Morioka

Autumn foliage at Morioka Castle

Morioka (Japanese: 盛岡) is the capital of Iwate Prefecture. Due to its transport links, it's a good option for a stopover on the way to either Akita or Hokkaido or a base for day trips to Kakunodate and some of the other small towns in the area. The city is also worth visiting in its own right, as there are enough interesting things to see and do for a day or two.

Understand

For a traveller, Morioka is perhaps not high on any itinerary and is best known as a major transport hub for Tohoku. From here, one can branch off on the Shinkansen towards Akita and some of the tourist towns on the Akita Shinkansen line.

Morioka is an ancient city; it has been inhabited since prehistoric times. You're not likely to see much of its history, however, as it presents itself as much like any Japanese city of its size.

Tourist Information Sites

The city government has an official Japanese-only site for sightseeing with integrated Google Translate.

The local tourist association also has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

By train

The eastern side of Morioka Station. Pedestrian tunnels run under the bus station and road.

Morioka is a major Shinkansen (bullet train) station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line. It is also a major transit station for regular trains.

The most frequent Shinkansen services from Tokyo to Morioka are the all reserved Komachi (こまち) and Hayate (はやて), which normally run coupled together as a single train. The ride takes 2½ hours at a cost of ¥13,840 each way, so you may want to consider purchasing a JR East Rail Pass or Japan Rail Pass beforehand.

Faster Hayabusa (はやぶさ) services make two daily round-trips between Morioka and both Tokyo and Aomori, complementing the other services. Fares for the Hayabusa are slightly higher (¥14,340 from Tokyo).

The Japan Rail Pass and JR East Rail Pass are valid for travel on the Hayate, Komachi and Hayabusa. On the other hand, rail passes will only cover the basic fare if you are willing to try out the premium first class seating on the Hayabusa called "GranClass". To use "GranClass" the limited express and GranClass fare has to be paid (¥14,640 from Tokyo). Without a rail pass, "GranClass" costs ¥22,830 between Tokyo and Morioka.

Morioka is a good option for a stopover if you are travelling by train to either Hakodate or Akita during peak times where it can sometimes be impossible to get a seat to your final destination. Depending on where you are going, you will be allocated a seat on either the Hayate or Komachi, which travel together as a joined train until Morioka where they split off to go to Shin-Hakodate and Akita respectively. If you are only travelling as far as Morioka you can be allocated a seat on either part of the joined train. It's then possible to spend the night in Morioka and get an early train in the morning to the place you want to go, or to jump on a local train if you're only going so far as an intermediate Shinkansen stop between Morioka and Akita or Shin-Hakodate, for example if you're going to Kakunodate.

By bus

An overnight bus service, the Rakuchin, runs twice nightly from Tokyo Station to Morioka (about 7½ hours, ¥7,850 one way). Other companies offer cheaper, less comfortable rides for as little as ¥5,000. Suspended as of March 2024.

Get around

Morioka is a small enough city to walk around. The furthest you're likely to want to go is the Morioka Castle site which is about a 30-minute walk from the front of the train station over the steel arch bridge and through the central business district. You can otherwise get the bus to the castle site (below), but the walk through the city is quite pleasant, though can be slippery, snowy and just plain cold in winter and unpleasantly hot and humid in summer.

From the station, the easiest and safest way to into the city proper is to use the underground tunnels from the station which go underneath the bus station and the main road. This can be slightly confusing at first for people who cannot read Japanese signs. The tunnels are wheelchair accessible via lifts. Sticking to the left side of the road from the station to the castle allows you to use overbridges to cross some intersections, though they don't save much time.

There is a wide and flat walking trail along the Kitakami river that makes for a pleasant walk or a good jogging spot with nice views of Mt Iwate. It's about a five minute walk from the front of the station, walking straight ahead to the steel arch bridge and then taking the stairs on either side of it down to the river.

