Last year, Japan finally reopened its doors to foreign travellers and the country saw a surge in tourists flooding back into the country.
Whilst the capital Tokyo remains a popular destination for tourists, those wanting to explore a bit further may well want to check out Morioka City – an incredible place to visit that is not well known yet and one of the destinations named on The New York Times’ ’52 Places to Go in 2023′.
Nestled in the heart of Iwate Prefecture in the northern Tohoku region, Morioka City is only a little over two hours north of Tokyo on the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa bullet train, making it easy to enjoy this wonderful city with its fascinating history, cuisine and nature.
Morioka City is surrounded by mountains and features Taisho-Era (1912-1926) buildings which combine Japanese and Western design. The city is famous for the Morioka Castle ruins which is now a park with stonewalls made of granite. Locals and visitors can enjoy a popular cherry blossom and autumn leaves viewing spot, depending on the season.
The city is also known for wanko soba – an all-you-can-eat-style of soba noodle where customers are served roughly one mouthful of noodles with some sauce, per bowl. The empty bowls keep getting topped up until you indicate you’ve had enough. Some local restaurants even have challenges to see if you can eat over 100 bowls or more. Azumaya is one of the most famous wanko soba restaurants in town and a place where records have been set – the current record is held by a woman from Morioka City who ate a staggering 570 bowls there.
It’s not only the traditional food scene that is a drawcard for visitors though, the city is also home to Nagasawa Coffee, a place any coffee lover should check out. The shop’s owner, Kazuhiro Nagasawa had a vintage German-made coffee roaster restored and customised in Germany and then imported to Japan – to make sure his beans were done exactly how he wanted.
The city is also home to some incredible local festivals including the Morioka Sansa Odori Festival, held from August 1 through August 4. The festival is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest taiko drumming festival in the world and is one of the most iconic festivals of the Tohoku region with over 10,000 taiko drummers and dancers taking part.
Once you’ve sampled the local food, drink and culture of the city, it could be time to explore the area. For those who love the outdoors, Morioka is surrounded by stunning natural scenery, including the Iwate Mountain Range and the Kitakami River. Hiking in the mountains provides an incredible opportunity to take in the breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside (hiking season runs from July to early October). For those not up for hiking, you can enjoy the view of the mountains from the MALIOS Observation Room which is just 3 mins walk from JR Morioka Station.
The JR East Pass is one of the most cost-effective options for tourists looking to travel around Morioka City and the surrounding areas.
