the early Nanbokucho period that has been designated as a national important cultural property. This is a shrine that houses a sword.

When I arrived at Sakurayama Shrine, I was surprised to see Eboshi Rock located behind the shrine.

According to the information board at the Sakurayama Shrine office, when Morioka Castle was being built, a protruding large rock was discovered when this land was dug up, and since then various rituals have been held on it, and it is still worshiped as the ``talisman rock'' of Morioka, the southern feudal domain. That's what I mean.

The huge rock is truly overwhelming. It makes you feel strangely empowered, so it's no wonder it's called the ``talisman rock'' of Morioka, the Nanbu domain.

Tsurugaike, right next to Morioka Castle and Sakurayama Shrine, is a quaint and comfortable place. It was still a little early for the autumn leaves, but it was soothing.

Sakurayama Shrine

• Location: 1-42 Ichimaru, Morioka, Iwate Prefecture

GOOGLE MAP

Departing from Morioka Castle and Sakurayama Shrine, we will cross the Nakatsu River and head for the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building.

The Iwate Bank Red Brick Building was completed in 1911 as the head office of Morioka Bank, and was used as a bank for over 100 years until 2012. Currently, it is open as a multipurpose hall and a facility that displays the inside of the building at the time of its founding.

Iwate Bank Red Brick Building

• Location: 1-2-20 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Business hours: 10:00-17:00 (Last entry is 16:30)
• Closed: Every Tuesday, year-end and New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)

GOOGLE MAP

However, I can't take a tour at the moment due to time constraints, so I crossed the traffic light across from Iwate Red Brick Museum.

I took a walk around the nearby Morioka Takuboku/Kenji Seishunkan (formerly the main building of the 90th Bank) and returned towards Morioka Station.

The former 90th National Bank was established in 1898 by introducing local funds. This building was constructed by Tsutomu Yokohama, an architect from Morioka, and was completed in 1909.

Characteristically, the building is asymmetrical around the front entrance, with yellow-brown decorative tiles on the exterior, and granite is used for the cornerstone, entrance, and window arches.It is luxurious and gorgeous, and the second floor is used as a general meeting room. This is a building that was built with an emphasis on functionality.

Currently, it is used as a permanent exhibition room introducing Takuboku Ishikawa and Kenji Miyazawa, who spent 10 years of their youth in Morioka, and also has an exhibition hall where art exhibitions and concerts are held.

There's also a cafe corner inside, so it's a good idea to stop by for a break.

Former 90th Bank Main Branch Main Building

• Address: Morioka Takuboku Kenji Seishunkan, 1-1-25 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Business hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (Last entry is 17:30)
• Closed: 2nd Tuesday of every month and year-end and New Year holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)

• Coffee shop: “Coffee Akogare” in the former 90th Bank main building
• Business hours: 10:00-18:00 (LO 17:00)
• Closed: 2nd Tuesday of the month, year-end and New Year holidays

GOOGLE MAP

I was happy to see a retro bus near Nakano Bridge on the way back. This bus is a 1964 bus.

Currently, it seems that it only runs between Hachimantai Onsenkyo and Matsukawa Onsen during the winter season, but this fall it seems that it will be traveling around Morioka City and Tsunagi Onsen!

This is a recommended means of transportation when visiting Morioka by Shinkansen or other means.

We had a late breakfast here, and our destination was Surprise Donkey's first store, Bell Boulevard store.

I'm a little tired after walking around so I decided to have breakfast here. Our destination is Bikkuri Donkey's first store, ``Bell Odori Store''.

When I was a student, there were many stores in Sendai city, and I thought they were big stores in Tokyo's national chain, but that's not the case.The first store was originally "Bell" in Morioka, and it's a restaurant that originated in Iwate. It will be a store.

This is a long-established restaurant with a long history, having been established in 1968 (Showa 43), and at the time of its founding, it was called ``Bell, a hamburger and salad shop.''

The origin of the word "bell" is that the company's founder, the late president Akio Shoji, named it after the percussion instrument "cowbell." Mr. Shoji seems to have been aiming to become a professional musician for a while.

At "Bell", I had a morning hamburger set for breakfast.

Looking at the menu list, it seems that it is no different from other restaurants' "Bikkuri Donkey".

I think if there's anything unusual about it, it's inside the store.

I haven't been to Bikkuri Donkey nationwide, but it's rare that they have seats on the 2nd floor.

Hamburger Bell Odori store

• Location: 1-4-7 Odori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00-24:00 (LO23:30)
• Closed: No holidays

GOOGLE MAP

Ishiwarizakura is located on the grounds of Morioka District Court.

It was designated as a national natural monument in 1923 (Taisho 12), and currently serves as a district court, but it is said that it was originally the garden of Kita-Kanmono, a branch family of the Nanbu feudal lord, around the Kanei era, and was renovated in the early Meiji era. was called Sakuraunseki.

