This site is a web media that delivers all kinds of trivia, from sightseeing and gourmet spots in the six Tohoku prefectures to local, customs, and history.
"Ano nahan" means "You know , "Odettekunanse" means "Please come in" in Morioka dialect.
Among the many tourist attractions in Morioka, this article will introduce some particularly recommended spots
Stone-splitting cherry tree (inner circle)
From the Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site
"The cherry blossoms of Morioka bloom by splitting stones ," are the words of Yoshimura Kan'ichiro, the protagonist of Asada Jiro's "The Tale of the Mibu Gishi," who was working as an assistant teacher at the domain school before escaping from the Nanbu domain. He told , "Like the Ishiwari Sakura, you must have the determination to split stones and bloom before anyone else."
This cherry blossom tree, believed to be over 360 years old, grows in the courtyard of a courthouse facing Chuo-dori in the government district. It grows from the crack in the granite boulder as if it had split it with its own strength, and blooms beautifully every spring
It is believed that the tree actually grew from a seed that found its way into a gap in the granite that had been cracked by a lightning strike, and that the crack in the stone widened as the tree grew. It was designated a national natural monument in 1932
Around 2000, the tree began to show signs of decline, with fewer flowers blooming, but it has since recovered after being treated by an arborist
From the Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site
To protect the tree from the cold and snowfall of Morioka's harsh winters, in late autumn the trunk is wrapped in straw mats called "komo" (rice mats), and to protect the branches from the weight of the snow, ropes are strung from 13m supports to support the branches, creating a snow fence that has become a seasonal sight in Morioka's winters
Ishiwari Sakura <Information>
Facility name: Ishiwari Sakura
Address: 9-1 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, Morioka District Court
Iwate Bank Red Brick Building (Nakanobashi-dori 1-chome)
From the Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site
This building, constructed in 1911 as the head office of Morioka Bank, was designed by Tatsuno Kingo, who also designed Tokyo Station
In 1936, it became the head office of Iwate Shokusan Bank, the predecessor of Iwate Bank, and from 1983 it was used as the Nakanohashi Branch of Iwate Bank until August 3, 2012. After undergoing repair work, it was opened to the public on July 17, 2016
From the official website of the Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
There are large and small multipurpose halls on the first and second floors, and the large hall on the first floor is equipped with a piano and is used for music concerts and other events
The Morioka Bank Zone requires an admission fee, and features restored executive offices, reception rooms, and conference rooms from when the bank first opened, allowing you to experience the atmosphere of the time
Iwate Bank Red Brick Building <Information>
Facility name: Iwate Bank Red Brick Building
Address: 1-2-20 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 019-6221236
Business hours: Monday, Wednesday to Sunday 10:00-21:00, Sunday 9:00-20:00
From the Zaimokucho Shopping Street Yoichi official website
This market is held every Saturday in Zaimokucho except in the dead of winter, and farmers' ladies come carrying fresh vegetables, fruits, pickles, and other items that can be purchased at bargain prices.You can also enjoy local sake and beer along with delicious snacks while walking around
The event will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2023, and many visitors come every week, with the number of tourists visiting specifically for the market recently increasing
From Zaimokucho Yoichi official Facebook page
The name Zaimokucho comes from the fact that the lumberyard on the opposite bank of the Kitakami River was located in Kitsubushi, which meant that there were many lumber merchants and business was thriving
The area was also once called Iwate-cho due to the excellent views of Mount Iwate and the large number of immigrants from Iwate County, but in 1655 the Nanbu Domain renamed it Zaimoku-cho
Zaimokucho Shopping Street Yoichi <Information>
Facility name: Zaimokucho Shopping Street Yoichi
Address: 7-42 Zaimokucho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0063
If you ask Morioka residents what the Morioka morning market is, most will reply, "Mikoda Morning Market,"the kitchen of Morioka residents that the stores open around 4:00 am every morning and most close around 8:30 am.