By bus

A Iwateken Kotsu bus at Morioka Station

There is a large and sometimes confusing bus centre at the front of the station. Watch where you're going here as buses come from all directions while you're trying to cross the short distance to the shops in front of the station. Sometimes there will be a security guard who will stop traffic for you to cross.

Iwateken Kotsu bus operates the Den-Den-Mushi Bus (でんでんむし, Japanese for 'snail', which seems a strange name for a bus; it's easy to spot with a picture of a multi-coloured snail on the side of each bus) which encircles the city central area starting from Morioka main station via castle park and Bus Center. The cost is ¥100 per ride, and run every 10 min both clockwise and anti-clockwise during daytime. For such a low price it is a good way to get your bearings if you're new to Morioka.

The bus services to the outlying areas of the city are generally somewhat infrequent, but are usable with a little bit of advance planning. Fares can be paid using an IC card.

See

Oyakuen Garden

• 1 Morioka Castle (盛岡城), ☏ +81 19-639-9057. Morioka Castle was built in the 16th century by Nanbu Nobunao, the first daimyo of the area. The castle was used as a residence during its heyday until it was dismantled during the Meiji Period. The area was converted into a park in 1906 and is known today as a popular place to see cherry blossoms in the spring. It is also very pretty in winter when the snow falls on the varied landscape and old castle walls, but it can be slippery and you can expect to trudge through thick snow. Free. 
• 2 Morioka History and Culture Museum (もりおか歴史文化館). The museum features exhibits about the history of the city, particularly its days as a castle town, but also includes artifacts from early civilizations to modern times. There are also exhibits of the city's festivals, such as the Chagu Chagu Festival. The museum's displays were revamped in 2023 - there's little English language signage, but it offers a free audio tour covering key items. The museum shop has an excellent range of souvenirs. ¥300. 
• 3 Morioka Museum of Great Predecessors (盛岡市先人記念館), ☏ +81 19-659-3338. A museum with rotating exhibits about people who have been influential in Morioka. ¥300. 
• 4 Nansho-so (南昌荘). 
• 5 Morioka City Science Center (盛岡市子ども科学館), ☏ +81 19-634-1171. A children's museum with educational science exhibits and a planetarium. Museum entrance is ¥200, Planetarium is ¥300. 
• 6 Hoonji (報恩寺). Contains 500 rakan statues. 
• 7 Oyakuen Garden (御薬園). The garden was constructed in the early Edo Period as an herb garden and was later converted into a garden for the local lord. It became a villa in 1908 until the buildings around the garden were turned into a museum. Today the garden is a popular spot to see autumn foliage. 
• 8 Takuboku Shinkon House (啄木新婚の家). The Takuboku Shinkon House is the former residence of Takuboku Ishikawa, a famous local poet. He lived here as a newlywed with his wife albeit only for less than 3 weeks. Free. 
• 9 Shiwa Castle (志波城, shiwa-jō). Reconstruction of an ancient jōsaku fort (城柵). 
• 10 Former Nakamura Residence (旧中村家住宅). 
• 11 Hara-kei Memorial Museum (原敬記念館), ☏ +81 19-636-1192. 09:00-17:00. The former home of Takashi Hara which has been converted into a museum. Takashi Hara was a Morioka native who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 1918 to 1921. He is also known for being Japan's first Christian Prime Minister. The building contains documents and personal possessions. ¥200. 
• 12 Fukazawa Kōko Nonoha Art Museum (深沢紅子野の花美術館, fukuzawa kōko nonoha no bijutsukan), ☏ +81 19-625-6541. 10:00-18:00. A Morioka native, Fukazawa was a 20th-century painter of European-style art. ¥500. 
• 13 Morioka Hachimangu (盛岡八幡宮). 
• 14 Sixteen Arhats (十六羅漢). 
• 15 Daijiji (大慈寺). 
• Ishikawa Takuboku Memorial Museum (石川啄木記念館, ishikawa takuboku kinenkan). Closed for renewal until Dec 2024. A famous tanka poet who was born here in the Tamayama district. The museum has information and displays about him and his poetry. ¥300. 
• 16 Iwate University Museum and Botanical Garden (岩手大学ミュージアム, iwate daigaku myūjiamu), ☏ +81 19-621-6082. 10:00-15:00. A museum established by the university with a nice botanical garden outside. 
• 17 Morioka Zoo (盛岡市動物公園, morioka-shi dōbutsuen). The Morioka Zoo a great place to check out the animals in a peaceful surrounding. ¥500. 
• 18 Iwate Museum of Art, 12-3, Matsuhaba, Motomiya, ☏ +81-19-658-1711. Tu-Su 09:30-18:00. This very modern art gallery has an impressive permanent collection (mainly made up of modern art) and hosts interesting special exhibitions, and is well worth the trip from the center of Morioka. ¥410 for permanent collection, more for special exhibitions. (updated Oct 2023)

