Oodles of noodles in this colorful Iwate city
Criss-crossed by rivers and hemmed in by mountains, Morioka has been nicknamed “the capital of forest and water” for its natural beauty. A generous array of festivals truly makes this city come alive with color and excitement.
Connoisseurs of Japanese noodles must head north to the capital of Iwate Prefecture, home of the “Three Great Noodles of Morioka.” With Morioka’s three types of famous noodles, you could eat a different bowl for every meal of the day. Reimen and jajamen have worldly influences: potato-starch based ramen noodles are based on a Korean dish and often served with kimchi and even a slice of fruit, while tasty jajamen is the local version of Chinese black bean noodles.
But the most interesting dish of all is wanko soba, arguably the most fun and game-like noodle-eating experience you could have. The thin buckwheat noodles are served in bite-size portions in tiny bowls, but every time you slurp a bowl down, an attentive server will immediately replace it. The noodles are all-you-can-eat, and customers typically compete with each other to see who can stack up the most empty dishes.
Now, if you’re not up to date with your Japanese geography, understand that Morioka can be found somewhere between Aomori Prefecture in the north and the other parts of Tohoku to the south. Because of this, it makes for a great centralized hub for your travels. Morioka is both a great addition to Tohoku travel itineraries and a convenient logisticial hotspot.
Connoisseurs of Japanese noodles must head north to the capital of Iwate Prefecture, home of the “Three Great Noodles of Morioka.” With Morioka’s three types of famous noodles, you could eat a different bowl for every meal of the day. Reimen and jajamen have worldly influences: potato-starch based ramen noodles are based on a Korean dish and often served with kimchi and even a slice of fruit, while tasty jajamen is the local version of Chinese black bean noodles.
But the most interesting dish of all is wanko soba, arguably the most fun and game-like noodle-eating experience you could have. The thin buckwheat noodles are served in bite-size portions in tiny bowls, but every time you slurp a bowl down, an attentive server will immediately replace it. The noodles are all-you-can-eat, and customers typically compete with each other to see who can stack up the most empty dishes.
Now, if you’re not up to date with your Japanese geography, understand that Morioka can be found somewhere between Aomori Prefecture in the north and the other parts of Tohoku to the south. Because of this, it makes for a great centralized hub for your travels. Morioka is both a great addition to Tohoku travel itineraries and a convenient logisticial hotspot.
