[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] I tried riding the new Morioka specialty, the Kitakami River boat experience attraction "Morioka Maru"!

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'' 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

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.

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.

We recommend spending some time here enjoying the river breeze before you depart.

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

The bank on the right upstream from Asahibashi is called Zaimokucho, where a ``yo market'' is held every Saturday during the summer, selling a variety of stalls selling seasonal vegetables, fruits, flowers, seafood, as well as handmade bread and local beer. It's crowded.

The name Zaimokucho originates from the fact that there were many lumber merchants during the time when shipping was popular.The stone walls said to have been built by these shops and the stairs leading down to the riverbank can be seen from the river.

This stone wall is designated as a preserved building by Morioka City as ``Zaimokumachi Ura Ishigumi,'' and although it is usually only visible from the bridge or the opposite bank, it can be observed well from a boat.

Kogensha, located in Zaimokucho, is the publishing company that published Kenji Miyazawa's only fairy tale, ``The Restaurant with Many Orders.''However, at that time, there were few orders for this fairy tale and it hardly sold.

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

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.

Passing through Asahi Bridge again and passing in front of Morioka Port, we were seen off by the staff.Kaiunbashi Bridge, also known as “Twice Crying Bridge”comes into view.

When transferees cross this bridge to Morioka Station for the first time, they cry once, saying, ``I have come to a far away place.'' When they cross the bridge to leave Morioka for their next transfer, they cry twice, sad to be leaving Morioka with its warm humanity.It is said that.

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.

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

“As the willows warm up in the air, I see the shore of Kitakami, as if I were to cry.”

This song was composed by Takuboku Ishikawa, a native of Iwate Prefecture, when he was living in Tokyo, remembering the blue willows sprouting on the banks of the Kitakami River, and feeling nostalgic for his homeland.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

"Niiyama Riverside" is the starting point for boat transportation on the Kitakami River and the entrance to Morioka Castle, and along with Meiji Bridge, which was a pontoon bridge until the first year of the Meiji era, it is located a little downstream from the current bridge, and there is a sandbar where the bridge remains and the remains of a rice warehouse used for boat transportation. etc. are left.

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

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.

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
• URL: Official website of Morioka Association, which operates boats on the Kitakami River
• Email：mulder@agate.plala.or.jp

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summary

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. .

Why not try it out at least once?