May. 2008

No.57

LIVING GUIDE MORIOKA

MORIOKA INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ASSOCIATION〒 020-8531 MORIOKA-SHI WAKAZONO-CHO 2-18
TEL 019-626-7524

e-mail moriintl@nifty.com
http://www.e-morioka.com/~moriintl/top.html

How about Going around Morioka by Bus?
Trees are getting greener and greener, telling us that summer is drawing near. It is pleasant andrefreshing to go out at this time of the year. It’s fun to walk around Morioka, but it’s convenient to takea bus when you’re visiting distant places.

Going around downtown?
The"Dendenmushi" bus is perfect for going around downtown Morioka. Dendenmushi,
literally meaning a snail in Japanese, follows a circular route in downtown in both clockwise andcounterclockwise directions. You can get on and get off Dendenmushi at whichever stop you want at afare of 100 yen.
It is available at #15 bus stop in front of the Morioka station for the clockwise route and #16 for thecounterclockwise one. Running at intervals of 10~15 minutes, Dendenmushi travels around the route in35 minutes.

Bus Stops of Dendenmushi

Sightseeing around Morioka?
Sightseeing bus service is also available for the following routes.
＊ "Koiwai-go"takes you to a half-day tour of Tezukuri Mura (Morioka Handi-Works Square) and Koiwai
Farm. Enjoy baking nambu senbei by yourself at Tezukuri Mura (cost is included). Fee: Adult￥2,200. Koiwai-go leaves in the morning.
＊ “Takuboku-go" takes you to a half-day tour of Morioka Chuo Kominkan (Morioka Central Public Hall),Morioka Senjin Kinenkan (Morioka Memorial Museums of Great Predecessors) and Morioka
Kenji/Takuboku Museum. Fee: Adult ￥2,200. Takuboku-go leaves in the afternoon.
＊ "A Full-day Tour" covers both of the Koiwai-go and Takuboku-go routes.
Fee: Adult ￥3,500

For more information about bus services
Visit the website of Iwateken Kotsu at http://www.iwatekenkotsu.co.jp/
Information about the routes and schedules of both route buses and sightseeing ones is available on thewebsite.

UPCOMING EVENTS● Chagu Chagu Umakko Sat. June 9● Sansa Odori Wed. August 1 ~ Sat. August 4

With the history of more than 200 years, Chagu

It is said Sansa Odori originally started a long time agowhen local people danced happily to see troublesome
demons being driven away. Now it’s a grand paradeof Japanese drums and dancers. The year 2008 marks
the 30th anniversary of the annual summer festival. Thefour-day event, which used to be a three-day one until
2006, adds joy and energy to the summer of Morioka.

Chagu Umakko is a traditional annual event toexpress appreciation to farm horses. About 100
colorfully dressed horses and their owners marchfrom Sozen Shrine in Takizawa to Hachiman Shrinein Morioka, taking about four hours.

● Fatherʼ s Day Sun. June 17
People give their fathers presents and thank-you
message to express their gratitude. The typicalgift for Mother’s Day is a carnation. It’s a rose for
Father’s Day. How are you going to express yourthanks to your daddy?

● Yoichi at Zaimokucho Saturdays
Yoichi, literally an evening market, is a Saturday
market at Zaimokucho shopping street from 3:10p.m.
to around 6:30 p.m. every Saturday until November
24. Fresh vegetables and fruits, flowers and sweets
are available at reasonable prices. You will find a lotof shops along the street. It’s fun just to see themaround.