Visit Tohoku - "Must Go City" Discover Morioka

There is nature in historical building, river and park in a center city, and you're going to be able to enjoy a town on foot, it was estimated that culture in a coffee house, a bookstore in addition to Soba Noodles in Small Bowls and a jazz tearoom is the town which roots, and "Morioka city" was chosen as 52 "points American New York Times paper (electronic edition) announced on 2023 January 12 which should go in 2023.

Itinerary

Day 1

Tokyo to Morioka

Take a bullet train（Tohoku Shinkansen）at Tokyo Station to Morioka Station. It’s approximately 2.5hours

■ Morioka Handmade Village

You see the skills of experienced craftsmen, traditional crafts, and the production of local food and sweets, there are also hands-on workshops.

■ Onsen (Hot spring bathing) experience

Tsunagi Onsen

There are six wellsprings for Tsunagi Hot Spring, and everyday they release about 2000 liters of hot water.

Because the water is nice and hot from all of the wellsprings, you can fully enjoy an outdoor bath, even in Iwate’s cold winter.

The spring is a simple sulfur spring, and with a ph of 8.7~9.5, is highly alkaline. Because the water’s sulfur is said to promote circulation and metabolism, and its alkalinity is thought to exfoliate old keratin that clings to the surface of the skin, this hot spring is well-loved by women. Also, the water contains silicic acid, which has recently drawn a lot of attention as a "natural moisturizing compound." Come experience smooth and shiny skin with the moisturizing waters of Tsunagi Hot Spring!

Yumori Hotel Taikan (Drop-in Hot spring bath)

🏨Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing or similar class

Day 2

Morioka City Stroll

■ Morioka Castle Ruins Park

Morioka ruin of a castle is enjoying as the park where a citizen rests. Summer makes the center of the town green Kokage as famous place for beautiful cherry blossom in spring, and autumn is colored by excellent colored leaves. And winter wrap itself up in a snow scene like a brush painting entirely, Ishigaki lit up produces fantastic winter night.

Public transportation / Walk :15min

■ Morioka Hachimangu

Morioka Hachimangu is a Shinto shrine with a history of 300 years. As well as the main shrine building, there are around 18 other buildings on the temple grounds that worshippers can be seen visiting throughtout the year. This is a must-visit on any Morioka itinerary so don't forget to stop by.

Public transportation / Walk : 30min

■ Azumaya soba shop

If there's one dish that can't be missed on a trip to Morioka it's the local specialty, ”Wanko soba noodles”. Established in 1908, Azumaya is a soba restaurant where you're challenged to eat as many bowls of noodles as possible in the traditional style of Wanko soba. This is a great place for hungry visitors to soak up some local history both through the old building and a fun tradition of eating.

Public transportation / Walk: 15min

■ Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building

Historic Site/Building

This impressive red brick building home to the Bank of Iwate was first opened to the public in 1911. Planned out by the same team that designed Tokyo Station, this important cultural property is a must-see. Visitors are invited to step inside and take a look around with a space open to the public.

Public transportation / Walk:15min

■ Nanshoso

“Nanshoso” located in the center of Morioka city. “Nanshono-ma” is the most popular room at Nanshoso with historical buildings and beautiful gardens. The shiny floor mirrors the scenery of the outside and gives you a fantastic view.

■ Kamasada

At the heart of Morioka City lies Kamasada, a nanbu-tekki ironware shop and factory that has been around since the Meiji period. Fusing both the beautiful style of ironcasting from ancient Japan and the design of Northern European textiles, Kamasada stocks a collection of pieces from a wide range of time periods. Experience the skill of the craftsmen creating these simple and modern designs from close up.

🍴Breakfast

🏨Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing or similar class

Day 3　

■ Nakatsugawa

In the morning, stroll Nakatsugawa, is the first-grade river which flows through the city. Such as the form of the people who enjoy sweetfish fishing is seen in summer, and the salmon it goes upstream for laying can think autumn comes, you tell me a change in Morioka's four seasons.

■ NAGASAWA COFFEE

The roaster cafe coffee raw beans stock, roast and pick out and are consistent, and where handle one an offer. I keep making coffee of the taste which fits a local person by using a roast machine made in Germany and roasting originally.

🍴Breakfast

PM: Leaving to next destination

Additional infomation

Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing

<Other Interesting Spot to Visit>

TSUKINOWA-IWATE Sake Brewery

The first generation of the Yokozawa family ran a malt shop in the current location, but the history of “Tsukinowa” began in 1886 when Tokuichi, the fourth generation of the Yokozawa family, became passionate about sake brewing and founded the brewery.

Since the head of the family has been involved in sake brewing for generations, the current head of the brewery (the seventh generation of the Yokozawa family), Daizo Yokozawa, has been directing the brewing process as the owner-touji (master brewer) since 1991, serving as both the head of the family and the toji (master brewer).

When the company was incorporated in 2005, Hiroko Yokozawa, a daughter of Daizo Yokozawa, returned to her father’s Sake brewery to become the toji (master brewer) in Sake making. She is now a regular gold prize winner in the Annual Japan Sake Awards.