September Itinerary Idea Day 5 (Iwate Prefecture Day 3 AM)
Table of contents
3. Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
4. Morioka Takuboku / Kenji Seishunkan (former 90th Bank Main Store Main Building)
5. Konyacho Banya and Iwate Prefecture Public Hall
7. Kami no hashi (Kami no bridge)
Introduction
This day will be Morioka City and Koiwai Farm. We will visit three important cultural properties.
In the morning, take the Morioka city center circulation bus “Dendenmushi” to go around sightseeing spots or rent a bicycle.
“Dendenmushi” is a circulation type that takes 35 minutes to go around, and there are clockwise (red) and counterclockwise (green). It runs every 10-15 minutes. The clockwise operating time from Morioka Station is 9: 00-16: 45. The counterclockwise operation will be 5 minutes after the clockwise operation (9: 05-16: 50). The one-day free ticket is Yen350 for adults and Yen180 for children.
This time we will introduce a counterclockwise route. I like walking in the morning, so I just want to go to Morioka Castle Site Park early in the morning. There is no problem with the clockwise route.
Bicycle rental information
Location: FP Home’s Bicycle Parking (5-minute walk from Morioka Station, along the Kitakami River)
Business hours: 6: 00-21: 30, Price: Yen 200 per day (very cheap)
1. Morioka Castle Ruins Park
(“Dendenmushi” counterclockwise, departing at 9:05 in front of Morioka Station, arriving at Morioka Castle Site Park at 9:11)
Morioka Castle has been selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Castles by the Japan Castle Association, but there is no castle tower and only Ishigaki (Stone wall).
It has been selected as one of the 100 best city parks in Japan.
2. Sakurayama Shrine
(In Morioka Castle Ruins Park)
It was founded in 1749.
3. Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building
(4 minutes walk from Sakurayama Shrine)
It was built in 1911 as the former Morioka Bank, designed by Tatsuno Kingo and Kasai Manji Architects. It is a national important cultural property. Kingo Tatsuno is an architect famous for designing the Marunouchi station building at Tokyo Station and the Bank of Japan Head Office.
4. Morioka Takuboku / Kenji Seishunkan (former 90th Bank Main Store Main Building)
(1 minute walk from Bank of Iwate Red Brick Building)
Opening hours 10: 00-18: 00 Closed days 2nd Tuesday of every month (However, if it is a national holiday, the next day)
It was built in 1910 by Tsutomu Yokohama, an architect from Morioka City. It is a national important cultural property.
5. Konyacho Banya and Iwate Prefecture Public Hall
(6-8 minutes walk from Morioka Takuboku / Kenji Seishunkan)
(These two locations are a little far from Morioka Hachimangu, so they are candidates if you have time to spare or if you rent a bicycle.)
Konyacho Banya was built as a branch of the Morioka Fire Brigade in 1913 and was used as a banya. It is said to be typical of wooden Western-style office architecture during the Taisho era.
The Iwate Prefectural Public Hall was built in 1927 to commemorate the marriage of Emperor Showa.
6. Morioka Hachimangu
(10 minutes walk from Konyacho Banya, 15 minutes walk from Iwate Prefectural Public Hall, 10 minutes walk from Morioka Takubiki / Kenji Seishunkan)
Known for the Southern Yabusame Shinto ritual.
7. Kami no hashi (Kami no bridge)
(7 minutes walk from Morioka Hachimangu Shrine, take the “Dendenmushi” counterclockwise from the Morioka Bus Center, get off at Kaminohashi: 4 minutes ride time)
The Kami no bridge is a bridge over the Nakatsugawa River in 1609. It is designated as a national important art object.
8. Ishiwarizakura
(Morioka District Court premises, get off at Chuodori 1-chome, walk 3 minutes, take the “Dendenmushi” counterclockwise from the upper bridge, get off at Chuodori 1-chome: boarding time 5 minutes)
Cherry blossoms grow on a huge granite with a circumference of 21 meters. Of course, the cherry blossoms are not in bloom in September. It is designated as a national natural monument.
9. Takuboku Newlyweds House
(Take “Dendenmushi” from Chuodori 1-chome, get off at Tatsuki Newlyweds House Exit: 4 minutes ride, or 12 minutes walk from Morioka District Court)
Opening hours 9: 00-17: 00 (April-November), 10: 00-16: 00 (December-March) Closed Tuesdays (April-November), Tue / Wed / Thu (December-March)
This is the only surviving samurai residence in Morioka, where the newlywed Takuboku Ishikawa lived for about three weeks.
10. Morioka Station
(Take “Dendenmushi” from Takuboku Newlyweds House Exit: Get off at Morioka Station: 10 minutes ride time, or 13 minutes walk from Takuboku Newlyweds House)
11. Lunch
We eat “Morioka Jajamen”. It is a “local dishes loved by nation” of Iwate prefecture selected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This is my favorite noodle.
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/kyodo_ryouri/attach/pdf/190131-6.pdf
In the afternoon, take a bus departing from Morioka Station at 13:45 to “Koiwai Farm”.
(Note: The departure / arrival times and fares for transportation listed in the text are as of the time of writing the BLOG. They may change in the future, so please check for yourself when you go on a trip.)