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Located near the heart of Morioka Natayacho is an area with a tranquility that seems to be a step back from the hustle and bustle of modern times. Just by entering a single street with a car, the quality of the air flows will change dramatically. If you feel that way, it may be proof that you are now beginning to experience the charm of Hitoyacho.
Hatsuyacho, a prosperous focal point of boat transportation
"Tototo - Morioka's Stay Haunted Place" is a guesthouse that has been renovated from a sake brewery
once the key to the Kitakami River's boat transport , and flourished as a place for a life where merchants and craftsmen pass by, and still retains its image today. The streets lined with townhouses built in the Meiji period offer a gentle, nostalgic atmosphere along with the rhythm of the cobblestones.
The atmosphere that resides in lattice doors and plastered earthen storehouses was not created as a tourist destination, but still exists as an extension of human life. This natural appearance is one of the charms of Hatsuyacho. has water culture rooted in people's lives that cannot be fully discussed by the landscape alone
I want to walk, see, touch and feel the town. Take your time to follow the cityscape and spring water unique to Hinoyacho.
The harmony of the town house and life
Located in the city of Morioka, Hatsuyacho is home to a sense of nostalgia and dignity.
The origin of Hitoyacho dates back to the Edo period.
As part of the castle town of the Nanbu Domain, which was built around Morioka Castle, it has developed into a place where samurai residences and townspeople live areas meet. As if to reflect the history of the townspeople's culture and craftsmanship, and the active business and handicrafts that are rooted in the local area, the streets of Hitoyacho are lined with townhouses built in the Meiji period, with the light spilling out of the lattice doors and the thick walls of the earthen storehouses giving you a sense of the lattice layering.
A cafe renovated from an old house
The layout of the buildings, the openings, and even the slopes of the streets speak to the ingenuity and wisdom of life in the past, allowing you to experience the feeling of crossing the times just by walking.
Recently, there are also cafes and general stores that have been renovated from townhouses, and the lives of local residents and the steps of people who enjoy walking around town have been gently intersecting. Rather than "preserving" it as a tourist, it is "to inherit it in everyday life." This quiet flow seems to create the core of the uniqueness of Hatayacho.
Life with spring water: "Seiryu water" and "Daijishimizu"
As I walked around Hinoyacho, I heard a nostalgic sound of water. If you look at your feet, you will see the springs that still support the town's life today, " Seiryusui " and " Daijishimizu ."
Both were selected as one of the 100 Famous Waters of the Heisei era
(Note)Seiryu Water and Daijishi Water are household water that is carefully managed by local people. Please follow the rules when using this service.
"Seiryu Water" is a culture that respects water
The four-tier well "Seiryuu Water". The "water of daily life" in Hitoyacho, still in use today
Seiryu Water is a famous water that has been passed down since the Edo period, saying that it is cold in summer and steaming in winter
In 1884, woodwind construction was carried out to draw water from the ancient temple of Gidaji Temple , and in the early Showa era it was built as a four-tier well.
This four-tier structure is divided into different uses, such as "drinking," "rice grinding," "washing dishes," and "foot washing," and "they are still carefully used. The name "Seiryu Water" comes from the legend that Seiryu lived in the swamp that once stood behind Gida-ji Temple, giving a sense of a sense of awe for water and a connection to life.
Information
Address: 1 Daiji-cho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0827
Opening hours: year-round
Google Map
Daijishimizu is a local water source protected by the Irrigation Association
Daijishimizu is a place that local people continue to protect. The wells, divided into six, are still used in different situations in daily life.
On the other hand, Daijishimizu is a historic spring drawn from the grounds of Daijiji Temple, known as Harataka's family temple. It began with woodwind-drawing water in the Meiji period, and in 1937, the local " Daijishimizu Irrigation Water Association " was established. The voluntary management by residents continues to this day.
The current wells are divided into six sections, and their functions are properly divided into different situations in daily life: drinking, rice sharpening, vegetable washing, dishwashing, washing, and foot washing. The water temperature is stable throughout the year, and the mellow soft water is popular as being suitable for coffee and tea.
Both Shimizus are cleaned and managed by local volunteers and residents, and visitors are also carefully shown how to use them. The morning water extraction, known as "Omizuodori," is one of the old scenery in this town. The sight of the people drawing water is somewhat dignified, and the beauty of life is ingrained in their quiet attitude towards nature.
Information
Address: 3-15 Hachiyacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture 020-0827
Opening hours: year-round
Google Map
Unchanging value, time to change
The town's symbolic presence, the fire viewing tower at the Hatsuyacho Guardya
While protecting the scenery of townhouses and the culture of spring water, new ways of living are gradually being developed in Hitoyacho.
A cafe run by younger generations of vacant townhouses, an art event that makes use of the local spring culture, and local efforts to expand its appeal through social media.
Rather than simply preserving old things, we have begun to think about how to live together by re-editing them as new values.
Morioka Machiya Monogatarikan: Uses historical buildings such as machiyas and sake breweries to display materials and daily necessities introducing the changes in life.
The scenery of Hatsuyacho may change with the times. However, at the root of this change is the rhythm of life that has continued slowly like spring water.
Rather than "leaving it because it's beautiful," it is "leaving it because it's still in use." This attitude may speak to the way time flows through this town.
Information
Name: Morioka Machiya Monogatarikan
Address: 10-8 Hachiyacho, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0827
Inquiries: 019-654-2911
Opening hours: 9:00-19:00 (last entry 18:30)
Closed: 4th Tuesday of each month (next day if it is a national holiday) / December 29th - January 3rd
A street with water sounds that makes you want to walk again
Walking around Hitoyacho, you will see that it is a town that is more "feeling" than "seeing."
The sound of footsteps on the cobblestones, the texture of touching the lattice door, the feeling of the scooped spring water spilling through between your fingers. Enjoy the taste carefully through the five senses, this town has a tranquility that makes the deepest part of your heart unravel.
Spring water is the rhythm of life that continues from the past to the present, and is also a hint for thinking about how to live in the future. The sky reflected on the sparkling surface of the water, and the quiet gaze of people passing by makes my own outline stand out clearly... Time is gently flowing through Hitoyacho.
If you're one day visiting Morioka, try walking around Hitoyacho, just a little stretch from the centre. It will surely remind you of your own pace, as if guided by the sound of water.
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