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 […]
The Must-Visit Temples and Shrines in Morioka Read More »
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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The capital of Iwate Prefecture, Morioka, has a long history. As expected, museums and historical spots are scattered in the big city. If you are unsure which one to visit, check out the ones below. We hand-picked the ones that foreign tourists usually appreciate so you can narrow down the few you might want to
The Top Museums and Historical Spots in Morioka Read More »
The construction of Nanshōsō (南昌荘) started in 1885. It took a few years for the gorgeous complex including a main house, a tea house, and traditional style garden to be completed. Apparently, the building’s design referenced the Katsura Imperial Palace in Kyoto. The raised floor provides a better angle to view the gorgeous garden. Since
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Speaking of Morioka, there are many local specialties, including the Nambu Ironware, Morioka Reimen, and a lot more. If you love handicrafts and want to see how they are made, visit Morioka Handi-Works Square (盛岡手づくり村). It is a spot where you can observe the craftsmanship up close and even give it a go!
Morioka Handi-Works Square and Pyonpyonsha Reimen Kōbō Read More »
Apart from the noodle dishes, there is a bread shop that is also quite well-known in Morioka. Fukuda Pan (福田パン) specializes in putting various types of spreads between the hot dog bun-like bread. In addition to the typical flavors, such as peanut butter or fried noodles, uncommon flavors are also available for those who want
Fukuda Pan: Morioka’s Must-Visit Flavored Bread Shop Read More »
When the Japanese talk about the samurai house in Akita Prefecture, they will never fail to mention the Aoyagi Samurai House (角館歴史村・青柳家). The spacious estate of a size of almost 10,000 square meters features a Main Housean Armory, a Gallery, a Folk Museum, a Samurai Tool Museum, an Antique Tea Room, and shops and restaurants/cafes.
Aoyagi Samurai House: Kakunodate’s Must-Go Samurai Residence Read More »
If you like to spend time in museums, Aomori is probably the best city to visit in the Tōhoku region. While a large part of the city is covered by nature, it surprisingly has many museums scattered throughout. Unlike Hirosaki, which is a 45-minute train ride away, Aomori has more variety. Whether you like contemporary art museums
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Not very far from the city center of Aomori, Japan’s largest bronze sitting Buddha statue is quietly sitting in the precinct of Seiryū-ji Temple (青龍寺). The statue is called Showa Daibutsu (昭和大仏). It is the statue of Vairocana (大日如来), completed in 1984. The gigantic statue weighs 220 tons and is 21.35 meters (27 meters if the pedestal is
Showa Daibutsu: The Best Temple to Visit in Aomori City Read More »
