It’s that time of year when the cold winter gives way to spring, yet here in Morioka, even in March, there are days when it’s cold enough for snow to fall.

Did you know that Morioka is the city with the coldest recorded temperature on Japan’s largest island, Honshu?

At Lake Gandoko, a roughly 40 minute drive northeast of Morioka’s city center, the temperature can drop lower than 20 degrees below freezing.

Once the vast surface of the lake freezes over and becomes pure white, you can enjoy ice-fishing for smelt.

You can partake in smelt fishing here from early in the morning until sundown, so many visitors set up tents while they attempt to catch as many as they can.

The Lake Gandoko Resthouse rents out fishing gear, making it easy for families to enjoy fishing on weekends.

Hinamatsuri, or Girls’ Day, is on March 3. It is a festival held to celebrate the healthy growth and happiness of young girls. During this period, families with young daughters display a tiered set of ornamental hina dolls modeled on traditional noblemen and noblewomen.

At Nanshoso (a historic Meiji-era protected residence) in Morioka, numerous hina dolls are on display, from ones carefully passed down from the Edo period to those made in the present day.

The hina dolls made in the Edo period are characterized by their faces, which were designed with a more old-fashioned style compared to the hina dolls made today.

In Morioka, these dolls symbolize parents’ affection and hopes for their children’s future, and have been handed down across generations.

The Hinamatsuri event at Nanshoso takes place from early February to March 3 every year, so please stop by if you have the chance!

After Hinamatsuri is over, Morioka gradually becomes warmer, and slightly past mid-April the cherry blossoms start to bloom. There are a number of places famous for cherry blossoms in Morioka.

In the city center, there is the Morioka Castle Ruins Park, and the Rock-Splitting Cherry Tree in front of the Iwate Prefectural Government. True to its name, this tree is bursting out of a small crack in a massive granite boulder, and has been designated as a national natural monument.

There are also plenty of places to view the cherry blossoms outside the city center, such as the area around Yonai Water Treatment Plant and Takamatsu Pond, which was chosen as one of the “100 Best Places for Viewing Cherry Blossoms” in Japan. Please explore the various cherry blossom spots throughout the city, take in Morioka’s scenery and townscape, and enjoy Morioka’s spring to the fullest.