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.
Morioka is a ``river town'' where three rivers, the Kitakami River, Shizukuishi River, and Nakatsu River, meet.During the Edo period, annual tax rice was transported to Edo via Ishinomaki by boat transport on the Kitakami River, but eventually, with the birth of the railway, transport by boat stopped. will decline.
The ``Morioka Association that Operates Boats on the Kitakami River'', which hopes to revive the boating culture, was established and has been operating the ``Morioka Maru'' for two years as a limited-time river opening event for Kitakami River boat transportation. .
You can enjoy about 2km of river rafting from Kipushi Green Park near Morioka Station to the foot of Meiji Bridge downstream.
What kind of boat is “Morioka Maru”?
"Morioka Maru" From the official website of the Morioka Association, which operates boats on the Kitakami River
``Morioka Maru'' is a wooden boat called ``Hirata-bune,'' which was built by Kesen carpenters from Rikuzentakata City on the coast.
With a capacity of 10 people, there is a captain who operates the outboard motor and a boatman who rides at the bow, working as guides at important points while paying attention to safe navigation.
There are also wooden boats and FRP boats, but the Morioka Maru is the main character on this route.
Departs from “Morioka Port” in Kifuse Ryokuchi
Boarding procedures are here, the boat will arrive behind you.
Morioka Port, where the Morioka Maru departs from, is located in the Kobushi Green Area on the Kitakami River near Morioka Station. There are explanations such as cautions.
Lecture before boarding at Morioka Port
There is a group of stores that opened in September 2019 on the bank of Kibushi Ryokuchi, and there are many restaurants such as gelato, cafe, craft beer, and izakaya.
MORIOKA KIPPUSHI WATER NEIGHBORHOOD
We recommend spending some time here enjoying the river breeze before you depart.
Boarding soon! I can't stop being excited
When you depart from Morioka Port, you will first go up the river and pass under Asahibashi Bridge. Let's take this opportunity to take a closer look at the structure under the bridge that we usually cross without thinking about it.
Zaimokucho riverside stone wall and Mitsuhara Shrine
Pass through Asahi Bridge and head upstream to Yugao Se Bridge
The shore on the right upstream from Asahibashi is called Zaimokuchothe Yoichi is held every Saturday in the summer, making it bustling with a variety of stalls, including seasonal vegetables, fruits, flowers, seafood, and more, as well as handmade bread and local beer.
The name of Zaimokucho comes from the fact that there were many lumber dealers during the time of boat transport , and the stone walls that are said to have been built by these shops, as well as stairs to descend to the riverbanks, can be seen from the river.
Stone wall behind Zaimokucho where you can feel the history (some of the many stairs are blocked)
This stone wall is designated as a preserved building in Morioka City as the "Silver Town Back Stone Grove"
Mitsuharasha located in Zaimokucho , the publisher that published Miyazawa Kenji's only fairy tale, "The Restaurant with High Orders," but at the time, orders for this fairy tale were small and hardly sold.
Kogensha seen from the Kitakami River
Nowadays, the shop sells Iwate's specialty lacquerware as a folk art store, and it still cherishes its relationship with Kenji, as there is a Kenji museum on the premises.
Asahi Bridge - Kaiun Bridge - Furakata Bridge
Turn around at Yugaose Bridge (unfortunately, Mt. Iwate is in the clouds)
The Morioka Maru, which had been sailing up the river with Mt. Iwate in front, made a U-turn just before Yugao Sebashi Bridge and headed back down the river.
Yugaose Bridge and Mt. Iwate on a sunny day (from the official website of the Morioka Association, which operates boats on the Kitakami River)
Once you pass through Asahi Bridge again and pass in front of Morioka Port, and receive the staff's message off, you will see the Kaiunbashi Bridge, which is also known as "Two Kyuri Bridge."
The arch of Kaiun Bridge seen from the upstream side is impressive.
This bridge, which leads to Morioka Station, is said to cry once when the transferee first crosses, saying, "I came to a faraway place," and when they cross to leave Morioka on their next transfer, it is said that they cry twice, sadly, as they leave Morioka, where the human heart is warm.
The next bridge, Kozukatabashi, opened in 2006 and is the newest of the bridges on the Kitakami River in Morioka City. Traffic to and from Morioka Station has become smoother.
A banner handmade by our staff hung on Fukkata Bridge
Furthermore, a banner with the name of the bridge is hung on the railing of the bridge under which the Morioka Maru passes, but this was handmade by the management using duct tape and is only displayed when the bridge is in operation. Masu.
rapids under the willows
Unlike the right bank with willows, the left bank is full of shallow water and white waves.
