"Monaka" opens in Sakanamachi, central Morioka! Come meet Mona-chan! [Iwate Prefecture]

On July 11, 2024, a new multi-purpose commercial complex called "monaka" opened at the entrance of the Sakana-machi Arcade in Morioka City. The complex has one basement floor and four above-groundfloors.

," with tenants that are a little different from large national chain commercial facilities, such as a market where local shops that support the lives of the community gather, and shops selling delicious local gourmet food andnesssweets.

In this three-part article, including this one, we will introduce "monaka," which has been visited by many people every day since its opening, bringing new excitement to Sakanamachi Arcade Shopping Street!

What is "monaka"?

This place is located in the middle of an area in Morioka city where you can particularly feel the "Morioka-ness."

Where the fun begins

A place where you can have exciting conversations

A place where you can relax and unwind

"MonakaThe nameMorioka," "Sakanacho," "Nakanohashi," and "Kanan," and it embodies the wish to be a place deeply rooted in the local community.

It is a place where everyone can feel free to spend time, from local children to the elderly, and even those visiting Morioka for the first time

The image character is the cute "Mona-chan"!

The building's exterior and interior wallsMona-chanare covered with many drawings of a girl named

Mona-chanis a third-grade elementary school student who lives in an apartment in Sakana-machi and loves monaka (a type of Japanese sweet) and the Sakana-machi shopping street.

She loves shopping with her mother and chatting with classmates, neighbors, and shop staff in the shopping district, and she hopes that Monaka will always be bustling with customers

Hotline Sakanamachi and Morioka Bus Center

The Kawanami area, where Sakanamachi Shopping Street is located, has a history as a commercial town dating back to the Edo period

the longest covered shopping arcade in northern Tohoku, stretching 365 meters under an all-weather roofHotline Sakana-machi, allowing shoppers to enjoy their shopping without worrying about their footing, even in snowy winters.

in 2006one of the "77 Best Hardworking Shopping Streetswas selected as

Although it is a little far from Morioka Station, the Morioka Bus Center is located nearby, making it easily accessible from both inside and outside Morioka city, and it is a shopping street that many local residents visit by bus to shop

the former residence of the Nanbu clan, the lordsMorioka Castle Ruins Parkof the Morioka domain, the Iwate Bank, famous for its brick Western-style architecturetourist attractions,Morioka Hachimangu Shrine.

Looking back at the birth of "monaka"

Where Monaca now stands, there used to be three commercial facilities, all of which were beloved and well-known by locals

Many Morioka residents who were nostalgic for the past called for the revival of the Sakanamachi Arcade commercial facilities, and the birth of "Monaka" was eagerly awaited

Kawatoku

, a long-established department store in Saien, Morioka City, which will soon celebrate its 160th anniversary of operation,Parc Avenue Kawatokuoperated in the same location where Monaka is now located for 105 years, from 1875 (Meiji 8) to 1980 (Showa 55).

Many Morioka residents over the age of 60 still remember Kawatoku, which was located in Sakanamachi

Third year of junior high school

Nakasan, headquartered in Aomori, acquired Kawatoku's former store in May 1981 and opened its Morioka store

However, with the expansion of large American-style shopping centers into the northern Tohoku region, sales fell and many of the stores in the area were closed.The Great East Japan Earthquake was also a distant cause, and the Morioka store was forced to close in 2011 (Heisei 23)

Nanak

of Tokyo in October 2012 andMilestone Turnaround Managementwas taken over byNanackreopened as

Like Monaca, it was a convenient facility housing a fresh food store, restaurants, general stores, and more. However, due to the building's aging, maintenance costs and the need for earthquake-resistant reinforcement work, as well as financial difficulties at the head office, it closed in June 2019

Introducing the "monaka" floor!

Each floor from the 1st to the 3rd floor has its own theme and is home to many tenants

There is a wide variety of things to do, including markets with a wide selection of food, general stores selling daily necessities, 100-yen shops, restaurants where you can enjoy the flavors of Morioka, cafes where you can take a break and relax, medical facilities and pharmacies to protect your health, chiropractic clinics, and cram schools

1F "Food Marche"

were also located in "Nanack," such as "Tasei Fish Shop," "TOMATOMA Totsuka," and "Niku noIn addition to long-established shops selling fresh fish, produce, and meat that are beloved by locals andShokusai Kobowhich sells Sanriku-style prepared foodsIppuku.

the bakery "R Baker," the apple piekawaii," the sweet potato and parfait shop "Fukufukudo," and the Iwaizumi gelato shop "ViTO × IWAIZUMI," as well as cafes, soba restaurants, takoyaki shops, Nanbu senbei crackers, coffee shops, and Japanese tea shops.

