Since ancient times, Ichinoseki has been blessed with abundant water and rice cultivation from the Ou and Kitakami mountains. Using the area’s high-quality rice and water, Sekinoichi Sake Brewery (世嬉の一酒造株式会社) was founded in 1919. It is a brewery that is good at using ingredients that don’t seem to go well with beer at first glance. […]
Sekinoichi: Ichinoseki’s Best Spot for Cultural Activities Read More »
Morioka is most famous for Wanko soba. Azumaya Honten (東家本店), opened in 1907, is one of the most popular Wanko soba restaurants in the city. Wanko soba at Azumaya is served as a course menu, including noodles, tuna sashimi, toppings for the dipping sauce, and dessert.
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Morioka in Iwate Prefecture is best known for Wanko soba and Nambu ironware. While some might be unaware, the city also has a large number of cafés. Because each offers a different dining experience, we have handpicked the best ones listed below for you to consider visiting when you travel to Morioka!
The Ultimate Guide to the Best Cafés in Morioka Read More »
Kōgensha (光原社) was a publisher in Morioka who published the only fairy tale collection of Miyazawa Kenji (宮沢賢治), a famous Japanese novelist and poet in the early 20th century. In fact, Kenji was the one who named the company. After he passed away, the publisher was slowly transformed into a shop selling craftworks, clothing, and
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Natayachō (鉈屋町) at the side of Kitakami River (北上川) was an area in Morioka that once flourished as a key point for shipping. Because of the high-quality natural water source from Daijiji Temple (大慈寺) and Gidaji Temple (祇陀寺), many sake breweries, tofu shops, soba noodle makers, and cafés surround the neighborhood. Besides the commercial facilities,
Natayachō: The Hidden Gems in Morioka for Sake Old Township Read More »
Adoring Japan’s cherry blossoms is one of the main reasons why people around the world visit Japan. So if you plan to visit Morioka in early spring, note the below spots in the city where you will be amazed by the beauty of Japan’s national flower. Some of them are well-known, whereas others are hidden!
The Best Guide to Morioka’s Top Cherry Blossom Spots Read More »
Proceeding east of Morioka-jō Castle Site Park, the ground beyond the giant vermilion-painted torii gate is Morioka Hachimangū Shrine’s precinct. It is a less-known spot to foreign tourists, but a shrine you won’t want to miss out on. Because Morioka Hachimangū Shrine (盛岡八幡宮) is very spacious and located on a slightly high ground, you can
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During your stay at Morioka, there are a couple of temples and shrines that we highly recommend you visit, even if you are an atheist or already have your fill of the Japanese shrines and temples. While they are all religious facilities, what makes them interesting and unique aren’t the gods enshrined but the unusual
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When the Gautama Buddha was alive, he had many disciples. While they are commonly known as the Five Hundred Disciples (五百羅漢). The number, five hundred, illustrates the greatness of the quantity. Because each of them had learned directly from the Gautama Buddha and was on the way to enlightenment, they were worshipped and enshrined in
Hōonji Temple and the Rakan Statue Doing the Big Heart Pose Read More »
Nambu Ironware (南部鉄器) is Iwate Prefecture‘s most representative traditional craft. Ironware-making in Morioka started in the early 17th century. The lord of the Morioka Domain invited a tea iron kiln maker from Kyoto when he was building Morioka Castle. Since then, the ironware-making industry has prospered because of the availability of high-quality materials and the
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