Sightseeing Spots

Morioka Weeping Cherry (National Natural Monument)

This is a temple (Kitayama Ryukokuji) where Takuboku's maternal uncle was the chief priest from 1890 to 1880. It is said that Takuboku often visited here as a boy and received lessons in poetry. The precincts also contain the Morioka weeping cherry tree, a national natural monument, which is a sight to behold in the spring. Flowering period: Late April to early May

Kurosaki Senkyo Onsen 1

Seven waterfalls

It's about a 1.5km climb along Nanatakizawa, which joins the Mabuchi River from Shimofuyube. The 43m waterfall that can be seen through the thicket of trees is the third waterfall, the highest of the seven tiered waterfalls. The Japanese beech that grows wild around the waterfall is the northernmost Japanese beech and has been designated as a natural monument of the town.

Hachimantai trekking 3

Ogao’s weeping wig

A weeping wig found only in Iwate Prefecture. This male tree is approximately 170 years old and 22m tall. The weeping wigs in the city are made from this tree.

upper bridge fake jewel

The bridge above was built by Toshinao, the lord of the Nanbu domain, over the Nakatsugawa River at the same time as he built Morioka Castle. Of the bronze imitation jewels decorating the railing, eight have inscriptions dated to 1609 (Keicho 14), and 10 have inscriptions dated to 1611 (1611). It is extremely rare that so many remain, and in 1945 it was designated as a nationally important art object.

Hachimantai trekking 2

Kizuya main store

A wealthy merchant family during the feudal period. Located in Somon, the gateway to the castle town of Morioka, it retains its original appearance and has a quaint earthen storehouse structure with fire prevention in mind. It was designated as a cultural property by Iwate Prefecture in 1981.

Nitobe Inazo’s birthplace (bronze statue)

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of Inazo Nitobe, a cosmopolitan man born in his hometown who ``hopefully becomes a bridge over the Pacific Ocean'', Morioka City built this building on his birthplace in Shimonohashi Town with donations from citizens. Author Fumio Asakura). During the Pacific War, its achievements were largely ignored, and its legacy was only remembered by a few people, but after the war, its role was properly reviewed and reevaluated on both sides of the Pacific.