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This winter, Morioka Illumination Bright has begun, illuminating the bitterly cold winter nights of Morioka with gentle, warm light
This event is the successor to the Morioka Snow Lights event, which ended at the end of 2022. Various facilities in the Morioka city center area light up their illuminations, and people walk around admiring them
"Morioka Illumination Bright 2025-2026"
"Waterfall Square" in front of JR Morioka Station
This season is scheduled to run from November 18, 2025 to February 15, 2026, with two shopping districts as the main venues, and the lighting ceremony was held on November 18 at Takino Hiroba in front of JR Morioka Station
Illuminations that do not specify the lighting period and time will be held in accordance with the main venue
Morioka Ekimae Shopping Street (lights on from 17:00 to 22:00)
View of Kaiun Bridge from "Takinohiroba"
Many LED bulbs have been attached to the roadside trees along Morioka Ekimae-dori Shopping Street, from JR Morioka Station to Kaiunbashi Bridge, creating rows of pillars of light on both sides of the street
View of Morioka Station from Kaiun Bridge
In recent years, the number of restaurants and bars has increased on the street in front of the station, and hotels have been built around the station, but the area is still vibrant, reflecting the bustle of the area
Morioka Ekimae Shopping Street ＜Information＞
Name: Morioka Ekimae Shopping Street Phone number: 019-652-2596 (Morioka Ekimae Shopping Street Promotion Association) Business hours: Monday to Friday 8:30-17:30 (Morioka Ekimae Shopping Street Promotion Association) Closed: Saturdays and Sundays URL: Morioka Ekimae Shopping Street Official Website
Google Map
Sakanamachi Shopping Street (lighting hours: 8:00-20:00)
Sakanamachi Shopping Arcade
The illuminations at Sakanacho Shopping Arcade feature many LED bulbs hanging from the ceiling of the arcade, creating a beautiful band of light that feels like light is falling from the heavens
The lights remain on until 8pm even after Monaka closes
The arcade-facing wall of "monaka," a commercial facility located at the entrance to the arcade on the Route 106 side, is also decorated with electric lights, making this area particularly vibrant
Since it is located inside an arcade, the lights are on during the day and you can enjoy the illuminations until 8pm when most of the stores in the shopping district are closed
Sakemachi Shopping Street <Information>
Name: Sakemachi Shopping Street
Address: 6-6-12 Sakanamachi, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 019-625-1515 (Sakanacho Shopping District Promotion Association)
Business hours: 10:00-18:00 (Sakanamachi Shopping District Promotion Association)
JR Morioka Station & Fezan Winter Illuminations (11/18 - 2/15)
Waterfall Square
In front of Morioka Station, at Takino Hiroba, there is an artificial waterfall modeled after salmon swimming upstream in the Nakatsugawa River that flows through the city, and in front of the waterfall is a multi-purpose plaza
The illuminations in this square, which represent trains such as steam locomotives and bullet trains, are also part of Morioka Illumination Bright
The square was built to commemorate the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen line in Morioka, and the illuminations seem to offer a warm welcome to visitors to Morioka
The left side represents "Hayate" and the right side represents "Komachi"
This year, the Tohoku Shinkansen "Hayate" and Akita Shinkansen "Komachi", which connect and separate at Morioka Station, are depicted using LED bulbs
The event will be held at the same time as Morioka Illumination Bright, but there is no set lighting time
Morioka Station "Waterfall Square" ＜Information＞
Facility name: Morioka Station "Takino Hiroba" Address: 1 Morioka Ekimae-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture Phone number: 019-613-8541 (Morioka Station Square Management and Operation Liaison Council Secretariat, Morioka City Construction Department Road Management Division) Opening hours: 24 hours No closing days URL: Morioka City Official Website (Morioka Station Square Management and Operation Liaison Council Secretariat)
Google Map
The main illuminations introduced on the official website of "Morioka Illumination Bright"
In addition to the two main venues mentioned above, the official website of Morioka Illumination Bright also introduces the unique works of businesses and individuals who create their own illuminations in Morioka City
There is no unified theme, and each piece was created based on a different sensibility, and it is clear that each piece is filled with the desire to brighten up Morioka's harsh winters, even if just a little
Pedestrian deck in front of Marios (16:30-22:00, December 5th-February 28th)
Pedestrian deck (Kioxia Aina in the background)
At the west exit of Morioka Station, there is a pedestrian deck that connects the free passage directly connected to the station to the 3rd floor entrance of Marios
From 4:30 pm (5 pm from February 11th onwards) to 10 pm, the fairy tale-like "Mario's Heartful Illumination" featuring various animals will be lit up
Marios 3rd floor Christmas tree
