Top Things to do in Morioka
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10 Things to Do in Morioka That You Shouldn't Miss
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
Overall Ratings
4 based on 199 reviews
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)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 173 reviews
3. Morioka Castle Ruins
Overall Ratings
4 based on 124 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4 based on 114 reviews
5. Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
Overall Ratings
4 based on 96 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 41 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4 based on 68 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 47 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4 based on 61 reviews
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
Overall Ratings
4 based on 77 reviews
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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