Where to Stay in Morioka: Best Hotels by Area (Station, Odori, Nakanohashi & More)

Because Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, is originally a castle town that the Shinkansen later reached—as is quite common in regional cities—the traditional castle-town downtown and the area in front of the station are separate. You may hesitate whether to stay near the station for location and getting around, or stay downtown to enjoy gourmet food and izakaya bars.

In this article, we introduce recommended hotels by area in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture.

Morioka City’s Recommended Hotel Areas Fall into 3 Broad Areas

Broadly speaking, hotel areas in Morioka City fall into the following 3 areas:

Hotel areas in Morioka City are broadly divided into 3 areas. Each has its own traits in location (transport convenience), suitability for city sightseeing, dining and gourmet, and the like.

Area	Location (Transport Accessibility)	City Sightseeing	Dining & Gourmet	Downtown / Nightlife Area
Morioka Station Area
Odori Area
Nakanohashi Street Area

The station area just a short walk from Morioka Station is recommended for business travelers and first-time Morioka tourists. Above all, being close to the station means there is almost no getting lost, which offers peace of mind.

Morioka’s downtown area is “Around Morioka Odori,” but this is a short walk from Morioka Station. This area has many eateries such as izakaya bars and is suited for enjoying Morioka’s gourmet food and nightlife.

Going further, the area around “Nakanohashi” has a calm atmosphere. It is an area whose appeal becomes clear once you know Morioka well, so you can aim for little-gem hotels with relatively good value. It is also a place from which you can reach Morioka City sightseeing spots such as Morioka Hachimangu and Iwate Castle Site Park, making it one of the recommended areas known to those in the know.

Morioka Station Area Recommended for Business Travelers and First-Time Morioka Tourists

Why the Morioka Station Area Is Recommended

Above all, the Morioka Station Area’s strength is its location and transport convenience within walking distance of “Morioka Station.” If you are visiting Morioka on business, it is highly convenient and handy; even for sightseeing stays, trains go without saying and buses are also plentiful, making it an ideal base for getting around.

A hotel that offers peace of mind with refined design, a calm interior, and high quality throughout. A favorable location a few minutes from the station.

Recommended Hotels Around Morioka Station

Here are recommended hotels around Morioka Station by price range. Every hotel is clean and offers good value, making it business-trip-friendly too! A recommended area.

Price Range	Hotel Name
From 12,000 JPY	Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing Featuring 121 guest rooms, this major hotel offers well-balanced facilities and comfortable rooms, ensuring a reliable and worry-free stay.
From 9,000 JPY	Daiwa Roynet Hotel Morioka Ekimae A reliable hotel from the trusted Daiwa Roynet Group. With high-quality rooms, a well-balanced breakfast, and dependable nationwide chain standards, it sits near the station with great amenities and river views that add extra value.
From 8,000 JPY	Richmond Hotel Morioka Ekimae Overall very clean and well-maintained, with chic rooms that offer a comfortable stay. With relatively affordable prices, it is a great value-for-money option.
From 6,000 JPY	Hotel Route-Inn Morioka Ekimae A standard business hotel offering great value for money with a good balance of price and quality. The large public bath on the top floor is also a great feature.

Odori Area to Enjoy Gourmet Food and Morioka’s Downtown Area

Why the Area Around Morioka Odori Is Recommended

Morioka’s top downtown area is around Morioka Odori Shopping Street (arcade street). It is an area where you can enjoy izakaya bars and the like, with many dishes centered on the bounty of Iwate’s Sanriku coast.

Despite relatively low prices, rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable. Even with a downtown area nearby, because it is slightly set back, it allows an unexpectedly quiet and comfortable stay in the middle of town. There is also a major department store downstairs, so you can enjoy meals and shopping.

Recommended Hotels Around Morioka Odori

Here are recommended hotels around Morioka Odori by price range. Every hotel is clean and offers good value, making it business-trip-friendly too! A recommended area.

Price Range	Hotel Name
From 8,000 JPY	Daiwa Roynet Hotel Morioka A reliable hotel from the trusted Daiwa Roynet Group. Room quality is consistently high, and common areas are kept spotlessly clean, making it a safe and comfortable choice.
From 7,000 JPY	Hotel Royal Morioka Despite its relatively affordable rates, the rooms are spacious, clean, and comfortable. Conveniently located just a few minutes’ walk from the lively Odori downtown area, with a department store right across the street for easy shopping and dining.
From 7,000 JPY	ART Hotel Morioka A prominent hotel located right along the route you take when walking from Morioka Station toward Odori Street. Although it is a long-established hotel, it has been renovated to maintain high quality with clean interiors and rooms.

