Morioka Onsen

Morioka Onsen is a restorative hot spring in Morioka city, the prefectural capital of Iwate in northern Tohoku — a historic castle city where the Kitakami, Nakatsu, and Shizukuishi rivers converge beneath the striking backdrop of Mount Iwate, a majestic 2,038-meter volcano known as the Fuji of the North for its symmetrical cone visible from the city center. The siliceous thermal waters provide skin-softening and relaxation benefits, serving Morioka's diverse urban population who have inherited one of Tohoku's richest cultural traditions. The city's famous culinary culture — encompassing the Wanko Soba noodle challenge, Morioka reimen cold noodles, and jajamen thick pasta — and the granite outcrops and cherry blossoms of Kōjōji temple add character to this northern capital's onsen experience.