For the middle day, visit the temples or stay on the coast?
Stay two nights in Morioka to visit both temples in a day without changing hotels. For more time at Jodogahama, choose one night each in Morioka and Miyako. The temple route uses JR ordinary trains and temple buses; the coast route uses the 106 bus and Miyako city buses. To visit Akarenga in Morioka on the final day, allow a city return journey and sightseeing time between your bus from the coast and departure train.
Choose a 2 nights, 3 days itinerary
Three days: Morioka base with a Hiraizumi day
Stay two nights in the same Morioka hotel. Visit the garden and Golden Hall together on day two using the JR Tohoku Main Line and temple buses, then return to your hotel.
Three days: Morioka base with a Hiraizumi day →2 nights, 3 daysThree days: Morioka, then Miyako’s coast
Stay one night each in Morioka and Miyako for city walks and sea views. Walk along Jodogahama on day two, then return to Morioka for Akarenga before departing on the final day.
Three days: Morioka, then Miyako’s coast →Three days: Morioka base with a Hiraizumi day
Stay two nights in the same Morioka hotel. Visit the garden and Golden Hall together on day two using the JR Tohoku Main Line and temple buses, then return to your hotel.
Day 1 / Morioka → castle-site park → Morioka stay
After station arrival, walk the castle site and eat in the city. Stay in Morioka tonight.
- Morioka Station → Walk to the castle site
Walk from Morioka to the park, about 15 minutes in association guidance.
- Castle-site park → Stone walls and Taiko Bridge
Explore the stone walls and bridge, then return towards the station for a meal and a night at the same hotel.
After exploring the stone walls and bridge, eat in the city and return to the hotel. Follow signs at works and avoid restricted paths.
Day 2 / Morioka → Motsu-ji → Chuson-ji → Morioka stay
Allow separate time for the garden and Chuson-ji’s hill.
- Morioka Station → JR Tohoku Main Line to Hiraizumi
Take ordinary JR Tohoku Main Line trains to Hiraizumi. Direct services and those requiring a change differ; check stops and connections for your date. Travelling in the morning leaves time for the garden visit and meals.
JR 1532MJR Ekinet: date-specific train and reference-price search
- Hiraizumi Station → Motsu-ji garden, then station return
Walk seven minutes to Motsu-ji’s Oizumigaike garden. Adult admission costs JPY 700. The garden opens from 08:30 to 17:00, closing at 16:30 from 5 November to 4 March. After your visit and lunch, return to the buses in front of the station for Chuson-ji.
- In front of Hiraizumi Station → Run Run to Chuson-ji
Run Run serves Chuson-ji from the station on weekends and public holidays from 11 April to 29 November 2026, and daily on 13–16 August. The subtotal assumes travel on an operating date. Otherwise, check ordinary buses in both directions and their fares; Run Run day passes cannot be used on them.
- Chuson-ji stop → Climb the approach for Golden Hall and Sankozo
Climb Tsukimizaka past the main hall to visit the Golden Hall and Sankozo. An ordinary adult ticket costs JPY 1,000. Visiting hours are 08:30–17:00 from 1 March to 3 November, with closing at 16:30 on other dates. Ticket sales end ten minutes before closing. Special openings require extra tickets. Afterwards, descend along the same path to the buses.
- Chuson-ji stop → Hiraizumi → Morioka hotel
Take a bus back to Hiraizumi Station, then the JR Tohoku Main Line to Morioka. Choose a bus that leaves time to visit the temple and walk downhill, and allow for bus delays when planning the train connection. Eat near Morioka Station and return to the same hotel.
JR 1545MRun Run timetableJR Ekinet: date-specific train and reference-price search
Choose a temple date when Run Run operates. Allow time to climb and descend Chuson-ji’s approach, and remember that ticket sales end ten minutes before closing. To visit both temples, leave in the morning for the garden, a meal and the uphill walk. Choose your return bus to the station before setting out.
Day 3 / Morioka hotel → Akarenga → station departure
Finish with city exhibits after the temple day.
- Morioka hotel → Travel to Akarenga
Board the right-loop Dendenmushi at Morioka Station stop 15 and get off at Bus Center stop 15, officially one minute from Akarenga on foot. Each adult ride costs JPY 150. Return on the left-loop bus from stop 14. Explore the free and paid exhibits; adult admission to the paid area costs JPY 300.
Dendenmushi right loopOfficial FAQOperator: loop-bus guidanceFacility accessBank of Iwate Akarenga: facilities and restored areas
- Bus Center stop 14 → Morioka Station return
After visiting and eating, take the left-loop bus from Bus Center stop 14 to Morioka Station. Choose the return service for your travel date and leave enough time before your departing train.
Akarenga opens from 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30. It closes on Tuesdays and 29 December–3 January; on those dates, move the indoor visit to another day and spend time at the park or having a meal. The building has no lift or lockers. Ask which areas you can access if stairs are difficult.
Includes: Akarenga JPY 300 + Motsu-ji JPY 700 + Chuson-ji ordinary JPY 1,000 + Run Run JPY 400 + Dendenmushi JPY 300 + 17 October direct ordinary-train reference JPY 1,600 × 2. Run Run requires listed operating dates.
Separate costs and conditions: The subtotal excludes two hotel nights, meals, luggage storage, travel into and out of Morioka, and extra facilities.
