Morioka, the capital of Iwate Prefecture, is a compact, walkable city known for the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building, the stone walls of Morioka Castle Ruins Park and its famous noodles, from all-you-can-eat wanko soba to cold reimen. The city drew international attention when The New York Times ranked it second on its “52 Places to Go in 2023” list, right after London, praising its old buildings, coffee shops and calm riverside streets. Morioka is about two and a half hours from Tokyo on the Hayabusa Shinkansen, so it works well as an overnight stop on a trip through Tohoku. This guide covers three highlights, practical tips and where to stay.
1. Iwate Bank Red Brick Building
The Iwate Bank Red Brick Building is Morioka’s signature landmark, a red brick and white stone bank with green domes that was completed in 1911. It was designed by Tatsuno Kingo, the architect of Tokyo Station, together with Kasai Manji, and its style will look familiar if you have seen Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi side. The building served as a working bank until 2012 and reopened as a museum in 2016; it is now an Important Cultural Property. Inside you can see the grand banking hall, the vault and exhibits on the building’s history and restoration. Part of the building is free, and the main exhibition area costs 300 yen. It opens 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:30) and is closed on Tuesdays and over the New Year holidays. It sits by the Nakatsu River in the old town center, a short walk from Morioka Castle Ruins Park, so the two pair naturally.
2. Morioka Castle Ruins Park and the Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree
Morioka Castle was demolished in 1874, but its massive granite stone walls still rise above the city in Morioka Castle Ruins Park, also called Iwate Park, about a 15-minute walk from Morioka Station. Paths climb past the old ramparts to grassy terraces where the keep and halls once stood, and the park is especially pretty during the cherry blossom season, usually mid to late April, and when the maples turn red in autumn. A few minutes away, in front of the Morioka District Court, is the Ishiwarizakura, or “rock-splitting cherry tree,” an Edohigan cherry that has grown out of a crack in a huge granite boulder for more than 360 years. It has been a National Natural Monument since 1923 and blooms around the same time as the park. The Dendenmushi loop bus stops near the park and costs 150 yen per ride, or 400 yen for a day pass.
3. Morioka’s Three Great Noodles
Morioka is famous for three noodle dishes. Wanko soba is the most fun: servers keep tossing small mouthfuls of soba into your bowl, calling out encouragement, until you stop them by putting the lid on your bowl. About 15 small bowls equal one regular serving, and shops such as Azumaya give a certificate if you reach 100 bowls; expect to pay a few thousand yen for the all-you-can-eat experience. Morioka reimen is a cold noodle dish of chewy, translucent noodles in beef broth, topped with kimchi, egg and fruit such as watermelon or pear; Pyonpyonsha has a branch about three minutes from Morioka Station. Jajamen is udon-style noodles with a savory miso meat sauce and cucumber, a specialty of Pairon. When you finish, crack an egg into the bowl and ask for hot water to make a soup called chitantan. Trying all three is a classic Morioka food challenge.
Where to Stay in Morioka
Where to stay: MoriokaHotel links in this section go to Orbitz. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Most hotels in Morioka are clustered around Morioka Station or in the downtown area across the Kitakami River near the castle ruins. Stay near the station if you are catching an early Shinkansen, or downtown to walk to the Red Brick Building, the castle ruins and the noodle shops in the evening.
Luxury
Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing is an upscale hotel near Morioka Station, with spacious rooms and restaurants on site, the most polished base in the city for Shinkansen travelers.
Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing
Upscale hotel near Morioka Station.
Mid-Range
Dormy Inn Morioka Hot Springs is a popular business hotel with a natural hot spring bath, a comfortable mid-range choice in central Morioka.
Business hotel with a natural hot spring bath.
Budget-Friendly
Toyoko Inn Morioka Ekimae is a simple, good-value chain hotel in front of Morioka Station, ideal for one night on a Tohoku rail trip.
Good-value rooms in front of the station.
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Hotels in Morioka on Orbitz
Compare hotels near Morioka Station and in the downtown area.
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Quick Tips for Visiting
- The Red Brick Building is closed on Tuesdays, so plan your Morioka day accordingly.
- Use the Dendenmushi loop bus (150 yen per ride, 400 yen day pass) to hop between the station, the castle ruins and downtown.
- Wanko soba is a sit-down experience, so book ahead at popular shops, especially on weekends.
- Visit in mid to late April for cherry blossoms at the castle ruins and the Ishiwarizakura.
- Morioka is also the gateway to the Sanriku coast; buses to Miyako take about 90 minutes.
Getting there by train: From Tokyo, the Hayabusa on the Tohoku Shinkansen reaches Morioka in about two and a half hours, and all seats are reserved. Morioka is also where the Akita Shinkansen splits off toward Kakunodate and Akita. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get from Tokyo to Morioka?
The Hayabusa Shinkansen takes about two and a half hours from Tokyo to Morioka. All seats are reserved.
What is wanko soba?
Wanko soba is a Morioka tradition in which servers keep refilling your small bowl with mouthfuls of soba until you put the lid on. About 15 bowls equal one regular serving.
Is the Iwate Bank Red Brick Building open to visitors?
Yes. It opens 10:00 to 17:00 and is closed on Tuesdays. Part of the building is free, and the main exhibition area costs 300 yen.
Why is Morioka famous?
Morioka is known for its noodles, its historic buildings and its relaxed riverside atmosphere. The New York Times ranked it second on its 52 Places to Go in 2023 list.
