10 Things to Do in Morioka That You Shouldn't Miss

August 18, 2017 Matilde Konrad

Discover the best top things to do in Morioka, Japan including Rock-breaking Cherry Tree, Iwate Park (Koen), Morioka Castle Ruins, Fesan, Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building, Hoonji Temple, Sakurayama Shrine, Iwate Museum of Art, Morioka Hachimangu, Morioka Handi-Works Square.
Restaurants in Morioka

1. Rock-breaking Cherry Tree

9-1 Uchimaru, Morioka 020-0023, Iwate Prefecture
Excellent
31%
Good
43%
Satisfactory
23%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 199 reviews

Rock-breaking Cherry Tree

Reviewed By Seven W - Washington DC, District of Columbia

We visited around April 20-25 where Morioka cherry blossom was at peak this year. This cherry blossom is super popular among Japanese tourist. I saw tour buses stopped by. Yes, this is worth it.
The tree is an old tree and grew out of a boulder. People in Tohoku where were affected by the earthquake see the life and strength from this tree. The tree has splendid cherry blossom.

2. Iwate Park (Koen)

1-37 Uchimaru, Morioka 020-0023, Iwate Prefecture
Excellent
19%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
29%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 173 reviews

Iwate Park (Koen)

Reviewed By StanleyAuckland - Auckland, New Zealand

The area was originally the site of Morioka Castle. The castle was demolished in the mid 1800s. The area has been tuned into Iwate Park with the walls and moats of the castle remaining.Pleasant to walk through.

3. Morioka Castle Ruins

Uchimaru, Morioka 020-0023, Iwate Prefecture
Excellent
15%
Good
55%
Satisfactory
26%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 124 reviews

Morioka Castle Ruins

Reviewed By rogermann64 - Morioka, Japan

The Castle Ruins in Morioka is a wonderful place to visit during the entire year. It offers beautiful colors, varying by the season, and sharing the natural beauty of the solid rock castle remnants that surround the grounds. In Spring and other non-rainy days it is a beautiful place to go for relaxing, enjoying a picnic, or just walking on the grounds to get away from a busy schedule. I hope you can enjoy this wonderful site. Great place to get your picnic supplies is by going to the nearby Kowataku Department Store where you can find many delicacies that are high quality and very tasty..

4. Fesan

1-44 Moriokaekimaedori, Morioka 020-0034, Iwate Prefecture +81 19-654-7251
Excellent
13%
Good
52%
Satisfactory
34%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 114 reviews

Fesan

Reviewed By dockumar - Chennai (Madras), India

Visited this shopping complex situated in the JR Morioka station building. Has limited shopping options, when compared to May be Tokyo. But still ok for a small city like Morioka. May recommend the basement food court for the variety available.

5. Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building

1-2-20 Nakanohashi Dori, Morioka 020-0871, Iwate Prefecture +81 19-622-1236
Excellent
19%
Good
49%
Satisfactory
29%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 96 reviews

Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building

Reviewed By hfot2 - Vermont

You can visit much of the building without paying an entrance ticket or you can visit some inner areas for a fee.
We choose just to visit the free rooms and were perfectly satisfied. We spent a long time looking through the building and photographing it.
The entire building is open to the public it seems. For all the rooms we visited there were printouts with photos and detailed descriptions in English of the purpose of the space and the architectural details along with design information. Highly informative.
The landmark 1911 red brick Bank of Iwate is open to the public and very well signed. This “National Important Cultural Property” was designed by the firm responsible for Tokyo Station.
As we were leaving the docent asked us where we were from and thanked us for visiting.
Definitely worth a visit if you have any interest in Western style architecture in Japan.

