Morioka is a regional city where historical buildings and streetscapes remain to this day. It is only a 2 hour and 10 minute Shinkansen ride from Tokyo Station, so it has good accessibility. The New York Times in the US announced “52 places to visit in 2023”, and Morioka City from Japan was chosen as the second place, which became a hot topic.
In this article, we will introduce 7 must-visit night spots where you can enjoy Morioka at night.
Highlights and characteristics of Morioka at night
Morioka is a regional city with a population of just under 300,000. It is by no means a large city compared to Sendai city, which is also in the Tohoku region. However, it is characterized by having many historical spots such as “Morioka Castle Ruins Park” and “Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building”. These spots are lit up at night, so you can enjoy sightseeing at night as well.
Morioka is also popular for its local cuisine. Steaks made from the brand beef “Iwate Beef”, as well as “Reimen” noodles, “Wanko Soba”, and “Jajamen” noodles are popular with tourists. In this way, the unique feature of nightlife spots in Morioka is that you can see historical spots and enjoy gourmet food unique to Morioka.
Nightlife spots in Morioka
Recommended #1: Morioka Castle Ruins Park
Morioka Castle Ruins Park is a park developed on the site of “Morioka Castle”, which once stood here. Currently, the castle tower and other structures no longer exist, but the stone walls and some structures from that time remain as they were. It is a popular place of relaxation for the citizens of Morioka, and has been selected as one of the “100 Best Historical Parks in Japan”. It is also a popular tourist spot and symbol of Morioka.
In spring, it is known as a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, and at night you can enjoy the illuminated cherry blossoms. Furthermore, in autumn you can admire the bright red autumn leaves, and in winter you can enjoy the fantastic snow scenery. Therefore, it is a recommended tourist spot for those who want to enjoy the natural scenery.
▶ Information
| Official website | http://www.moriokashiroato.jp/ |
|---|
▶ Map
▶ Recommended information
In spring, “Morioka Sakura Festival” is held at “Morioka Castle Ruins Park” and “Takamatsu Park” in Morioka city. You can enjoy the cherry blossoms not only during the day but also at night. This is a recommended spot because it is not as crowded as in big cities such as Tokyo and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms at your own pace.
Recommended #2: Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building is a building designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The building was used as a bank until 2012, but today the interior of the building as it was when it was first built, as well as the vault that was actually used by the bank, are open to the public. This has made it one of Morioka’s most famous tourist spots.
The designer of the Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building was Tatsuno Kingo, who is also known as the designer of Tokyo Station. The retro atmosphere blends in with the Morioka cityscape, making it popular with tourists as well as Morioka residents. At night, the building is lit up, making it even more vibrant.
▶ Information
| Reference website | https://www.iwagin-akarengakan.jp/ |
|---|
▶ Map
▶ Recommended information
Tours of the facility are only available during the day. Entry is not permitted at night. Please refer to the official website for details such as opening hours.
Recommended #3: Iwayama Park
Iwayama Park is the park with the most romantic night view in Morioka. It is located on a small hill just 15 minutes by car from Morioka Station, so it is also conveniently located. For this reason, it is a popular date spot for all Morioka residents.
In Iwayama Park, there is an observation deck called the “Kajima Seiichi Memorial Observatory”. From the observation deck, you can get a panoramic view of Morioka city surrounded by mountains. In particular, you can see a fantastic view just after sunset when the sky is still slightly bright. The wonderful night view has been selected as one of the “Night View Heritage of Japan” and “Top 100 Night Views”.
▶ Information
| Official website | https://www.city.morioka.iwate.jp/ |
|---|
▶ Map
▶ Recommended information
There are two hiking trails in Iwayama Park, so if you visit during the day you can enjoy hiking.
Recommended #4: Seinan Onsen Kaiun no Yu
(Source: https://www.kaiunnoyu.com/)
“Seinan Onsen Kaiun no Yu” is a hot spring bathing facility for day trips. It is about a 3-minute taxi ride from Morioka Station, so it is also conveniently located. The facility is spacious and offers a variety of services, including an open-air bath, sauna, massage, and restaurant.
“Seinan Onsen Kaiun no Yu” is known for its Korean-style sauna, known as “Purugama”. They are so particular that they even import sauna stones from Korea. Another feature is that the facility has private room with hot spring bath that can be rented out for private use. Private room is equipped with a tatami space and a private open-air hot spring bath. This makes it a great choice for families or couples who want to relax in a hot spring. There is only one room available, but reservations can be made, so it is a good idea to make a reservation in advance.
▶ Information
| Official website | https://www.kaiunnoyu.com/ |
|---|
▶ Map
Recommended #5: Seirokaku
Seirokaku is a restaurant that serves Morioka’s specialty dish, “Reimen”. Reimen is a noodle dish that consists of extremely chewy noodles topped with ingredients such as kimchi. The soup is cold, so you can enjoy the chewy noodles to the fullest. “Morioka Reimen” is a popular dish in Japan.
Reimen are said to have originally been a dish created in Pyongyang on the Korean peninsula. It is said that Morioka Reimen began when people from the Korean peninsula immigrated to Morioka, opened restaurants, and served Reimen there. For that reason, it is still a specialty dish of Morioka today. Seirokaku is a famous Yakiniku/Reimen restaurant in Morioka. It has been featured on television and in magazines, and is so popular that it was ranked number one in the popularity rankings of Morioka Reimen. After eating Yakiniku, be sure to try Morioka Reimen as a finishing touch to your meal.
▶ Information
| Official website | http://www.gen-plaza.com/ |
|---|
▶ Map
Recommended #6: Wakana Morioka Honten
“Wakana” is a Teppanyaki steak restaurant that specializes in Kuroge Wagyu beef from Iwate Prefecture. Kuroge Wagyu beef from Iwate Prefecture is characterized by fine marbling, along with an exquisite balance of meat flavor and sweetness of fat. It is a gourmet dish that you should definitely try if you visit Morioka.
At Wakana, experienced chefs cook on a iron plate right in front of you. In addition to steaks, you can also enjoy Teppanyaki made with local ingredients such as seafood from Iwate Prefecture. Details of the dishes are also explained thoroughly, making this a popular restaurant not only for its taste but also for the high quality of their service. For this reason, it is a recommended restaurant for both locals and tourists.
▶ Information
| Official website | https://wakanagroup.co.jp/ |
|---|
▶ Map
Recommended #7: Morioka Odori Shopping Street
Morioka Odori Shopping Street is a shopping street located on the main street of Morioka. The entrance to the shopping street is a 10-minute walk from Morioka Station. Because of its convenient location, you can visit Morioka’s famous spots during the day and then visit the shopping street to enjoy a drink at an Izakaya (Japanese-style pub) at night.
The area around this shopping street is the largest downtown area in Iwate Prefecture. There are not only restaurants, but also hostess bars and cabaret clubs. It is a lively place that entertains its visitors. It would be fun to stroll around Morioka Odori Shopping Street and the surrounding area with friends.
▶ Information
| Official website | http://www.odori.or.jp/ |
|---|
Comment