There is also a legend that the seeds of a cherry tree called Edohiganzakura got into the cracks created when a huge stone in the garden of the chief retainer's residence was struck by lightning and grew.

It seems like you are free to enter, but there is a security guard near the entrance, so I think it will go more smoothly if you say a few words to him.

Ishiwarizakura

• Location: 9-1 Maru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture (within Morioka District Court)

GOOGLE MAP

Take the Akita Shinkansen from Morioka to Akita City, a trip to Komachi

When I looked at my watch, it was 11am, and I left Morioka and headed towards Akita.

Looking at the timetable, I saw that was leaving at 11:23 for Kakunodate,

I have been to Kakunodate by car in the past, but this is my first time going by train.

Arrive at Kakunodate and take a walk within a 3km radius of Kakunodate Station

The time was 12:20, and I took the Akita Shinkansen from Morioka Station, but the ride was about an hour .

Kakunodate Station is selected as one of the top 100 stations in Tohoku.

It was my first time getting off at this station, and it was a really beautiful station. This surprised me quite a bit.

I can see that this station is valued not only by the station staff but also by the locals. This is also the terminal station of the Akita Jukan Railway.

``Samurai residence street'' is 1.2 km from Kakunodate station, so it's closer to the station than you think. I think.

Samurai Residence Street is a road in Kakunodate-cho, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture.It is a north-south street that extends south from the foot of Mt.Koshiro and runs through the inner town of Kakunodate, which was once a samurai town.

The famous weeping cherry blossoms that can be seen along Samurai Residence Street are said to have been brought here by the wife of Yoshinori Satake's son Yoshiaki from Kyoto, where he was born, and were designated as a national natural monument in 1974.

The roads on Samurai Residence Street are now covered with asphalt, making it easier to walk, but the scenery remains unchanged from the old days, such as the width of the road and the ditches running in front of the houses.

The Aoyagi family originally served the Ashina clan, but after the Ashina clan died out, they became vassals of the Satake clan, just like in the Mito period. From then until the Meiji era, he served as a loyal vassal of the Satake clan and continued to support his master's prosperity.

The grounds of the Aoyagi family are 3,000 tsubo (3,000 tsubo), and in addition to the main building, there are six museums on the grounds, including the armory and the Kaitai Shinsho Memorial Hall, where swords are exhibited and local experiences are held.

By the way, Naotake Odano, who is famous for his illustrations for Akita Dutch Studies and Kaikai Shinsho, is related by marriage to the Aoyagi family, and the two families have adopted each other and entered into marriages many times.

The Kaitai Shinsho Memorial Museum exhibits Naotake Odano, who had a close relationship with the Aoyagi family, his ``Kaitai Shinsho,'' and his painting career.

Kakunodate Historical Village/Aoyagi House

• Location: 3 Shimocho, Omotemachi, Kakunodate-cho, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (until 4:00 p.m. from November to March)
• Admission fee: Adults (high school students and above) 500 yen; High school and junior high school students 300 yen, children 200 yen

GOOGLE MAP

The Kawarada family was a samurai family that moved from Aizu to Kakunodate as subordinates of the Ashina clan, which was the lord of the castle before the Satake clan became the lord. Like the Odano clan, the current main building was built in the Meiji era.

The Kawarada House is located at the entrance of Samurai Residence Street and is adjacent to the Onoda House, both of which are public samurai residences designated as historic sites by Semboku City.

Kawarada family

• Location: 9 Higashisho Rakucho, Kakunodate-cho, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (Last entry 16:30)
• Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays (12/28-1/4)
• Admission fee: 300 yen for adults (high school students and above), 150 yen for children (elementary and junior high school students)

GOOGLE MAP

On the way to the station after leaving Kakunodate Samurai Residence Street, I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so I decided to have lunch at Inaho, which I found on the way back to the station.

At ``Inaho'', I ordered cold wild vegetable Inaniwa udon, and I was very satisfied because I was able to eat local dishes such as ``Iburigakko'' as a side dish!

Inaniwa udon was also really delicious and soaked up my tired body. This is a recommended restaurant, so if you're going to Kakunodate, please come by.

Restaurant Inaho

• Location: 4-1 Kakunodate Machidamachi Kamichō, Semboku City, Akita Prefecture
• Business hours: 11:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

GOOGLE MAP

Departing from Kakunodate, our destination is Akita City!

After this, we will finally aim for the goal of the first day, Akita City. I plan to arrive early in Akita City and take a walk around the city center.

I went to Akita City about 10 years ago for a friend's wedding, and I'm going to go there for a different purpose than I used to then, and I'm going to write about things I can introduce from my perspective, such as historical walks, delicious food, and alcohol. I will be writing about it, so please join me next time.

Today's transportation expenses (for regular fares)

Celebrating JR East's 150th anniversary, free pass ticket 22,150 yen