Morioka (盛岡) is in the capital of Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

Travel to Morioka - Visa Requirements

By train

Morioka is a major train station on the Tohoku Shinkansen line.

The fastest Shinkansen services from Tokyo to Morioka are the all reserved Komachi and Hayate, which normally run coupled together as a single train. The ride takes 2 1/2 hours at a cost of ¥14040 each way, so you may want to consider purchasing a Japan Rail Pass beforehand.

From points west of Tokyo, you can take the Tokaido Shinkansen and switch in Tokyo to the Komachi or Hayate.

Buses to Morioka

An overnight bus service, the Rakuchin, runs twice nightly from Tokyo Station to Morioka (about 7 1/2 hours, ¥7850 one way).

Tours and Getting around Morioka

Morioka tourist attractions and sightseeing

Morioka city tours

Morioka has a number of popular festivals.

  • Chagu Chagu Umakko, 2nd Saturday of June. A parade of 100 colorfully decorated horses.
  • Sansa Odori, August 1-3. Summer dance festival. It has approximately 100,000 participating dancers. After the ceremony, viewers can join in and dance in the street.
  • Funekko Nagashi, August 16th.
  • Hachiman Shrine Festival, September 14-16.

Morioka souvenirs and shopping

  • Nambu Sembei - Morioka's traditional wheat crackers.
  • Nambu Ironware
  • Chagu Chagu Umakko - Kids' toy horse.

Morioka Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

  • Morioka Reimen (盛岡冷麺) - Spicy Cold Noodles severd with half a boiled egg, kim-chi and slide of either apple, watermelon or both.
  • Wankosoba (わんこそば) - Small servings of soba, served "all you can eat".
  1. Morioka Jajamen (盛岡じゃじゃ麺) - Chinese Style noodles with miso.

Morioka nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

Morioka is a small city, but it offers a number of good drinking options. The water in the area is clean and pure so there are a number of sake breweries. Japanese style 'Izakaya' bars are everywhere, and there are also some German style beer breweries which offer a variety of brews.

  • Ootaru, Oodori (15 minutes walk from the station). Japanese-style eatery with Asahi on tap and ¥1500 2.5hr nomihodai (all you can drink) deals. Try the Pizza.

As with most cities in Japan, Karaoke is a good drinking option, especially if you have a large group. Most places are ¥1000 an hour, including drinks. A good place is right off Oodori on the forth floor across the street from Ootaru.

Morioka cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

'FACES' is a western-style and western-owned bar and club near the movie theaters on Eigakan Dori (movie theater street). Great place to meet other English speakers!

Get out


This page was last edited by Wikitravel user Texugo. Based on work by Jani Patokallio, David and Jose Ramos, Wikitravel user(s) Episteme and WindHorse and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license

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