Morioka Brochure

A MISAWA ITT TOUR

Morioka

35th

INTRODUCTION TO MORIOKA

Sapporo Hakodate Aomori

Morioka

Misawa

Sendai

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Hiroshima Fukuoka

Okinawa

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INTRODUCTION TO MORIOKA

Morioka is located in the northern Honshu Island of Japan on the Kitakami River. It is the capital of Iwate Prefecture. The city, a center for horse trading, holds spring and fall horse fairs and also trades in fruits and vegetables. A rail junction on the Tohoku Line, Morioka is also an industrial center producing iron kettles, copper and iron products, spun silk and cotton, food products, toys, and sake. Morioka is the site of Iwate University and Iwate Medical University; Iwate Park, which includes a former castle of the Nanbu family; and Takamatsu Park, with a lake and extensive grounds with cherry trees. The volcanic Mount Iwate, with the Iwateyama Shrine in the crater, is also nearby.

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LOCAL TASTES & CRAFTS

NAMBU IRONWARE The local production of ironware began several hundred years ago and is considered to be Morioka’s finest traditional craft, renowned both at home and abroad. This dignified, yet pleasing, ironware can be used as an interior decoration or for daily use.

WANKO SOBA Made from buckwheat, this noodle dish is the most famous local food. Served from lacquered bowls in one bite portions with someone on hand to refill your bowl as needed.

NAMBU SEMBEI These are Morioka’s traditional wheat crackers.

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MORIOKA : FACTS

• Morioka has varied seasons and its average temperature in summer is 22˚C (71.6˚ F) and in winter is -2˚C (28.4˚ F).

• Morioka is at the same latitude as Beijing, Ankara, Lisbon, and Washington D.C.

• Many poets, artists, and scholars grew up in Morioka. More than 50 monuments and statues commemorate them.

• Mt. Iwate is a spectacular sight at 2,038 meters above sea level. Three clear rivers run through the city: the Kitakami, the Shizukuishi, and the Nakatsu.

• The city is 490 square kilometers in area and has a population close to 300,000.

• Morioka is about 500 kilometers from Tokyo, the nation’s capital, and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes to get there by the Tohoku Shinkansen.

• Morioka means “The City of Water and Greenery.” The city is known for its harmony of old and new architecture.

• In order to preserve traditions and to improve the comfortable environment of the city, Morioka is campaigning to preserve old buildings, to plant one million trees, and to clean up the rivers where salmon and swans swim.

• Morioka, a heart-warming city, is modernizing rapidly as a key city, without losing its characteristic as a castle town.

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PLACES TO SEE IN MORIOKA

KOIWAI FARM At the foot of Mt. Iwate is the nation’s largest privately managed farming organization.

Its facilities are open to public tours, and there are restaurants and souvenir shops. One could easily spend the whole day exploring the farm.

IWATE PARK This park is at the heart of Morioka City, located on the site of the former Morioka (Kozukata) Castle, which was built by the Nanbu clan. Now all that remains are stone walls comprising heaps of gigantic rocks. The park is famous for spring cherry blossoms and brilliant fall foliage.

ROCK-SPLITTING CHERRY TREE This enormous Azuma-higan cherry tree is said to be 300 to 400 years old. The roots of the tree have split a huge boulder, creating a crevice that grows deeper every day. It has been designated one of the nation’s natural treasures.

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PLACES TO SEE IN MORIOKA

MORIOKA ZOO The opening of the zoological park, on the southern slope of Iwayama took place in April 1989.

It symbolizes a new era for the city. The park was meticulously designed so that one can observe animals, as much as possible, in their natural environment. Visitors can enjoy picnicking and the outdoors while taking in the sights in this new type of zoo.

SHIZUKUISHI SKI RESORT It is the only facility in Tohoku with a world class championship downhill run. Additionally, it offers 16 courses at levels from beginner to advanced.

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PLACES TO SEE IN MORIOKA

THE CHILDREN’S SCIENCE MUSEUM The museum was built in 1983 to help children explore their scientific imaginations.

Inside there are many attractions, including robots and a planetarium.

