JP · Iwate Prefecture · 39.70°N 141.15°E

morioka

Three very different noodle dishes, old brick buildings and rivers beneath Mount Iwate.

Best time
Late April–May and September–October are comfortable for walking. January–February is icy; summer is warmer than you'd expect this far north.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Tokyo (about 7 hours). The Tohoku Shinkansen reaches Morioka in about 2 hours 15 minutes. Japan is an hour ahead of KL.
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JP · Iwate Prefecturemorioka39.70°N 141.15°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Three very different noodle dishes, old brick buildings and rivers beneath Mount Iwate.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingMoriokaJP, Iwate Prefecture
KLmorioka
≈ 5,681 km from KL, as the crow flies
Morioka_Castle in Morioka, Iwate prefecture, Japan

Photo: 663highland · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A calm castle town in Iwate where three rivers meet, with Mount Iwate on the skyline. Its three famous noodle dishes make eating part of the sightseeing.

Makan

  1. Wanko sobaSoba served one mouthful at a time; the staff keep refilling your bowl until you put the lid on.Map ↗
  2. Morioka reimenChewy, clear noodles in a cold beef broth with kimchi, from a Korean recipe.Map ↗
  3. JajamenThick noodles with cucumber and a meaty miso sauce. Finish with an egg soup made in the same bowl.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Morioka Castle Site ParkThe big stone walls of the old castle, under cherry trees and autumn maples.Map ↗
  2. Iwate Bank Red Brick BuildingA red-brick bank from 1911, by the architect of Tokyo Station.Map ↗
  3. Ishiwari-zakuraA cherry tree that grew out of a split granite boulder, in front of the courthouse.Map ↗
  4. Kitakami riversideRiverside paths with views of Mount Iwate on clear days.Map ↗

Good to know

  • For wanko soba, close the lid on your bowl to stop. The servers keep count of how many bowls you eat.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.