6. Hoonji Temple

Temple district of Kitayama, Morioka, Iwate Prefecture
Excellent
43%
Good
53%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 41 reviews

Hoonji Temple

Reviewed By StanleyAuckland - Auckland, New Zealand

Inside Hoonji Temple are 500 statues of buddhist deciples.
They are made from wood, using a finish of laquer or gold and took 9 sculptors 4 years to complete, after having started in 1731. The works include statues of Kublai Khan and Marco Polo.
To get there , take a bus from the rail station, about 10 minute ride cost 100 yen . ( We made use of a tourist map supplied by the hotel). The bus stop is about 600 metres from the Temple.
After getting off the bus I saw a direction sign to Princess Centipede Grave. A name like this has to be checked out so a brief sidestep down a small lane located it . There is an explanation at the grave for the name. The story is that the princess ( whose name I forgot to write down), married a prominent member of the Nambu Clan and gave to the family an arrowhead which was said to have killed a giant centipede. The Princess died when she was about 30 years old . When she was buried, it was ordered that a small arch bridge be built in front of the tombstone. The bridge was finally completed but overnight it was mysteriously destroyed. It was rebuilt but again destroyed. The people then believed that a giant centipede had destroyed the bridge. A final replacement was built overnight and guarded by Samurai.
I don't know how long they stood guard but there is no longer a bridge there.

7. Sakurayama Shrine

1-42 Uchimaru, Morioka 020-0023, Iwate Prefecture +81 19-622-2061
Excellent
13%
Good
58%
Satisfactory
29%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 68 reviews

Sakurayama Shrine

Reviewed By Seven W - Washington DC, District of Columbia

Next to Morioka Castle. If you go to Morioka Castle, you can stop by the shrine. It's on Morioka Odori, and hard to miss. It's small shrine, but nice cherry blossom. Don't forget to see the large sacred rock behind the shrine.

8. Iwate Museum of Art

12-3 Matsuhaba, Motomiya, Morioka 020-0866, Iwate Prefecture +81 19-658-1711
Excellent
40%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 47 reviews

Iwate Museum of Art

Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan

Iwate Museum of Art (MOA) is definitely worth visiting if you're in Morioka. The facility is a handsome modern building inside and out. Abundant windows provide a nice view of Mt. Iwate.
On my visit, the artwork included temporary exhibits and pieces from the museum's collection. I really enjoyed the Iwate Festa, a display of locally-produced art in a variety of media. Some of it was excellent! Also, there was a large gallery devoted to two excellent 19-20C Japanese artists, Yorozu Tetsugoro and Matsumoto Shunsuke, whose works I hadn't seen before.
After working up an appetite touring the galleries, ¥1000 bought me a tasty lunch at the museum restaurant.

9. Morioka Hachimangu

13-1 Hachimancho, Morioka 020-0872, Iwate Prefecture +81 19-652-5211
Excellent
22%
Good
54%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 61 reviews

Morioka Hachimangu

Reviewed By Mia K - Philadelphia

It was full with culture and a beautiful view of the main street in Morioka City.
I got to ring the traditional ceremony bells and watch the correct way of making prayer.
They also have "good luck" charms for everything, called Omamori. They have one for everything!

10. Morioka Handi-Works Square

64-102 Oirino, Tsunagi, Morioka 020-0055, Iwate Prefecture +81 19-689-2201
Excellent
29%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
32%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4 based on 77 reviews

Morioka Handi-Works Square

Reviewed By Andrew1234 - Aomori, Japan

Morioka Handiworks Square is collection of shops offering an assortment of foods and crafts indigenous to the Iwate area. Most of the products are made on the premises, and in many cases you can watch the craftsmen at work. Since Iwate is famous for ironware, I purchased an iron teapot and a cast-iron nabe pot. There's also a large shop at the entrance filled with an abundance of locally-made food, beverages, clothing, and other fun omiyage.
While the crafts square is not an all-day destination, it is just minutes away from Tsunagi Onsen -- a great place to stay overnight and enjoy Japanese hospitality. And as long as you're in Morioka, I also recommend making a visit to the nearby Iwate Museum of Art.

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