In addition to seasonal fruits, vegetables, and wild plants on display in the stores, there are also fresh seafood stores and delicatessens serving home-cooked meals
There are also restaurants serving delicious ramen in the morning, shops selling large hittsumi (a local Iwate dish), ice cream and sweets shops, and shops offering hot sandwiches and coffee, so you can enjoy shopping while eating breakfast
There is also a greengrocer selling delicious handmade soba noodles, a florist selling fresh flowers, clothing stores, and beauty salons, making the entire morning market feel like a giant supermarket
Fun and great value events are planned for each season, so it's a good idea to check in advance
You may end up buying a lot of things and it may be difficult to carry them all home, but we recommend going by car as there is a large dedicated parking lot
Mikoda Morning Market <Information>
Facility name: Morioka Mikoda Morning Market
Address: 20-3 Mikodacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
From Morioka History and Culture Museum official Facebook page
Located adjacent to Morioka Castle Ruins Park, this museum allows visitors to learn about the history and culture of Morioka as it developed as a castle town
Various materials related to the Nanbu family are on permanent display, and you can learn about how the family developed from before the establishment of the Morioka domain, through the Edo period, and into the Meiji Restoration, and into the Morioka city we know today
From Morioka History and Culture Museum official Facebook page
You can also experience the culture of Morioka through festivals such as the Chagu Chagu Umakko in early summer, the Morioka Sansa Odori in midsummer, and the Morioka Float in early autumn, making this a recommended experience for both first-time visitors and repeat visitors to Morioka
Morioka History and Culture Museum <Information>
Facility name: Morioka History and Culture Museum
Address: 1-50 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 019-6812100
Business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-21:00, Sunday 9:00-20:00
Closed: Third Tuesday of every month (or the following day if it is a public holiday), New Year's holiday (12/31-1/1)
Morioka Takuboku and Kenji Youth Museum (former main building of the 90th Bank)
From the Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site
The modern Western-style former 90th Bank Head Office building, built in 1910, is a representative example of Meiji-era Western-style architecture in Morioka, along with the nearby Iwate Bank Red Brick Building
The museum exhibits materials related to two great literary figures, Ishikawa Takuboku and Miyazawa Kenji, who spent their youth at the former Morioka Junior High School (now Morioka Daiichi High School)
From the Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site
At the cafe "Akogare," named after Takuboku's poetry collection, you can reminisce about the couple's youth and spend a quiet moment enjoying the aroma of "Seishunkan Blend Akogare" and "Minamata Black Tea."
Additionally, music concerts and solo exhibitions are sometimes held in the exhibition hall on the second floor, so it's a good idea to check the official website before visiting
Morioka Takuboku and Kenji Youth Museum <Information>
Facility name: Morioka Takuboku and Kenji Youth Hall
Address: 1-1-25 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 019-604-8900
Business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-21:00, Sunday 9:00-20:00
Closed: 2nd Tuesday of every month (or the following day if it is a public holiday), New Year's holiday (12/29-1/3)
The Prefectural Art Museum, which opened in October 2001, is located opposite the bustling east exit of Morioka Station, in a quiet area adjacent to a park, about a 20-minute walk from the west exit across the Seinan Ohashi Bridge over the Shizukuishi River.
From the Iwate Prefecture Tourism Portal Site
The museum mainly exhibits works by local artists such as Yorozu Tetsugoro, Matsumoto Shunsuke, Funakoshi Yasutake, and Horie Takashi
also hosts events that combine art with music, with the wide, acoustically spacious staircase serving as a stage for concerts featuring music related to the artists and works on display. This is a museum we highly recommend to anyone who wants to experience the culture of Morioka today.
Iwate Museum of Art <Information>
Facility name: Iwate Museum of Art
Address: 12-3 Motomiya Matsuhaba, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 019-658-1711
Business hours: Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-21:00, Sunday 9:00-20:00
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday), New Year's holidays (December 29th to January 3rd)
Morioka's tourist attractions have been featured in many media outlets since being ranked second in The New York Times' list of "52 Cities to Visit in 2023."
The things featured here are often featured in the media, but we would like to once again recommend them as places you should definitely visit to get to know the real Morioka
I am a former Edo guy who loves Morioka, loves the six prefectures of Tohoku, and loves history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. We'll introduce you to some interesting, delicious, and good things about Tohoku!
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