Morioka: Cherry Tree, Museums and History

Morioka offers a variety of reasons to plan a trip: the distinctive Ishiwari-zakura cherry tree, exhibitions and learning opportunities in archaeology, and different insights into Morioka’s history and culture. If you’re travelling with children, the offerings at the Morioka Study Museum of Archaeological Site are particularly interesting, including events for adults and children. Nature and historical topics can also be chosen as themes in their own right—without any single reason for travelling needing to take centre stage.

A cherry tree growing from granite

Ishiwari-zakura is an Edohigan cherry tree that grows from a crack in a block of granite. It is estimated to be more than 360 years old. Every year, it blooms from mid to late April. These distinctive features make the tree a natural attraction in its own right: not only is its flowering season remarkable, but so is its unusual growth from the granite. If you choose Ishiwari-zakura as a seasonal focus for your trip, you can take the mid-to-late-April period into account when planning.

The tree’s designation is also part of its history: in 1923, Ishiwari-zakura was designated a national natural monument of Japan. This links a specific natural site with recognition granted in a clearly documented year.

Discover archaeology and history

The Morioka Study Museum of Archaeological Site holds exhibitions, hands-on learning activities, as well as courses and lectures on archaeology and Morioka’s history. Its offerings therefore range from exhibitions to activities that focus on practical learning. Courses and lectures complement these formats. Since the offerings are explicitly aimed at both adults and children, families can also take shared interests in cultural history into account when planning their trip.

Another way to explore the past is Shiwa Castle Ancient Park. There, the approximately 1,200-year-old Shiwa Castle fortification from the Heian period is being reconstructed. The complex was built by Sakanoue no Tamuramaro. This reconstruction makes the historical site the park’s main focus. The view of Morioka Castle is different: its stone walls and a storehouse remain today. This gives you two distinct historical points of interest—a reconstructed fortification from the Heian period and surviving parts of Morioka Castle.

Museums with different themes

The Morioka History and Culture Museum explores Morioka’s history and culture across seven sections. The seven-section structure gives these topics a framework of their own. Together with the archaeology offerings, it lets you choose different themes for your trip: the broader fields of history and culture, or a closer focus on archaeology, exhibitions and hands-on learning activities.

The Morioka Machiya Story Museum was created by renovating preserved buildings, including the Hamafuji sake brewery. It opened on July 28, 2014. Its origins therefore differ from those of museums described primarily in terms of their subjects or structure: here, the preserved buildings and their renovation are part of the museum’s own history.

Choose your trip’s focus

More places to consider for your trip: Tono, Hanamaki, Ichinoseki, Waga District, Ofunato, Hachimantai, Rikuzentakata, Kitakami.

Go to the overview of the wider region: Iwate Prefecture.