“As the willows warm up in the air, I see the shore of Kitakami, as if I were to cry.”
This poem was written with the feeling of home for Ishikawa Takuboku, a native of Iwate Prefecture
There are willows hanging down on the shore beyond Fukakuta Bridge, which overlaps with the scenery in this song, but from this point the river narrows and becomes a rapid, so contrary to the somber song, the boat can be rocked on the river surface. There will be big waves.
There is a whirlpool forming in the deep abyss on the right bank, and I feel like I'll be dragged into it.
Thanks to the boat captain's skillful maneuvering, Morioka Maru descends safely, but the river surface swirls and the water splashes up, making for a short thrilling ride down the river.
Luckily, Hayate was just passing by on this day!
Once you have safely passed through the rapids under the willows, you will see the large Kitakami River Park on the riverbed on your left, and the Tohoku Shinkansen and Tohoku Main Line iron bridges on your right.If you are lucky, you may see Hayabusa or Komachi.
Mikawa confluence
View of the Mikawa confluence from the downstream side (the mouth of the Nakatsu River is on the right, and the mouth of the Shizukuishi River is on the left)
As the rapids become calmer and the river becomes wider, it reaches the confluence of three rivers: the Kitakami River, the Shizukuishi River, and the Nakatsu River.
Shizukuishi River and Kitakami River (the mouth of the Shizukuishi River is under the iron bridge on the left)
The sources of the three rivers are the Kitakami River at Wakusui in Iwate Town north of Morioka City, the Shizukuishi River at the foot of Akita Komagatake on the Akita Prefecture border on the Iwate Prefecture side, and the Nakatsu River in the Kitakami Mountains to the west of Morioka, all of which are wide. Located in Iwate Prefecture.
Kaimeimaru will welcome you here.
When we come to this point, the boat captain points the Morioka Maru upstream several times, so we can see the confluence from the downstream side, and see how the Kitakami River's water volume increases and grows due to the confluence. You can enjoy it.
Shinzan Riverside
As soon as you see Meiji Bridge, you will reach the final stop, Niiyama Riverbank.
After passing the confluence of the three rivers, the river becomes wider and the flow becomes gentler, and when the Meiji Bridge over the Old Oshu Kaido comes into view, the final point, Niiyama River, is on the left bank.
The Shinyama River Bank is the starting point for Kitakami River boat transport and the entrance to Morioka Castle Town, and is located a little downstream from the current bridge along with the Meiji Bridge, which was a boat bridge until the early Meiji period, and remains of the remains of the bridge and the remains of rice storehouses used in boat transport.
There is no return flight from here to "Morioka Port" and it is a one-way flight, but the surrounding area is full of old townscapes and temples called Nataya-cho, so why not take a leisurely stroll through its calm atmosphere? .
In addition, if there is another event, a shuttle bus may be operated to Morioka Station, so it is a good idea to check on the official website.
Reservations for “Morioka Maru” can be made from the official website
During boarding procedures (you can receive pamphlets on the right side)
Boat reservations are only accepted on the official website of the ``Morioka Association, which operates boats on the Kitakami River.''
As of July 1, 2023, the one-way fare is 1,500 yen for adults (750 yen for children over 4 years old and junior high school students, and children under elementary school age must be accompanied by an adult), which must be paid in cash at the time of boarding.
There will be 4-5 flights on Saturdays during the river opening period, but the flight has ended in the first half of 2023 and we are currently accepting reservations for September 9th, September 23rd, and October 7th.
Please note that you can carry as much baggage as a backpack on the boat.
Kitakami River Boat Transport <Information>
Event name: Kitakami River Boat Transport
Sponsored by: Morioka District Kawa Town Development (Boat Transportation) Executive Committee
Constituent organizations: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Iwate River and National Highway Office, Kitakami River Dam Integrated Management Office Morioka City, Morioka Association that operates boats on the Kitakami River
Up until now, the only way to go down the Kitakami River was the ``rubber boat river rafting tournament'' held every summer, but it is starting to be recognized as an attraction that allows you to enjoy a shorter and more casual trip down the river.
When people walking along the riverbank or crossing the bridge see Moriokamaru, they wave at us, and by waving back, we can feel the bond of a once-in-a-lifetime chance. .
![Genbikei bus stop](https://jp.neft.asia/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_5931-150x150.jpg.webp "The specialty of Genbikei, "Flying Dango," is definitely worth a visit! Delicious activities! [Ichinoseki City, Iwate Prefecture]")