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

"Monaka" opens in Sakanamachi, the heart of Morioka! Introducing a store where you can find Morioka cuisine! [Iwate Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/33906

Monaka, a shopping complex that opened at the entrance to Sakanamachi Arcade in Morioka City on July 11, 2024, has been a huge success, attracting many customers from both inside and outside the city every day. The name "monaka" embodies the meaning of "mori" (middle) and "naka" (middle) of Morioka, and also incorporates the place names "Morioka," "Nakanohashi," "Sakanachou," and "Kanan" associated with the area. Following our article introducing the opening, we will introduce the unique tenants in detail. https://jp.neft.asia/archives/33460 The center of the first floor is Morioka's "kitchen," a bright and spacious food market...

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2nd floor "Living and Relaxation Lounge"

Around Iroha Terrace, which faces the arcade, you"and new Morioka flavors, with restaurants such as "Gyutan Shokudo Yoshida Seikuten," the first branch from Miyako, "Shin Morioka Reimen to Hittsumi Kyuutaya," which offers a new style of cold noodles, andChatonlocally famous Italian restaurant.," a

The complex includes a cafe and general store called "Cafe Cantina & La Barca 2," a 100-yen shop called "Seria" a compounding pharmacy called "Donguri Pharmacya local information magazine in MoriokaTekuriEvents are also held in the gallery space of

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] "Monaka" opens in Sakanamachi, right in the heart of Morioka! Tenants on the 2nd and 3rd floors add flavor to your gourmet life

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/33959#F

Let's head up to Monaka's second and third floors! To get to the second floor, there are stairs and escalators immediately upon entering the facility from the Red Brick Entrance on the north side, two elevators leading to the underground parking lot and stairs nearby, and stairs leading up to the second floor at the Shogingermachi Entrance on the south side. Additionally, on the right side of the north exit of the Sakanamachi Arcade, there are stairs and escalators leading up to the second floor from outside the facility. The second floor is named the "Living and Relaxation Lounge," and the third floor is the "Health and Learning Floor." https://jp.neft.asia/archives/33460 Iroha Terrace on the second floor is a major attraction in the gourmet district...

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3rd floor: "Health and Learning Floor"

The third floor houses clinics for dentistry, neurology, nephrology (urology), pediatrics, and more, as well as a women-only fitness club and osteopathic and chiropractic clinic, where you can come for a short visit. This floor offers a quieter atmosphere than the first and second floors, allowing you to care for your body

There are also three cram schools located in the quiet area, where students can concentrate on their studies in peace and quiet. Each school is promoting its own unique teaching methods and recruiting students

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

[Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture] "Monaka" opens in Sakanamachi, right in the heart of Morioka! Tenants on the 2nd and 3rd floors add flavor to your gourmet life

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/33959#i-6

Let's head up to Monaka's second and third floors! To get to the second floor, there are stairs and escalators immediately upon entering the facility from the Red Brick Entrance on the north side, two elevators leading to the underground parking lot and stairs nearby, and stairs leading up to the second floor at the Shogingermachi Entrance on the south side. Additionally, on the right side of the north exit of the Sakanamachi Arcade, there are stairs and escalators leading up to the second floor from outside the facility. The second floor is named the "Living and Relaxation Lounge," and the third floor is the "Health and Learning Floor." https://jp.neft.asia/archives/33460 Iroha Terrace on the second floor is a major attraction in the gourmet district...

read more

summary

There are two parking lots: the underground parking lot on the first basement floor (approximately 80 cars) is open from 7:00 to 23:00, and the outdoor East Parking Lot next door to the east is open 24 hours a day (please check the official website for parking fees)

The fourth floor is an office floor, but as of July 16, 2024, it is still vacant

so farmonaka, but next time we'll introduce in detail the more than 40 tenants offering "monaka," including long-established shops in Morioka and new shops with innovative concepts, which are fun to browse even if you're just looking around!

monaka (Monaka) <Information>

• Facility name: monaka
• Facility location: 1-6-8 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
• Phone number: 019-622-0168
• Business hours: 10:00-19:00 (Please check the official website for restaurant opening hours)
• URL:monaka official website
• Access: Take Iwate Kotsu or Iwate Kenpoku Bus to Morioka Bus Center or Morioka Bus Center-mae, then walk for 1 minute
• Parking: Basement 1 (approximately 80 cars) and East Parking Lot (61 cars, 24-hour access) to the east. There are also designated affiliated parking lots nearby

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DaiwaConsilio

I'm a former Edoite (Tokyoite) who loves Morioka and the six prefectures of Tohoku, and I'm a big fan of history, gourmet food, travel, sports, alcohol, and choral singing.
I'll introduce you to interesting things, delicious food, and great places in Tohoku!