✔ In Short — Our Top Picks
- Hittsumi — Hittsumi, a traditional local dish of Iwate Prefecture, has been captivating many people with its simple yet profound flavor.
- Morioka Reimen (Cold Noodles) — Morioka reimen is one of the representative local dishes of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, captivating many people with its unique texture and flavor.
- Wanko Soba — Wanko soba is a distinctive food culture representative of Iwate Prefecture, captivating many people with its unique serving style.
Read on for the appeal, history, and access details of each spot.
About Iwate Gourmet
Iwate Prefecture’s gourmet scene features a distinctive food culture nurtured by its rich natural environment and history. For example, wanko soba, which takes advantage of the harsh winter cold, and reimen (cold noodles), known as a unique cold dish from Iwate, are both popular. Iwate is also a sake-producing region, where you can enjoy aromatic local sake made from locally grown rice. You can also discover new flavors through tender and savory yakiniku made with fresh Iwate beef, and seafood cuisine using fish and shellfish caught along the Sanriku coast. Additionally, dishes made with wild mountain vegetables grown in Iwate’s mountains and rich seafood offer different flavors depending on the season, symbolizing Iwate’s distinctive food culture.
3 Carefully Selected Gourmet Dishes of Iwate
Hittsumi
The Appeal of Hittsumi
Hittsumi, a traditional local dish of Iwate Prefecture, has been captivating many people with its simple yet profound flavor. Hittsumi is a dish made by kneading wheat flour with water, tearing the dough into small pieces by hand, and simmering them together with vegetables and meat. The charm of this dish lies in its handmade quality. Tearing each piece by hand creates irregular shapes, giving it a unique texture. When you take a bite, the gentle flavor of wheat combines with the umami of the simmered ingredients, creating a heartwarming dish.
Another appeal of hittsumi is its wide variety. In addition to the basic vegetables and meat, different regions and households add their own unique ingredients. On special occasions, seasonal vegetables and luxurious toppings can be added. This makes hittsumi a dish that offers a variety of flavors even within Iwate Prefecture.
The History of Hittsumi
Hittsumi, a traditional local dish of Iwate Prefecture, has been eaten since long ago. The Tohoku region, including Iwate Prefecture, was blessed with a harsh natural environment and seasonal changes. Since agriculture was the primary source of livelihood, people sought ways to maximize their limited resources. Against this backdrop, hittsumi developed as a precious food source and an important meal for surviving the cold winters.
While wheat has been cultivated in Japan since ancient times, in central Iwate, where rice was widely grown, wheat and buckwheat were also cultivated because cold weather sometimes ruined the rice harvest. As a result, people created various foods using wheat, and hittsumi was considered particularly valuable.
Hittsumi became widely prepared in households because it was easy to cook, nutritionally rich, and filling. Especially during winter, simmering it with vegetables and preserved foods helped people stay warm while supplementing their nutrition. This food culture has been passed down through the long winters as regional wisdom, and it continues to be beloved by the people of Iwate to this day.
Where to Try Hittsumi
Hittsumi can be enjoyed at local-cuisine restaurants and roadside stations (michi-no-eki) in Morioka City and throughout Iwate Prefecture.
Morioka Reimen (Cold Noodles)
The Appeal of Morioka Reimen
Morioka reimen is one of the representative local dishes of Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, captivating many people with its unique texture and flavor. The greatest feature of these cold noodles is the firm and slippery texture of the noodles. Made primarily from wheat flour and starch, the noodles are produced using a proprietary method. This gives them a distinctive elasticity and smoothness, providing a pleasant sensation as they slide down the throat.
The soup for Morioka reimen is a specially prepared broth based on chicken bones and beef stock, with added sourness and sweetness. The deeply flavored soup with a mild spiciness and clean aftertaste provides a refreshing taste perfect for hot summers. Furthermore, by adding toppings such as kimchi, boiled egg, cucumber, and pear, you can create a harmony of various flavors and textures.
The History of Morioka Reimen
The history of Morioka reimen began with the fusion of culture and food brought from the Korean Peninsula to Japan in the mid-20th century. Traditional cold noodles originally brought by immigrants from the Korean Peninsula were enjoyed within their communities. However, over time, they gradually gained acceptance among local Japanese people, and particularly in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, underwent significant changes and developed into a unique food culture.
Morioka reimen is characterized by its distinctive noodles and soup. Initially, the cold noodles had different textures and soup flavors, but they gradually evolved into their current form by incorporating local ingredients and flavors. Morioka reimen is distinguished from cold noodles in other regions by its firm, chewy noodles and refreshing sweet-and-sour soup.
