From Morioka Station board a Komachi bullet train to Kakunodate. (50 mins)

Kakunodate is a small castle town, famous for its 390-year old, well-preserved samurai mansions that lie in the Inner District. South, in the Outer District, was a bustling merchant district. Many old buildings and storehouses remain, and are used today as shops and restaurants.

The small town of Kakunodate can easily be explored on foot. Stroll through the historic streets for the atmosphere of the Edo period.

Walk to Bukeyashiki Street (15 mins) where a number of samurai houses are open to public. The Ishiguro House (08:00 – 17:00/JPY300) is still inhabited by descendants of the original Ishiguro family, the most prestigious samurai family in the Kakunodate region. The Aoyagi House (09:00 – 17:00/JPY500) was home to descendants of the Aoyagi family until 1985 and is now home to a number of exhibitions and small museums in the old buildings on the property.

Visit the nearby Kaba Craft Denshokan (09:00 – 17:00/JPY300) where you can observe a demonstration of the local traditional craft ‘Kabazaiku’, which involves crafting boxes, tea utensils and furniture with a veneer of the bark of mountain cherry blossom trees.

In the afternoon, visit the merchant district to explore the kura storehouses where local handicrafts are exhibited and sold.

Stay: Hotel Metropolitan Morioka New Wing - 2/2