Morioka: Exploring the Home of the Biggest Taiko Drumming Party
Morioka, Japan, is a core city found in the region of Tohoku. This city serves as the capital of the prefecture of Iwate and houses a little over 293,000 residents. Morioka was proclaimed as a core city back in 2008, but it has served as the capital of Iwate Prefecture since 1889 after the establishment of the municipality system. The city’s passenger traffic is served by the Iwate-Hanamaki Airport found about an hour’s drive from the south of Morioka. You can book your suites at the nearby hotels around the airport, although there are also hundreds of accommodations within the city, too.
Best Time to Visit
While late April to late July serves as the best time for visiting Morioka without worrying about the weather, August still ranks as one of the most visited months in the city. This is thanks to the annual Morioka Sansa Odori Festival celebration held during the first four days of the month. This fest is dubbed as the world’s biggest taiko drumming party, featuring various taiko performances and numerous dancers. You can expect reasonably packed Morioka, Japan hotels by this time of year, so plan ahead if you don’t want to miss the festivities.
What to Do & Area Attractions
If you come to Morioka in the winter, the best places to visit include Amihari Onsen Ski Area and the Iwate Kogen Snow Park. However, the Morioka History and Culture Museum is always open all year-round to accommodate visitors. From the museum, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Morioka and Art Hotel Morioka are both just a few minutes drive away.