Do

• 1 Morioka City Multipurpose Arena (盛岡市総合アリーナ, morioka-shi sōgō arīna), ☏ +81 19-658-1212. Facility for indoor sports such as futsal, volleyball and table tennis. Until 2015, it was the public skating rink of the city. 
• 2 Morioka Skating Rink (盛岡市アイスリンク, morioka-shi aisurinku). The public skating rink of the city, opened in 2015. (updated Oct 2015)

• 3 Morioka Handcrafts Village (盛岡手づくり村 Morioka tezukuri-mura), Oirino-64-102 Tsunagi. (updated Oct 2019)

Festivals and events

Morioka has a number of popular festivals.

• Chagu Chagu Umakko (チャグチャグ馬コ). 2nd Saturday of June. A parade of 100 colorfully decorated horses. (updated Oct 2015)
• Sansa Odori (盛岡さんさ踊り). August 1–4. The much anticipated summer taiko (Japanese drum) festival. Approximately 10,000 participating taiko players, flute players, and dancers parade down the main street, making this the largest taiko festival in the world and listed in the Guinness Book of Records, Odori. After the performance is finished, viewers can join in and dance in the street with the performers as a part of "Wa Daiko". A unique vibe, and absolutely free! (updated Oct 2015)
• Funekko Nagashi (舟っこ流し). August 16th. (updated Oct 2015)
• Hachiman Shrine Festival. September 14–16. (updated Oct 2015)

Buy

There are some good shops selling local souvenirs in the station. The station shopping centre also has an underground area with a number of restaurants, including a McDonald's if you're so inclined.

If you're in Morioka as a stopover destination and need to stock up on basics, there is a large supermarket, Jusco, by walking left on the main road in front of the station for about ten minutes, it's on the right just after you walk under the overpass. A large branch of Daiso, a national ¥100 shop chain, that sells cheap and basic and sometimes strange Japanese goods, can be found in the city centre. If you walk in a straight line from the station across the bridge and into the city you will find it on the right. There are also plenty of convenience stores in the area.

• Nambu Sembei (南部煎餅). Morioka's traditional wheat crackers. (updated Oct 2015)
• Nambu Ironware (南部鉄器, nanbu tekki). 
• Chagu Chagu Umakko. Kids' toy horse. 

There are several shops selling high end clothes (including upmarket workwear brands for men) on the main roads leading from the train station to the centre of the city. Other clothes shops are located in and near the Kawatoku department store in the center of the city. The Aeon mall in western Morioka houses branches of Uniqlo and Muji, among many other stores.

There are also a number of arts and music stores in the center of the city.

Eat

Morioka Reimen

Regional specialities include:

• Morioka Reimen (盛岡冷麺). Spicy cold noodles served with half a boiled egg, kim-chi and slice of either apple, watermelon or both. 
• Wankosoba (わんこそば). Small servings of soba, served "all you can eat". 
• Morioka Jajamen (盛岡じゃじゃ麺). Chinese-style noodles with miso. 

