Morioka Castle Ruins Park (Iwate Park) | Review by 黃國棟

When visiting Morioka, you can’t miss the historic Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. It is said to have been established in 1062, and its main deity is Hondawake no Mikoto, also known as Emperor Ojin. It is a very important shrine in the Morioka area. Besides worshipping here, it is also considered a place closely connected to daily life, where you can feel a sense of peace and energy.

Visiting in the fall was perfect. The maple leaves had turned red, orange, and gold, and together with the old shrine buildings, they looked especially picturesque in the sunlight. What I liked most was that the weather was beautiful that day, the sky was deep blue, and there weren’t many visitors. The whole shrine felt less crowded and much more peaceful. Slowly walking along the approach, admiring the red maples and ginkgo trees, and feeling the autumn sunlight fall across the shrine grounds was truly relaxing.

Chuson-ji Temple, home to the magnificent National Treasure Konjikido, or Golden Hall, is an ancient temple with a history spanning a thousand years. It was also one of the most memorable places on this trip through Tohoku.

Starting from the entrance, I slowly walked uphill, surrounded by tall trees on both sides. Even when visiting in summer, it doesn’t feel too hot. As I strolled along, taking in the ancient temples and forest scenery, my pace naturally slowed down, and I felt much calmer as well. It really felt cleansing and allowed me to clear my mind.

Besides Chuson-ji’s main hall, there are many other distinctive temples and cultural sites throughout the grounds that you can explore at a leisurely pace. Of course, you can’t miss Konjikido. Its magnificent architectural details really convey the rich history of this thousand-year-old temple.

The amulets sold here are also very distinctive, with designs that are a little different from those usually seen at other temples. If you enjoy collecting amulets, it’s well worth choosing one to take home as a souvenir.

And in the fall, Chuson-ji is unbelievably beautiful! The red and golden leaves, ancient temple buildings, and forest paths come together like a Japanese autumn landscape painting.

Lake Gando is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful man-made lakes in Japan.

In winter, when the lake freezes over, you can try the unique experience of ice fishing for wakasagi smelt, while fall offers completely different scenery.

This time, I happened to visit at the peak of the fall foliage season. The mountains were covered in orange-red, golden yellow, and deep green, all reflected on the lake. It was so beautiful that I couldn't stop taking pictures.

Unfortunately, it was cloudy on the day I visited, so the colors weren't as bright as they would have been in the sunlight. But the gray-blue sky actually made the fall colors look calmer and more layered.

Maybe it was because of the weather, but there were surprisingly few visitors that day. The entire lakeshore was very quiet, with only the sound of the wind passing through the treetops and the water gently rippling.

Without the crowds, Lake Gando had a special sense of autumn tranquility. Even on a cloudy day, the mountains, lake, and fall foliage before me still made me feel—this trip was truly worth it.