Preferred by Morioka Insiders! The Little-Gem Area Around Nakanohashi-dori

Why the Area Around Nakanohashi-dori Is Recommended

Although it is a bit far to walk from the station (taxi recommended), the area around Nakanohashi-dori is also delightful for nearby sightseeing—such as Iwate Castle Site Park, where Morioka’s castle ruins have become a park; the Nakatsu River with its comforting greenery; and Iwate Bank Red Brick Hall, with architectural beauty resembling Tokyo Station.

Shopping and dining at “monaka,” a new commercial facility in Morioka’s good old arcade shopping street “hot line Sakanacho,” are also recommended.

A new facility with many tourist spots and eateries nearby, in an area known to those in the know within Morioka. The exterior, lobby, and rooms show a clear commitment to design that is interesting. Because there are rooms devised in various ways, it is a fun hotel right from the moment you choose a room.

Recommended Hotels Around Nakanohashi-dori

Here are recommended hotels around Nakanohashi-dori by price range. Every hotel is clean and offers good value.

Price Range	Hotel Name
From 10,000 JPY	HOTEL MAZARIUM A newly opened hotel on Morioka’s Nakanohashi Street. Although slightly far from Morioka Station, it sits in an area rich with dining options and surrounded by the charm of a good old regional city stretching from Morioka Castle Site Park and the Nakatsu River. Its modern design makes it a hotel you’ll definitely want to try at least once.
From 6,000 JPY	Hotel Bright Inn Morioka A recommended hotel if you want to keep costs as low as possible and look for great value for money. It offers a good balance relative to its price, and its location near Morioka Castle Site Park and the Nakatsu River makes the surrounding area very pleasant.

Recommended Sightseeing in Morioka City

Morioka City is the central city of the former Nambu Clan; although inland, because it is a “city of rivers” where rivers such as the Kitakami River, Shizukuishi River, and Nakatsu River converge, the air is good and the comfort is outstanding. While preserving the good old town, there are also modernized parts, with many tourist spots in the city.

Here are some of the recommended tourist spots reachable on foot from the recommended hotel areas (Morioka Station, Odori, Nakanohashi-dori).

Iwate Castle Site Park and Nakatsu River

A recommended strolling area where walking while taking in the fresh greenery along the clear Nakatsu River, its riverbed, and on into Iwate Castle Site Park is pleasant. Iwate Castle Site Park no longer has a castle (castle tower) and has become a free-entry park where Morioka residents gather.

During cherry blossom season (April to May), Iwate Castle Site Park in full bloom feels even more beautiful.

So Wonderful! Walking Paths at Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park), a Relaxation Spot for Iwate and Morioka Locals — Article Here

Morioka Hachimangu

“Morioka Hachimangu,” a shrine that represents Morioka, is about a 10-to-15-minute walk from Nakanohashi-dori. In summer, beer gardens are sometimes held during the daytime at “Morioka Hachimangu.”

Exploring Morioka! Visiting Nostalgic “Daiji Shimizu” and Beautiful “Morioka Hachimangu” — Article Here

Iwate Bank Red Brick Hall

Exploring Morioka! The Masterpiece of Retro Architecture “Iwate Bank Red Brick Hall” — Article Here

Standing on the corner of the Nakanohashi-dori intersection, Iwate Bank Red Brick Hall is a building still in use today. With architectural beauty on a par with Tokyo Station’s design, it is a landmark you can visit together with a stroll along the nearby Nakatsu River and Iwate Castle Site Park.

Zaimokucho Street

“Zaimokucho Shopping Street,” reachable on foot from Morioka Station, is lined with good old shops; highlights include meals and beer at the restaurant of Iwate’s local beer “Baeren Beer,” and Kogensha, a place associated with Kenji Miyazawa.

Morioka District Court “Ishiwari-zakura” (Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree)

On the grounds of the Morioka District Court, reachable on foot from Morioka Odori, stands the Ishiwari-zakura growing by splitting a rock. It is designated as a National Natural Monument.

Recommended Gourmet Food in Morioka City

Sandwiched between the Ou Mountains and Kitakami Mountains, the mountain bounty is rich, and as a city where seafood from Iwate’s Sanriku coast arrives first, the sea bounty is also rich; furthermore, as a city where clear river streams meet, the water is clean—making Morioka a city where cuisine is exceptionally delicious.

Here are some of the recommended gourmet foods.