There are a lot of restaurants in the underground shopping area of the station, though they can be quite expensive and not especially good. Other eating options are in the central business district area or in the area in front of the station.

Some good options are:

• 1 Aeron Standard (アーロンスタンダード), ​3-6-24 Odori, Morioka City. Su-Th 17:00-01:00, F Sa 17:00-02:00. This modern izakaya has a diverse food and drinks menu which you can order from using English language touch screens. The staff are friendly, but don't speak much English. (updated Oct 2023)

Drink

Morioka is a small city, but it offers a number of good drinking options. The water in the area is clean and pure so there are a number of sake breweries. Japanese style 'Izakaya' bars are everywhere, and there are also some German style beer breweries which offer a variety of brews.

• Ootaru (大たる), Oodori (15 minutes walk from the station). Japanese-style eatery with Asahi on tap and ¥1,500 2½-hr nomihodai (all you can drink) deals. Try the pizza.

As with most cities in Japan, karaoke is a good drinking option, especially if you have a large group. Most places cost ¥1,000 an hour, including drinks. A good place is right off Odori on the fourth floor across the street from Ootaru.

Sleep

Budget

Budget travellers of the male variety will likely quickly have their attention drawn to a heavily advertised capsule hotel and sauna existing directly opposite the train station. The price can be extremely cheap, but be warned however that capsule patrons can expect a rapidly upward sliding price scale on repeat use of the sauna facilities, and you may well wish to use them a second time in the morning because the air conditioning intake for the sleeping capsules lies in the smoker's lounge.

An alternative lies in a relaxation cafe, Kaikatsu Club (快活クラブ, 2-6-8 O-doori) along the main street on the left hand side, about a 1 km from the station. Essentially this is a manga/internet cafe where the owner has thrown away all pretense of people reading manga and focused on the essentials, napping, relaxing, sleeping, showering (small surcharge) and maybe checking the internet.

Mid-range

Morioka has quite a few mid-range options, though note that most appear to be somewhat elderly and dated. You might want to opt for the more modern hotels in this price range to get value for money.

• 1 Toyoko Inn Morioka-ekimae (東横イン盛岡駅前), Overlooking the river (3 minutes east of Morioka Station). A particularly nice Toyoko Inn. Opened in 2009 the odd numbered rooms overlook the river and from a high floor you get a nice sunrise. Toyoko Inns will provide a decent, but basic, Japanese style breakfast. Do not expect English to be spoken, but you will be able to get away with basic functions like checking in and out in English. Perfectly serviceable and clean hotel. The chain has another location near the station (Toyoko Inn Morioka-eki Minamiguchi-ekimae). ¥5,600; winter discounts available. 
• 2 Route Inn Morioka-ekimae (ホテルルートイン盛岡駅前), 3-25, Moriokaekimaedori (turn right on the main road outside the station and a few minutes walk, hotel is on the left). Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 10:00. A slightly more expensive, but better business hotel option compared to the two Toyoko Inns. Check-in at 13:00, rather than 16:00, a decent breakfast and there is a large communal bathing facility, something that should be enjoyed as often as possible while in Japan. ¥6000 - 7000. 

Go next

• Hanamaki
• Hachimantai
• Takizawa
• Iwaizumi
• Tono
• Hiraizumi
• Shizukuishi
• Kitakami
• Kakunodate

Routes through Morioka

Shin-Aomori ← Ninohe ← Iwate-Numakunai ←	N  S	→ Shin-Hamamaki → Sendai
Akita ← Kakunodate ← Tazawa-ko ← Shizukuishi ←	N  S	→ END → connects to Tōhoku line
Aomori ← Hachinohe ←	N  S	→ Hanamaki → Sendai
Aomori ← Matsuo-Hachimantai ←	N  S	→ Hanamaki → Sendai