| Morioka Pop. 283 thousand |
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Explanation of Signs - Scenic tourist destination: the number
of star (from 1 to 4 ) corresponds
to the
degree of excellence of the location.- Tourist destination with historic heritages
and/or cultural assets: the number
of star
(from 1 to 4) corresponds to the importance
of respective location. - Grade of YH facility. 3-star is for the
standard grade, and 4-star is for the
highest
grade. |
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 The city of Morioka sits on the location
where the Kitakami River and its two
tributaries
meet. Mt. Iwate, which resembles Mt.
Fuji
in appearance, rises beautifully at
the height
of 2041 meters. The city used to have
a castle,
of which vestige is now known as an
ideal
spot for the cherry-blossom viewing.
Traces
of the old days can be observed in
the stone
foundations of the castle. 'The Prefectural
Museum of Iwate' has exhibitions and
displays
on histories of daily lives of the
northern
Tohoku region. Morioka is the city
with long
history of ironware making, and "Morioka
Tezukuri Mura", a craftsmen and
craftworks'
village where local products are displayed
and sold, is on the outskirts of the
city.[Access from major cities] Train / - Sendai St. <Shinkansen, Yamabiko> 45min. (184km)  Morioka St.- Tokyo St. <Yamabiko> 2hr25min. (535km) Morioka St.- Aomori St. <JR, ltd.express> 2hr15min. (204km) Morioka St.- Hakodate St. <JR, ltd.express> 4hr15min. (364km) Morioka St.Airplane / - Itami Apt. (Osaka) 1hr20min. Hanamaki Apt. - Nagoya Apt. 1hr10min. Hanamaki Apt.- Shin Chitose Apt. (Sapporo) 55min. Hanamaki Apt.- Hanamaki Apt. <bus> 50min. Morioka St.Long distance bus / - Tokyo St. <bus> 7hr20min. (night bus) Morioka St.- Sendai St. <bus> 2hr 40min. Morioka St.- Aomori St. <bus> 2hr50min. Morioka St.[Food] Wanko-soba, the soba noodles served in a tiny bowl, with which people compete the number of the bowls they have eaten, is one of the specialties of Morioka. Reimen (literary, cold Chinese noodles) and Jya-Jya-men are also delicious. [Festival] Chagu-chagu umakko, a parade of horses in colorful costumes: Jun 15 Funakko nagashi, a ritual of flowing miniature straw boats down the river: Aug 1. Yabusame, a ceremonial event in which warriors riding horseback shoot arrows at the targets: Sept 14-16 [YH in the area] Morioka YH tel 019-662-2220Hanamaki Naranosato YH tel 0198-31-2341Shizukuishi YH tel 019-693-2854[Tips on sightseeing] A half-day or one full day shall be necessary to visit important tourist attractions in the city. Tour buses depart from Morioka station. |
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| Main Route from Morioka to Hakodate | ||
| Koiwai- nojo Koiwai nojo, a stock farm with an area of 2600 hectares, which sits on the slopes of Mt. Iwate, attracts numerous visitors with its scenic views and dairy farm open to tourists. In Amihari-onsen, a spa resort well known for its abundant supply of hot water, there are tourist facilities including Kokumin Kyuka-mura (a holiday village with lodgings) and ski resorts. A half-day shall be necessary for sightseeing in the area. Tour buses depart from Morioka station. [Access] Morioka St. <bus> 35min. Koiwai-nojo[YH in the area] Shizukuishi YH tel 019-693-2854Tazawako / Kakunodate Tazawako is the deepest lake in Japan. While Tazawako-onsen is a spa resort upon a hill commanding a panoramic view, Nyuto-onsen is a popular, yet quiet hot spring resort in a primeval forest. Kakunodate is a peaceful little town where historic houses of the time of samurai warriors are being preserved. The town is also famous as a spot for the cherry-blossom viewing. A day trip from Morioka is feasible. [Access] - Morioka St. <Shinkansen, Komachi> 30min. Tazawako St. <bus> 12min. Tazawako <bus> 35min. Nyuto-onsen. - Tazawako St. <Shinkansen, Komachi> 15min. Kakunodate St.[YH in the area] Tazawako YH tel 0187-43-1281Shizukuishi YH tel 019-693-2854Hachimantai
[Access] Morioka St. <JR, ordinary> 35min. Obuke St. <bus> 45min. Hachimantai-chojo <bus> 1hr15min.
Kazuno Hanawa St. (connections for Towada-ko)[YH in the area] Hachimantai YH tel 0195-78-2031Shimokita- hanto Shimokita-hanto is a peninsula on the northernmost of Honshu (the main island). A visit to this remote and unspoiled place in the far north would be a pleasant experience. While the area provides a base for Japan's cutting-edge nuclear power facilities, Osorezan, a sacred mountain to a traditional folk belief where the shamanistic "itako" mediators capable of communicating with souls in the other world reside, sits on this peninsula. Among the places of visits, there are: a deserted Shiriyazaki cape, and Hotokegaura, a panoramic bay where a chain of rocks in the shape of Buddhist statues rising from the sea can be observed. An overnight would be necessary to see important places in the area. Seasonally operated tour buses depart from Aomori station or Tanabu station. [Access] - Noheji St. <JR, rapid> 45min. Shimokita St. <private, Shimokita-Kotu,
local> 7min. Tanabu St. <walk> 10min. Mutsu Bus Terminal <bus> 1hr Shiriyazaki. - Tanabu St. <bus> 35min. Osorezan. - Mutsu Bus Terminal <bus> 1hr35min. Oma <bus> 20min. Sai-ko <jetboat> 1hr 30min. Hotokegaura cruise Sai-ko. Sai-ko <boat> 2hr20min. Aomori-ko. - Oma-ko <ferry> 1hr40min. Hakodate-ko.[YH in the area] Shiriyazaki YH tel 0175-47-2941Wakinosawa YH tel 0175-44-2341Tappizaki Tappizaki Cape is where the grandeur submarine tunnel that connects Honshu and Hokkaido begins. The tunnel took more than a decade to complete. The construction method, which had been applied to this tunnel, was used for the building of the Euro Tunnel. There are two submarine railway stations in the tunnel where passengers can get off the train. Tappizaki is located on the steep cliff, which commands a panoramic view together with Hokkaido in the far distance. One full day shall be necessary for sightseeing. [Access] Minmaya St. <bus> 30min. Tappi. Those visiting the submarine stations are required to purchase admission ticket "Zone 539 card" in advance. Esashi / Matsumae / Okushiri- to Esashi is a port town prospered as a gateway of Hokkaido between the middle and the late Edo period (18-19c), from where special products of the region had been shipped off. The place, which once was a lively port with a massive haul of herring, is now a rustic, quiet little town. In the town of Matsumae, there is a castle with a tower, which is one and only such architecture in Hokkaido, known as a noted place for its cherry blossoms. Okushiri-to, a remote island where simplicity of peaceful rural life can be seen, was reconstructed after a disastrous tidal wave had hit the place in the late 20th century. Wide varieties of delicious seafood are available on the island. From Hakodate, 2-day-1-night will be necessary to see the sights in Esashi and Matsumae, and 3/4-day-2/3-night for Okushiri-to. [Access] - Aomori St. <JR, ltd.express> 1hr40min. Kikonai St. <JR, local> 1hr 5min.
Esashi St.- Kikonai St. <bus> 1hr35min. Matsumae <bus> 1hr40min. Esashi.- Esashi-ko <ferry> 2hr10min. Okushiri-to Hakodate St. <JR, ltd. express>
40min. Kikonai St. |