MORIOKA ICE ARENA This multipurpose sporting facility, opened in 1989 with 5,000 seats, has become the main site for ice skating events during the winter in Morioka.

MORIOKA HANDIWORKS SQUARE This facility introduces Iwate’s traditional handicraft arts and local specialties. There are 14 studios for traditional local industries, including pottery, Japanese confectioneries, wooden crafts, and ironware. Not only can you observe the craftsmen at work, you can try your skills at one or more handicrafts.

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SANSA ODORI FESTIVAL Morioka Sansa Odori Festival is held 1 - 4 August and is one of the five great festivals of Tohoku. Over 10,000 taiko drummers and dancers parade through the city. Sansa is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest taiko drum festival in the world. Legend has it that the sansa dance began when a wicked demon was punished by the god of Mitsuishi Shrine. The god made the demon swear that he would never do bad deeds again, and as a sign of his pledge, the demon placed his hand on a large rock and left a hand print. The locals rejoiced, dancing around the rock. This story explains the origin of sansa, as well as the name Iwate, which means rock hand. The choreography for the main Sansa Odori parade on Chuodori Street is modern and simplified, but you can also see traditional and more dynamic sansa dances, like ekimae hiroba, at other venues.

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FESTIVAL IN MORIOKA

CHAGU CHAGU UMAKKO This is a festival held on the second Saturday of June, in which about 100 colorfully clad horses parade from Onikoshi Sozen Shrine in Takizawa to Morioka Hachimangu Shrine.

June is during the rainy season in Japan, but strangely, the day of Chagu Chagu is always blessed with sunshine.

MORIOKA AEON MALL - SHOPS

FIRST FLOOR - GOODS • Clover Leaf (Ladies’ Shoes) • Bag Collection Morita (Bags) • S Tail (Home Fashion) • One’s (Home Fashion) • Off & On (Furniture / Accessories) • AJD (Ladies Accessories) • The Body Shop (Cosmetics) • Brand Shop Happiness (Jewelry) • Kitamura (Photo Shop)

FIRST FLOOR - FASHION • Blanco (Kids) • Dip Drop (Ladies) • Amos Style (Lingerie) • Pin Curl (Ladies) • Lepsim (Ladies) • Petit Maison (Ladies) • Buona Giornata (Ladies) • Drug Store’s (Family) • A.V.V. Michel Klein Paris • 3Can4On

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FIRST FLOOR - FOOD Starbucks (Café) China Fan (Chinese) Beard Papa (Cream Puffs) Tio Glutton (Cheese Cake) Lupicia (Tea) Italian Tomato, Jr. (Café) Umibozu (Rotary Sushi) Onma Kitchen (Cold Noodles) Capricciosa (Italian) Harvest (Healthy Buffet)

S EC O N D FLO OR - FOOD • Mc Donal ds • Mi ster D onut • B a ski n R obbin s • P e pper Lunch (S teak) • P e acock ( Chi nese N o odl es) • A p hr odite ( C r epes / D e s ser t) • D o utor ( Coffee / Sa n dwiches)

MORIOKA AEON MALL - SHOPS

SECOND FLOOR - FASHION • Olinkari (Ladies) • Right-On (Jeans & Casual) • Boo Bee Planning (Unisex) • Deux Concept Lab (Men’s) • Shirts Plaza (Unisex) • Arrow (Ladies) • Axes Femme (Ladies) • Aimer Feel (Lingerie) • Semantic Design (Men’s) • Global Work (Unisex) • IKKA (Family) • The Shop TK (Unisex) • PPFM2 (Unisex)

SECOND FLOOR - GOODS • ABC Mart (Shoes) • Beaus Arts (Specialty Store) • Purple Heaven (Misc.

Goods) • Nakagawa (Bags) • Nustep (Shoes) • Collet (Misc. Goods) • Malaika (Ethnic Accessories) • Stone Market (Accessories) • Village Vanguard (Bookstore) • Perfumetics (Perfumery) • Ginshodo • Siebelet (Misc. Goods) • The Clock House (Clocks) • Tower Records

SECOND FLOOR -ARCADE • Plaza Capcom (Arcade)

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Saturday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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