Travel / Tourism Spots in Morioka City / Shizukuishi Town / Koiwai Area

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Morioka City / Shizukuishi Town / Koiwai

Category

Travel / Tourism

Hayasaka Plateau Visitor Center

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Shimohei-gun Iwaizumicho Kamatsuta Gongen 45-5

This visitor center located along the Hayasaka Pass is also a Forestry Agency-certified therapy road center. Inside, there is information on area hiking routes, and informational panels featuring the alpine plants found on the Hayasaka Plateau. The center also sells soba mochi dumplings, dengaku tofu roasted with miso, and other light dishes and snacks, and many people driving through the area stop here to take a break.
Kakkonda Gorge

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Iwate-gun Shizukuishicho

This is a 10-kilometer gorge in the upper reaches of the Kakkondagawa River, extending from Genbu Cave to Takinoue Hot Spring. Extending for 160 meters along the left bank of the river is a series of spike-like formations, 70 meters high, and Torigoe Falls drops 30 meters into a deep green pool from the rock face deep within the gorge. Extensive areas of various broad-leaf trees, especially old-growth beeches, grow in the river basin, and both the new spring greenery and the autumn colors of yellow birches and red maples are a lovely sight. The best time for seeing autumn leaves in most years is from early to mid-October.
Kobo-zakura Cherry Tree

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Iwate-gun Shizukuishicho

Located about a 30-minute drive from the Tohoku Expressway’s Morioka Interchange and about ten minutes by taxi from JR Shizukuishi Station. The edo-higanzakura cherry is about 800 years old and is designated as a natural monument in Shizukuishi. It is the oldest in Iwate Prefecture and the largest in size. There is a legend that when Kobo Daishi visited, the cherry blossom staff he had took root where he stabbed it into the ground and became a cherry tree. Every year around Golden Week, many beautiful flowers bloom with such power that it does not seem like an old tree.
Shiwa Vineyard

Leisure / Hobbies

Iwate Shiwa-gun Shiwacho Sahinai Ii Toyoda 59-1

This vineyard is located about 30 minutes from the Shiwa Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway via National Route 456 and is one of many vineyards in Iwate Prefecture. Located among the range of broad, green hills in the Sahinai District of Shiwa　Town, it welcomes visitors. It grows grapes in environmentally friendly ways and prioritizes production of a reliable product. The rows of vines are far apart enough to allow a wheelchair to pass through, and since they are inside a simple greenhouse, visitors can pick grapes even when it is raining. Between late August and early October, Shiwa Vineyard sells grapes by weight for visitors to take home. Visitors who make reservations may barbecue in specified places.
Mt. Nansho

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Shiwa-gun Yahabacho Kemuyama

This mountain is about a 20-minute drive from JR Yahaba Station, an 848-meter mountain on the border between the towns of Shizukuishi and Yahaba. With a symmetrical shape like a horizontal mirror, it is home to many species of animals and plants. It has been celebrated since ancient times as the home of Seiryu Daigongen, and “lion’s head” is offered on the mountain top for praying for rain. Author Miyazawa Kenji is known to have visited this mountain many times. The Nusakake Trail, which starts near Yahaba Hot Srping toward the fifth station of the mountain is the family-friendly, while other route is for more advanced climbers. The mountain is closed for the winter between December and April.
Nusakake Falls

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Shiwa-gun Yahabacho Kemuyama

This falls is about a ten-minute drive from the Morioka-Minami Interchange on the Tohoku Expressway. It is at the entrance to one of the climbing routes on Mt. Nansho. The falls is 7 meters high and 4. 5 meters wide and is notable for consisting of an upper and lower stage. It is known as a good place to escape summer heat and to absorb negative ions, features that attract many tourists who seek to cool off in the summer. In former times, the winter hunters who roamed Mt. Nansho prayed for safety by making offerings (“nusa”) to the gods, which is how the falls received their name. The area is beautiful for spring greenery and autumn leaves and other seasonal wonders, and in the river above Nusakake Falls is another waterfall, Kitanosawa Otaki Falls, 13 meters high.
Yahaba History and Folklore Museum