Partial costs for one adult, excluding accommodation and food. JR amounts are Ekinet search reference prices.
Official FAQMotsu-jiChuson-jiRun Run timetableOperator: loop-bus guidanceJR Ekinet: date-specific train and reference-price search
Three days: Morioka, then Miyako’s coast
Stay one night each in Morioka and Miyako for city walks and sea views. Walk along Jodogahama on day two, then return to Morioka for Akarenga before departing on the final day.
Day 1 / Morioka → castle-site park → Morioka stay
After station arrival, walk the castle site and eat in the city. Stay in Morioka tonight.
- Morioka Station → Walk to the castle site
After lunch, walk about 15 minutes from station to park, following association guidance.
- Castle-site park → Walk, station return and meal
Explore the stone walls and bridge in daylight, then return towards the station for a meal and overnight stay. Follow diversions where works or events close paths.
After exploring the stone walls and bridge, eat in the city and return to the hotel. Follow signs at works and avoid restricted paths.
Day 2 / Morioka → Miyako → Jodogahama → Miyako night
Move hotels from Morioka to Miyako and see the beach.
- Morioka east stop 7 → 106 express to Miyako Station
Take the 106 bus from east-side stop 7 to Miyako. Check express and limited-express services, weekday and weekend schedules, and busy-period supplements for your date. Allow time to change to the beach-bound city bus after arrival.
106 bus: weekend outward timetable106 bus: timetables, fares and stops
- In front of Miyako Station → Visitor centre → beach walk
From Miyako Station stop 3, take a Jodogahama- or Miyako Hospital-bound city bus that calls at the visitor centre. City guidance gives about 15 minutes on foot from the centre to the beach. See the rocks and beach, then return to the centre stop for a Miyako-bound bus. Allow walking time in addition to bus travel and choose both services before leaving.
- Jodogahama beach → Bus and Miyako night
Retrace the beach walk to the visitor-centre stop, then take a Miyako-bound bus. Eat by the station and return to your hotel. Allow about 15 minutes back to the centre plus bus waits; check weekday or weekend/public-holiday returns.
106 bus: weekend outward timetableCity bus: weekend timetableMiyako city
You must walk back to the centre. Shorten your walk if local restrictions or weather affect access.
Day 3 / Miyako → Morioka → Akarenga → station departure
Leave Miyako accommodation, return to Morioka and visit Akarenga.
- Miyako Station → 106 limited express to Morioka
Choose your date’s Miyako-to-Morioka 106 service with the operator. Express and limited-express services, and weekday and weekend timetables, have different journey times and fare conditions. To visit Akarenga as well, leave time between arrival and departure for the city return journey and sightseeing.
106 bus: weekend return timetableBank of Iwate Akarenga: facilities and restored areas
- Morioka stop 15 → Akarenga visit
Board the right-loop Dendenmushi at Morioka Station stop 15 and get off at Bus Center stop 15, officially one minute from Akarenga on foot. Each adult ride costs JPY 150. Return on the left-loop bus from stop 14. Explore the free and paid exhibits; adult admission to the paid area costs JPY 300.
Dendenmushi right loopFacility accessOperator: loop-bus guidanceBank of Iwate Akarenga: facilities and restored areas
- Akarenga → Bus Center stop 14 and station return
After visiting and eating, take the left-loop bus from Bus Center stop 14 to Morioka Station. Choose the return service for your travel date and leave enough time before your departing train.
Akarenga opens from 10:00 to 17:00, with last entry at 16:30. It closes on Tuesdays and 29 December–3 January; on those dates, move the indoor visit to another day and spend time at the park or having a meal. The building has no lift or lockers. Ask which areas you can access if stairs are difficult.
Includes: 106 ordinary return JPY 4,600 + Miyako one-day pass JPY 500 + Dendenmushi JPY 300 + Akarenga JPY 300.
Separate costs and conditions: Applicable busy-period supplements on 106 limited-express services add JPY 200 per ride. The subtotal excludes two hotel nights, food, trains and luggage storage.
Partial costs for one adult, excluding accommodation and food.
106 bus: timetables, fares and stopsCity-bus day passOperator: loop-bus guidanceOfficial FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Does the JPY 500 Miyako day pass include the 106 bus to Morioka?
No. The JPY 500 pass covers one day in the designated Jodogahama–Miyako Port city-bus zone. Calculate Morioka–Miyako 106 fares separately. This itinerary adds ordinary adult fares of JPY 2,300 each way, or JPY 4,600 return. A JPY 200 supplement per ride applies on limited-express peak-period dates.
Sources and dates checked
- Tourism association: park access ·
- Operator: loop-bus guidance ·
- Dendenmushi left-loop timetable ·
- Official FAQ ·
- Facility access ·
- Run Run timetable ·
- Chuson-ji ·
- Chuson-ji access ·
- Motsu-ji ·
- Miyako city ·
- Tourism association: walking route ·
- Dendenmushi right loop ·
- JR 1532M ·
- JR 1545M ·
- 106 bus: timetables, fares and stops ·
- 106 bus: weekend outward timetable ·
- City bus: weekend timetable ·
- 106 bus: weekend return timetable ·
- City-bus day pass ·
- JR Ekinet: date-specific train and reference-price search ·
- Chuson-ji: hours and ordinary admission ·
- Bank of Iwate Akarenga: facilities and restored areas ·