A new landmark in Morioka! "Morioka Central Park Viva Terrace," a relaxing spot in the heart of the city, also boasts a great selection of gourmet food! [Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture]

The area on the south bank of the Shizukuishi River, which flows through Morioka City, is called the "Seinan district" and is a newly developed residential area lined with large shopping centers and roadside stores

Along the Shizukuishi River is Morioka Central Park, which contains four cultural facilities including the Iwate Prefectural Museum of Art. To the east of this park, a new complex of facilities called "BeBA TERRACE" has been built, becoming a new place of relaxation for citizens

This article introduces the facilities and dining options at Viva Terrace (please note that all prices mentioned in this article are inclusive of tax and are current as of early June 2026)

The story behind the creation of Viva Terrace in Morioka Central Park

Viva Terrace was built using the "Park PFI (Public Offering and Management System)," which utilizes private funds and expertise to develop and enhance the appeal of urban parks

This is a system in which the establishment and operation of facilities such as restaurants and shops within a park are entrusted to private companies, and a portion of the profits is used to maintain and renovate the park facilities

In Morioka City, this system has been used to develop areas such as "Kippushi Midorichi" along the Kitakami River and the "Morioka Castle Ruins Park Lawn Area."

BeBA TERRACE is the third "Park PFI" project in Morioka City and is operated by the "BeBA TERRACE Management Council."

Facilities at Morioka Central Park Viva Terrace

The large grounds contain seven buildings, including facilities such as a nursery school and a library, as well as shops such as a farmers market, a bakery, a cake shop, a cafe, and a udon noodle restaurant

The courtyard surrounded by these buildings is designated as a "lawn area," a large space where children can freely run around, lie down, and play

The seven buildings, named with letters from A to G, each house the following facilities:

A variety of popular gourmet foods can be enjoyed at Morioka Central Park Viva Terrace

Viva Terrace features two restaurants where you can dine while overlooking the lawn, as well as a quiet coffee shop surrounded by trees

Additionally, there are cake and bakery shops, coffee shops for takeout, and a direct sales outlet selling bento boxes, so you can visit empty-handed and enjoy a picnic on the lawn or elsewhere

Building E houses both a cafe and a udon restaurant, while Building A, surrounded by trees, has a coffee shop

Building E, located in front of the main parking lot, houses "Sunny's Cafe" and "Udon Isshun"

Both restaurants face a grassy area, and on warm, sunny days you can enjoy a meal on the outdoor terrace, making them perfect places to relax and unwind

Both of these restaurants are operated by MDS Co., Ltd., which has its headquarters in Morioka and manages numerous restaurants in the city

Furthermore, the only restaurant in Building F, which was the last to be built and located furthest from the road, is "Cafe Couleur"

Sunny's Cafe

Sunny's Cafe opened as an all-day cafe, with menus changing from 9 AM for breakfast, lunch, and dinner

The menu is extensive, featuring freshly baked bread, pasta, pizza, limited-quantity French toast (950 yen), hearty hot dogs (1,050 yen), and fluffy pancakes

They also offer a good selection of drinks, including coffee, smoothies, and various juices, all at reasonable prices, and their alcohol menu is extensive, featuring craft beers and more

However, as of June 2026, the restaurant is only open until 5 PM (last order at 4:30 PM), so please be aware of this. However, it seems you can use the restaurant until 9 PM if you make a reservation

Udon for a moment

This udon restaurant in Morioka offers Hakata udon (also known as Fukuoka udon or Kyushu udon), which has a chewy texture that is quite rare in the area

The noodles, which also use wheat from Iwate Prefecture, are made fresh in-house every morning and then left to rest overnight before being served

Please note that details about this restaurant's menu and other information are covered in a separate article

If you'd like, please refer to that article

Tohoku Rokken Trivia Media NEFT

"Sanuki," "Hakata," and "Inaniwa": Three must-try brand udon noodles in Morioka! [Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture]

https://jp.neft.asia/archives/54115

Among the various regional udon varieties found throughout Japan, there are some nationally famous "brand udon." Examples include Sanuki udon from Kagawa Prefecture, Hakata udon from Fukuoka Prefecture (considered the birthplace of udon in Japan), and Inaniwa udon from Akita Prefecture in the Tohoku region. This article introduces popular restaurants in Morioka City where you can enjoy these "brand udon" varieties, along with their menus. (Note: Prices in this article are as of late May 2026.) Mishishippi Udon (Sanuki Udon: Tsukigaoka, Morioka City) The parking lot is in front of the store, but it's a shared parking lot with other stores on either side, so many cars can park. A unique...

Cafe Couleur

Located in the quiet F building, surrounded by trees, this coffee shop offers a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere

The interior is furnished with antique-style tables and chairs, and custom-made tableware is used to serve coffee and food

In addition to dining in, we also offer a takeout menu

They offer two types of coffee: medium roast and dark roast. Since the owner's wife runs the Western-style confectionery shop "Naïf" in Building D, they also have sets that include Naïf's cakes and coffee

Please note that Building A is a short distance from the parking lot on the road side, but it is convenient to use the parking lot adjacent to the neighboring Building A

Enjoy a picnic atmosphere with takeout!

I'd love to have a picnic on a lawn or at a park's observation deck, but I don't have time to prepare a packed lunch

However, for those who aren't excited by convenience store bento boxes, we recommend the takeout items at the Viva Terrace

ampersand bakery

It's a small bakery located on the first floor of Building A, where the children's library is also located, and it's run by the owner couple

Although the shop is small, it bakes and displays over 30 kinds of bread, including sweet buns, savory buns, croissants, and hard-crusted breads

Although it's located far from the parking lot facing the road, there is a parking lot in Building A where the store is located, so you can access it directly from there

Naïf

The name of the confectionery shop "Naïf," located closest to the parking lot in Building D (the Learning Building), comes from the French word meaning "simple" or "unpretentious."

The previous store was located in Nishi-Aoyama in the city and was a popular shop known for its simple cakes and baked goods made with ingredients from Iwate Prefecture

Inside the shop, which is draped with a white curtain, the display case features 8 to 10 items, including cakes and baked goods, which change daily

Since relocating to Viva Terrace, it's only open three days a week—Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday—but it's a popular spot with a constant stream of customers

CAFE LAube (Cafe Robe) Viva Terrace Store

This coffee stand-style shop is located on the parking lot side of the corridor in Building D, and it's recommended to enjoy your coffee on one of the many benches or in the surrounding grassy area

This coffee shop, which originated in Kitakami, roasts its own beans and has opened unique drive-through style stores in Hanamaki, Morioka, and other locations, serving fragrant and delicious coffee

In addition to various types of our own roasted coffee, we also sell sweet lattes such as cafe lattes, as well as homemade sweets such as baked cheesecake and pound cake

Direct from the producer and botanical products: ROOTS MART

This is a direct sales facility where local producers sell seasonal agricultural products, fresh flowers, trees, and other items directly

In addition, we sell unique souvenirs from around Morioka that you can't buy at regular souvenir shops, as well as bento boxes that can only be purchased here

summary

Located close to Morioka Station, Viva Terrace is a new kind of relaxation spot in Morioka that attracts many people of all ages every day

During weekday lunchtimes, the parking lot is full of people using the restaurants, and on weekends, families enjoy picnics on the lawn and other areas, with Morioka residents spending their time as they please

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!