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Shiwa-gun Yahabacho Nishitokuta 3-188-2

This museum is located in the Dai 3 Chiwari area of Nishitokuta in Yahaba Town, Shiwa County. It holds exhibits centering on excavated items from sites such as the neighboring Tokutan Castle Ruins, a nationally designated historic site, and Fujisawa Ezomori Kofun in the same town. In addition, the Sasaki family magariya (bent house ) displays folklore materials such as living tools in the building with a unique architectural style of the Nanbu region.
Mt. Himekami

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Morioka-shi Tamayama

This mountain is located in Himekami National Forest in Tamayama, Morioka City. Standing 1,124 meters high, it is part of the Sotoyama-Hayakawa Highland Prefectural Nature Park. The Shibutami District (the former Shibutani Village), west of the mountain, is known as the birthplace of poet Takuboku Ishikawa, whose poems “My Hometown Mountain” reflects his deep ties to the area.
Sun Farm

Leisure / Hobbies

Iwate Morioka-shi Mukainakano Shinden 7 , Shiwa-gun Shiwacho Kitazawa Nakasawa 14 (Blueberry , Sakuranbo)

This is a farm located in Morioka City. Handed down through 11 generations in Morioka for about 300 years. The farm grows fruit, such as cherries and berries, as well as rice and vegetables, and manufactures and sells processed foods. It has a cherry orchard in Mukainakanoshinden in the same city, and it operates cherry and berry orchards in Shiwa Town, Shiwa County. It holds cherry picking and blueberry picking events depending on the season.
Ihatov Avenue Zaimoku-cho

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Morioka-shi Zaimokucho

This street is located in Zaimoku-cho, Morioka City. Besides Kogensha (currently sells folk crafts) that published Kenji Miyazawa’s collection of fairy tales, “The Restaurant of Many Orders,” there are six monuments with motifs from Kenji Miyazawa's works such as the “Ishiza” sculpture of Kenji Miyazawa resting at a stone quarry along the street.
Asashima Kanko Ringo Orchards

Leisure / Hobbies

Iwate Morioka-shi Ogayu 27-chiwari 54-11

These apple orchards are located in Ogayu, Morioka City. Various varieties of apples are cultivated using special cultivation with less than half the amount of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition to apple picking that you can enjoy from around mid-September, they also have a system where you can own your own apple tree.
Morioka City Tonan Historical Folklore Museum

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Morioka-shi Yuzawa 1-1-38

This museum is located inside TonanTsudoi Forest in the 1 Chiwari area of Yuzawa, Morioka City. It stores folk materials such as farming tools and daily life tools, historical materials such as ancient documents, materials related to local beliefs, artifacts from ruins, and donated collections such as swords, armor and Ukiyoe woodblock prints. In addition, it also holds special exhibitions and public participation exhibitions.
Seiryusui Spring

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Morioka-shi Natayacho

This is a famous spring in the Daijiji-cho, Morioka City. It has been named one of the 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters in Heisei Era, and like the nearby Daiji Spring Water, it has been used as an everyday water supply since ancient times. Four wells, one for drinking water, one for washing rice, one for washing clothes, and one for washing feet were set up and were managed by the local people. Near the spring are businesses that depend on using the famous water: including tofu makers, sake brewers, and soba noodle shops.
Daiji Shimizu Spring

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Morioka-shi Natayacho

This famous spring water in the Daijiji-cho, Morioka City. It has been named one of the 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters in Heisei Era Like the nearby Seiryusui Spring Water, it has been used as an everyday water supply since ancient times. Four wells, one for drinking water, one for washing rice, one for washing clothes, and one for washing feet were set up and were managed by the local people. Near the spring are businesses that depend on using the famous water: including tofu makers, sake brewers, and soba noodle shops.
Iwate Prefectural Takizawa Forest Park Birdwatching Nature Center