“Morioka Cold Noodles” with a Uniquely Spicy, Delicious Soup

“Morioka cold noodles” are something you definitely should eat when going to Morioka. Unique smooth, chewy noodles in a spicy-delicious soup with kimchi and the like—the more you eat, the spicier it gets, and the more you eat, the harder it is to stop: a cold noodle experience unique to Morioka. Watermelon, pear, or other fruits are included, giving you a refreshing break as the spiciness keeps going.

Shops for Morioka cold noodles also exist inside Morioka Station.

Main Morioka Cold Noodle Shops

Restaurant	Overview
Pyonpyonsha Morioka Ekimae Branch	A famous restaurant that also has a branch in Ginza, Tokyo. The interior is stylish, and it serves an easy-to-eat Morioka Reimen (cold noodles) with a well-balanced flavor that appeals to everyone. Enjoy it along with Yakiniku (grilled meat).
Seirokaku	A restaurant located right in front of Morioka Station. It is extremely popular and always has a line, so advance reservations are recommended. Since the Morioka Reimen soup is relatively sweet, those looking for spice should opt for the highest spice level—though it is still about as spicy as medium-spicy at other places. Outstanding deliciousness!
Yakiniku & Reimen San千里 Morioka Branch	Serves standard and delicious Morioka Reimen. While it might not be for everyone, it is highly rated among true Morioka Reimen fans as an authentic, classic Morioka Reimen.
Yakiniku Reimen Yamato Morioka Minami Branch	Located far from Morioka Station, so you will need a car to get there. It is a family-friendly, popular Morioka Reimen that is well-balanced and delicious. A reliable bowl that both connoisseurs and casual diners can enjoy without overthinking.

Unique Meat Miso, Unique Flavor, Unique Noodles: “Morioka Jajamen”

Said to make you wonder “Hmm?” after eating it once, “Oh?” after eating it twice, and leave you addicted after three times: “Morioka jajamen.” You eat it by tossing sharp-flavored meat miso through flat, udon-like noodles. Because the seasoning is strongly distinctive, those who do not take to it might dislike it forever, while for those who come to like it, it is an irresistible dish.

After finishing all the noodles, cracking a raw egg and making “Chitantan” with soup added for an extra charge along with meat miso is supremely delicious.

Morioka Jajamen Shops

Restaurant	Overview
Pairon Main Shop	The birthplace of Morioka Jajamen. The interior is small and cramped, but its retro, classic atmosphere adds to the experience. As the original creator of Morioka Jajamen, the taste is authentic. It is always busy, so be prepared to wait in line.

All-You-Can-Eat Soba: “Wanko Soba”

“Wanko soba,” where soba keeps being added endlessly until you close the lid; even if you say “Stop already~,” it does not end until you close the lid. Quick reflexes to close the lid right after eating are necessary, but the waitresses also aim and slip more soba in, making that back-and-forth a fun part of the dish.

The soba is delicious at first, but gradually becomes an “Impossible already~” all-you-can-eat wanko soba challenge. Rather than gourmet food, the enjoyment as an event is stronger. It is an event you want to experience at least once in a lifetime.

Wanko Soba Shops

Restaurant	Overview
Hatsukoma	A long-established soba noodle restaurant in Morioka. The quality of the soba is exceptional and highly recommended. Reservation required for “Wanko Soba.”

When You Think of Morioka: “Nambu Senbei”

When you think of Iwate / Morioka, “Nambu senbei” is famous. There are crackers of various flavors, but Nambu senbei with peanuts are recommended. The peanut sweetness balances the simple rice crackers well and is delicious. A rice cracker you want to eat slowly while drinking tea. Ideal for souvenirs too!

Sold at “Odense-kan” inside Morioka Station.

A Famous Confection Known to Those in the Know: “Morioka Ochamochi”

“Ochamochi,” a hidden famous confection of Morioka known to those in the know, is sweet, bitter, and delicious—a treat guaranteed to make you a fan after eating it once. It is made by flattening non-glutinous rice flour, skewering and steaming it, then coating it with walnut sauce (soy sauce or miso flavor) and grilling. Saying it is supremely delicious is an understatement!

Sold at “Odense-kan” inside Morioka Station. Quite popular and often sold out, so buying it as soon as you find it is recommended.

Book Your Hotel on Agoda!

For hotel reservations, Agoda is convenient and user-friendly.

On Agoda, there is almost no gap with the displayed prices, so you can book with peace of mind; furthermore, becoming a member offers cashback benefits, making it more advantageous the more you use it.

First, start by checking whether rooms are available on your planned travel date! It is a quite popular hotel, and during high season the rooms you want may already be gone, so early booking is recommended.

Tohoku Shinkansen “Gran Class” Boarding Report / Experience Report “Tokyo” → “Morioka”
(From lounge to all-you-can-drink wine)