Additionally, a large Christmas tree will be decorated on the main third floor of Marios, and from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM from December 23rd to 25th, a large heart will appear using the lights from an office room located on the Morioka Station side of the Marios Building
A heart of light floating in the Christmas night sky
This large, bright heart, which can be seen from Morioka Station Street, is a beloved Christmas tradition among Morioka residents
MOSS Building (16:00-23:30, late November to late December)
A neat Christmas tree in front of the MOSS building
Located in the middle of the busy Odori street, this shopping center houses the cinema "Forum Morioka," a large bookstore, a general store, a supermarket, and more
To liven up this event, a simple Christmas tree illumination is lit up every year
MOSS Building <Information>
Facility name: MOSS Building
Address: 2-8-14 Odori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Parc Avenue Kawatoku is Morioka's oldest department store, located on Saien-dori Street, which connects Kaiun Bridge and the Morioka Castle Ruins from east to west
The gentle colors of the illuminations will soothe your soul
The flower bed in front of the main entrance is lit up with illuminations that represent Morioka's winter, delighting passersby
Santa and reindeer dressed as Nebuta
Additionally, the first floor display window displays the "Santa and Reindeer Nebuta" created by Nebuta artist Asako Kitamura, which was exhibited at Matsuya Ginza in Tokyo in 2024
Park Avenue Kawatoku
Facility name: Park Avenue Kawatoku
Address: 1-10-1 Saien, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Every year, Hotel Ace Morioka on Odori displays illuminations in front of the entrance, warmly welcoming guests to Morioka
This year, the largest-ever illuminations will be lit up, including a large Christmas tree adorned with shining pink hearts, adding a touch of elegance to Odori
Hotel Ace Morioka <Information>
Facility name: Hotel Ace Morioka
Address: 2-11-35 Chuo-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Illuminations installed in the garden of TV Iwate headquarters
The headquarters of Iwate Television (a Nippon Television affiliate), located along the Nakatsugawa River that flows through Morioka City, has a garden facing the river where illuminations are set up every year
Iwate Television's illuminations and Tohoku Electric Power's illuminated steel tower
The hedges and trees in the garden are decorated with many LED bulbs, and when viewed from the nearby Nakanobashi Bridge, the light reflects beautifully on the surface of the Nakatsugawa River
Tohoku Electric Power's steel tower along the Nakatsugawa River changes color depending on the season and theme
Also, when you look at the illuminations from the Iwate Television building, you can see the illuminated Tohoku Electric Power tower on the opposite bank overlapping, adding a touch of color
Iwate Television <Information>
Facility name: Television Iwate (TVI) Headquarters
Address: 2-10 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Kaiun Bridge illuminations (17:00-24:00, 12/24-12/25 and 3/6-3/22)
View of Morioka Station from the foot of Kaiun Bridge
Kaiun Bridge, which connects Morioka Station with Odori Shopping Arcade, the city's most bustling shopping district, is lit up, beautifully illuminating the surface of the Kitakami River
Please note that the lights will be turned on until 10pm from December 24th to January 25th, and until 9pm from March 13th to March 18th
Kaiun Bridge ＜Information＞
Facility name: Kaiun Bridge
Location: Kaiunbashi, Morioka Station, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Google Map
Morioka Castle Ruins Park stone wall illumination (17:00-22:00, November 9th-May 31st)
The stone walls illuminated by the light are a unique beauty
The stone walls of Morioka Castle ruins, the largest castle in the Tohoku region, are lit up, creating a fantastical sight
The stone walls of Morioka Castle ruins, the largest in the Tohoku region
Starting from February 19th, the lights will be turned on at 6pm, and over the New Year's holiday they will be lit all night from 5pm on New Year's Eve to 6am on New Year's Day
Morioka Castle Ruins Park <Information>
Facility name: Morioka Castle Ruins Park
Address: 1-37 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Phone number: 019-681-0722 (NPO Green Consultation Room)
This year marks the third year that Morioka Illumination Bright has been held, but compared to events like Sendai's Pageant of Light, it is undeniable that it is somewhat lacking in scale and splendor
There are only two main venues, both of which are small in scale, and other than that, only small illuminations are lit up in various places around the city
However, there is a desire among the participating facilities and Morioka residents to develop Morioka Illumination Bright into a representative winter event in Morioka
We hope that you will understand our desire to turn Morioka's harsh winter into one filled with warm light and come to see the illuminations in Morioka
I'm a former Edokko man who loves Morioka and the six Tohoku prefectures, and I also love history, food, travel, sports, alcohol, and singing. I'll be introducing you to the interesting, delicious, and great things about Tohoku!