Leisure / Hobbies

Iwate Takizawa-shi Sunakomi 1533-1

This forest is located in Sunakomi, Takizawa City. It is a natural forest of broad-leaved trees such as Japanese red pine that spreads over a hill with an altitude of about 250 meters, and has many mammals, insects and birds such as the narcissus flycatcher and great tit that inhabit it. In addition to renting out equipment that can be used for nature observations and holding nature-related exhibitions in the adjoining Nature Center, it also conducts nature observation events on the third Sunday of every month.
Ebisuya Ono Sensaisho

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Pref. Moriokashi Zaimokuchou 10-16

A long-standing shop selling Nanbu stencil dyed goods easily distinguished by its red tile roof in Zaimoku Town, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. Nanbu stencil dying got its start when the first owner of Ebisuya began using paper stencils to dye household crests and designs on clothing and armor. The shop’s kimono, noren shop curtains, table centers, accessories, and other patterned indigo goods feel both elegant and dainty yet somehow wild, and make perfect gifts and souvenirs. The second floor has an exhibit on the history of Nanbu stencil dying and an audio tape explaining the processes involved. The nearest station is Morioka Station.
A Lonesome Cherry Blossoms on the Koiwai Farm

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Pref. Iwategunshizukuishichou Maruyachi 36-1

A lonesame cherry blossoms (an Edo-higanzakura) on the Koiwai Farm—Japan’s largest private comprehensive farm—was planted as a “shade tree” to protect cows from the harsh sunlight of summer around 1910. It usually blooms during Golden Week. The contrast of cherry blossoms with lingering snow on Mt. Iwate is gorgeous.
Shiwa Furu Inari-jinja Shrine

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Pref. Shiwagunshiwachou Masuzawa Komori 108

This is a quiet shrine surrounded by trees, protected by Ukanomitama no Kami, the god of “Good Fortune” and “Industry.” Originally it was called Hongu-ji Temple, and Shinto and Buddhist ascetic practice experience was carried out here until the Meiji Restoration. This shrine is rare, and in front of the main hall is Gokenzoku Shrine. In 1954 the typhoon No. 15 blew over the large sacred cedar tree. The “Gokenzoku, the mummy of a white fox” was excavated from a cavity in the fallen tree roots. It is said that wishes will come true if you ask this fox as it is transmitted to the main Inari Shrine.
Mitsuishi-jinja Shrine

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Pref. Moriokashi Nasukawachou 2-1

Located in a corner of the Tokenji Temple of Morioka City, the Mitsuishi-jinja Shrine is a power spot said to be the origin of Iwate Prefecture’s name. It is effective for fertility, good relationships, and relief from illness. There is a legend that a god named “Mitsuishi-sama” expelled the raging Raseki demon from these lands, and made it promise never to do evil again as evidenced by its handprint left on a rock at this shrine. Every August, one of Tohoku’s big five festivals, the Sansa Odori (dance), is held here. This dance originated as a show of gratitude to this god, and the offering dance is performed within Mitsuishi-jinja Shrine’s precincts.
Giboshi Pillars of Kaminohashi Bridge

Travel / Tourism

Iwate Prefecture Morioka City Nakatsugawa Uenobashi

Kaminohashi Bridge is in the city of Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. The feudal lord of the region, Nanbu Toshinao, built a wooden bridge in conjunction with his construction of Morioka Castle. The present-day bridge was built in 1935. Cypress wood was used for the railings, but later, hiba wood grown in the prefecture was used. The bridge is characterized by giboshi; decorated pillars that were installed during the original construction process.

Iwate Morioka City / Shizukuishi Town / Koiwai

Travel / Tourism

History / Culture / Tour Factory / Workshop Sightseeing Spot Experience / Training / Vehicle Nature Travel / Tourism Information Rental Car / Bicycle / Motorcycle Souvenirs Rest Spot Other Sightseeing

Iwate Areas

A northern Tohoku prefecture promising peace and quiet, Iwate is sparsely populated, replacing people with snow-capped mountains, history-rich sites, and fields of crops that are to thank for the region’s delicious local cuisine. Meander along the three-city Golden Route, where you’ll visit the grand Buddhist temples of Hiraizumi and the Tono folk villages before tasting the three famed noodle dishes of Morioka.