A town of water that squeals the time, in Michiyacho, Morioka City. A life woven together with spring water [Iwate Prefecture]

Located close to the center of Morioka city, Natayacho is an area where you can feel a sense of tranquility, as if you're one step removed from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Just by turning off one street with traffic, the quality of the air you're passing through changes dramatically. If you've experienced this sensation, it may be a sign that you're already beginning to experience the charm of Natayacho.

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Natayamachi flourished as a key port of shipping

once a key hub for shipping on the Kitakami River , where merchants and craftsmen came and went, and it still retains much of that atmosphere today. Along the streets lined with townhouses built in the Meiji era, the rhythm of the cobblestones creates a gentle, nostalgic atmosphere.

The charm of the lattice doors and plaster storehouses is not something that was created as a tourist destination, but something that still thrives today as an extension of people's lives. This natural appearance is one of the charms of Natayamachi. Furthermore, this town has water culture

I want to walk through the town, see, touch and feel. Take your time to explore the unique townscape and spring water scenery of Nataya-machi

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Harmony between townhouses and daily life

The origins of Natayacho date back to the Edo period

As part of the castle town of the Nanbu domain, which was developed around Morioka Castle, it developed in a place where samurai residences and townspeople's residential areas intersected. As if reflecting the history of a place where townspeople culture and artisan skills intersected and where commerce and handicrafts rooted in the region were actively carried out, townhouses built in the Meiji period still line the streets of Natayamachi, and the light filtering in through the lattice doors and the thick walls of the storehouses give a sense of the layers of time

The layout of the buildings, their frontages, and even the slope of the streets all tell of the ingenuity and wisdom of past lifestyles, and just walking around gives you the feeling of stepping back in time

Recently, cafes and general stores have been renovated from traditional townhouses and are dotted around the area, where the lives of local residents and the footsteps of people enjoying strolling around town intersect gently. Rather than "preserving" it for tourism, it is "passing it on in daily life." This quiet flow seems to form the core of Natayamachi's unique character

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Living with Spring Water: "Seiryusui" and "Daijiseisui"

As you walk through Natayamachi, you will hear the nostalgic sound of water. If you look down at your feet, you will see the spring waters "Seiryu -sui" and " shimizu " that still support the life of the town.

were selected as one of the "100 Famous Waters of the Heisei Era" by the Ministry of the Environment in 2008

(Note) Seiryusui and Daijishimizu are water sources for daily use that are carefully managed by local residents. Please follow the rules when using them

"Seiryu-sui" - A culture that respects water

Seiryusui is a famous spring that has been passed down since the Edo period as being cold in summer and steaming in winter

In 1875, temple , and in the early Showa period, it was renovated into a four-tiered well.

This four-tiered structure is divided into sections for drinking, washing rice, washing dishes, and washing feet, and these separate uses are still carefully observed to this day. The name "Seiryu-sui" (Blue Dragon Water) comes from the legend that a blue dragon once lived in the swamp behind Gidaiji Temple, and it evokes a sense of reverence for water and its connection to daily life

Information

• Address: 1 Daijijicho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0827
• Opening hours: All year round

Google Map

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Daiji-shimizu, a local water source protected by the water association

Daiji-shimizu, on the other hand, is a historic spring that is drawn from the grounds of Daiji-ji Temple, known as the family temple of Hara Takashi. It began as a wooden piped water source in the Meiji era, and in 1927 the local " Daiji-shimizu Water Supply Association " was established. It continues to be managed independently by local residents to this day.

The current well is divided into six sections, each with its own function: drinking water, rice washing, vegetable washing, dish washing, laundry, and foot washing. The water temperature remains stable throughout the year, and the mild, soft water is popular as it is also suitable for making coffee and tea

Both springs are cleaned and maintained by local volunteers and residents, and visitors are given detailed instructions on how to use them. The morning water-drawing ritual, known as "Omizutori," is a scene that has existed in this town since ancient times. There is something dignified about the figure of the people drawing water, and the beauty of life lies in their quiet attitude as they face nature

Information

• Address: 3-15 Natayacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0827
• Opening hours: All year round

Google Map

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Unchanging values, changing time

While preserving the townhouse scenery and spring water culture, a new way of life is gradually developing in Nataya-cho

There are cafes run by young people who have rented vacant townhouses, art events that make use of the local spring water culture, and local efforts to spread the area's appeal through social media

Rather than simply preserving old things, efforts are underway to re-edit them and create new value so that we can live together

The scenery of Natayamachi may change with the times, but at the root of this change is the rhythm of life that continues gently, like spring water

It's not that they're being preserved because they're beautiful, but that they're still in use today. This attitude may speak to the way time flows in this town

Information

• Name: Morioka Machiya Story Museum
• Address: 10-8 Natayacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0827
• Inquiries: 019-654-2911
• Opening hours: 9:00-19:00 (last entrance 18:30)
• Closed: 4th Tuesday of every month (or the following day if it falls on a public holiday) / December 29th - January 3rd
• Official URL: https://machiya.iwate-arts.jp/

Google Map

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A street with the sound of water that makes you want to walk again

When you walk around Natayamachi, you will realize that it is a town that you can "feel" rather than "see."

The sound of footsteps on cobblestones, the feel of a lattice door, the feeling of spring water spilling through your fingers... This town can be fully experienced through all five senses, and there is a tranquility that will relax your soul

Spring water is the rhythm of life that continues from the past to the present, and also a hint for thinking about how we will live in the future. The sky reflected on the sparkling water's surface, and the quiet gazes of people passing by, somehow make it seem as if your own outline is clearly visible... This is the way time flows gently in Natayamachi

If you ever visit Morioka, try walking a little further from the city center through Nataya-cho. The sound of the water will surely remind you to keep your own pace

Google Map

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