Aya Sonoko Issaryo

16 Arhats

The 21 stone statues that remain on the grounds of Souryuji Temple were built to commemorate the victims of the famine that occurred during the Nanbu domain era. It was started in 1837 and completed in 1849, thirteen years later. It took over half a year just to transport the rock from the neighboring town of Yahaba, where it was cut, to this location. In addition, the statues were carved by craftsmen employed by the domain, and stone statues made by local stonemasons are rare in Japan.

Former Ishii Prefectural Residence

It was built in 1888-1989 as a private Western-style building for the second prefectural governor, Shoichiro Ishii, who is the current governor of the prefecture. This is the oldest authentic brick Western-style building in Morioka, and was designated as a Morioka City Historical Building in 1977.

Mitsuharasha

Kogensha is the publisher of Kenji Miyazawa's collection of children's stories, ``Restaurant with Many Orders,'' published before his death. Although it is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Japanese fairy tale literature, it was not talked about at the time and hardly sold. In the courtyard facing the Kitakami River, there is a monument marking the place where the book was published, a stone pillar carved with part of the fairy tale ``The Crow's Big Dipper,'' and there is also a museum exhibiting Kenji's handwritten manuscripts. In addition, at the ``Kakaikan'' coffee room, which has a pleasant atmosphere decorated with stained glass, you can enjoy hand-brewed coffee and the famous ``walnut cookies.''