Morioka reimen was first served at Shokudoen in Morioka in 1954 and became widely known nationwide after the gourmet boom of the 1980s and the naming of “Morioka Reimen” in 1986. Additionally, the custom of eating cold noodles to cool down during hot summers became established, and Morioka reimen has become a signature dish of summer.
Where to Eat Morioka Reimen!
- Restaurant Name: Pyonpyon-sha Morioka Ekimae Branch
- Appeal:
Pyonpyon-sha is a local restaurant chain rooted in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, known as a symbol of the region’s food culture. Since its founding in 1987, it has greatly contributed to the popularization and development of Morioka reimen, and centered in Morioka City, it continues to be beloved by many people for its signature dish “Morioka Reimen.”
The name is a coined word combining “sha,” meaning a place in harmony with nature and peace, and “pyonpyon,” evoking the image of creatures lively bouncing around in nature. The name expresses the wish to provide customers with a relaxing space and heartwarming dining experience. - Address: Jaran Building 1F/2F/3F, 9-3 Morioka Ekimae-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
- Access: 3 minutes via underground passage from Morioka Station on the Tohoku Shinkansen, 166m from Morioka Station
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hi5UyvgHViCuvsBS7?g_st=ic
Wanko Soba
The Appeal of Wanko Soba
Wanko soba is a distinctive food culture representative of Iwate Prefecture, captivating many people with its unique serving style. This charming dish is known for its style in which a bite-sized portion of soba noodles is served in a small bowl called a “wanko,” with a fresh serving of soba provided after each bite. The enjoyment of wanko soba lies not only in eating but also in the way it is served. By continuing to serve soba while respecting the diner’s pace, the meal becomes a form of communication.
One of the appeals of wanko soba is its rich history and cultural background. Wanko soba has long been loved by locals as a simple and heartwarming meal for getting through Iwate’s long winters. This traditional meal reflects the lifestyle of Iwate’s people, who enjoy spending pleasant time with family and friends while sharing meals together.
Furthermore, wanko soba stimulates the challenger’s spirit in diners. It is common to keep track of how many bowls of wanko soba one can eat, and certificates may be awarded based on the number of bowls consumed. This challenge not only provides fun at festivals and events but also serves as a way to convey the region’s appeal.
The History of Wanko Soba
Wanko soba has a long history as a food culture unique to Iwate Prefecture, providing a special dining experience to visitors. The origins of this distinctive eating style are said to date back to the Edo period. At that time, the people of Iwate Prefecture led frugal and thrifty lives, and wanko soba became a symbol of this lifestyle. Small bowls filled with small portions of soba, with new soba provided after each bowl is finished — this style reflects the local spirit of generously sharing food resources.
Behind the development of wanko soba into its current form is Iwate Prefecture’s rich natural environment and thriving soba culture. Iwate is known as a producer of high-quality soba, and a food culture based on harvested soba has flourished. Wanko soba gradually gained popularity as a casual way to enjoy local soba and as entertaining entertainment at banquets and festivals where many people gather.
The spirit of hospitality is also embedded in wanko soba. By continuously serving soba to guests, hosts have expressed their heartfelt welcome by providing a bountiful meal. This tradition symbolizes the warm hospitality and rich food culture of the people of Iwate.
Where to Eat Wanko Soba!
- Restaurant Name: Azumaya Honten
- Appeal:
Founded in 1907 (Meiji 40), this Japanese restaurant on Nakanohashi-dori (formerly Fukite-cho) in Morioka has been reborn into an even more attractive space while retaining the atmosphere of a castle town. The new main restaurant has opened. This establishment has been a kappo (traditional Japanese cuisine) restaurant since its founding, beloved by locals and captivating tourists alike, famous for its “wanko soba.” Now in its fifth generation, this Japanese restaurant continues to convey the warm hospitality of Iwate.The restaurant’s signature “wanko soba” features noodles served with carefully prepared broth made by a chef with over 40 years of experience, offering a truly exquisite smooth texture. During the meal, fresh soba is served one after another with the cheerful call of “Hai, jan-jan!” adding to the enjoyment. The interior, renovated from an early Showa-era merchant house, features the rustic atmosphere of traditional wooden architecture, with both table seating and tatami rooms available, creating a welcoming space where guests can truly relax.
- Address: 1-8-3 Nakanohashi-dori, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
- Access: Take a bus from JR Morioka Station to “Morioka Bus Center” (about 30 minutes on foot)
- Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VPEUuBKjX3mBQn918?g_st=ic
