Morioka’s city center still has quite a few retro historic buildings, so I spent half a day leisurely exploring them.
My first stop was the Iwate Bank Red Brick Pavilion, designed by Kingo Tatsuno. Its familiar red-brick exterior reminded me of Tokyo Station.
Inside, the former bank spaces and exhibit materials have been preserved. It’s not very large, but the atmosphere is calm, and it’s a nice place to look around at a relaxed pace.
Iwate Bank Red Brick Pavilion | Review by 金己田
Other Reviews by 金己田
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Ueno Park
Ueno Park, officially known as "Ueno Onshi Park," is located in Taito Ward, Tokyo. Managed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Construction Bureau, the park spans an impressive area of 530,000 square meters and has a rich history.
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo’s best-known cherry blossom spots, but I didn’t realize until I got there just how lively the hanami atmosphere would be.
Under the fully blooming cherry trees, people were everywhere—sitting on the ground, drinking, and hanging out. Around us were the sounds of food stalls and stage performances, and it honestly felt like a festival. It really showed me how passionate Japanese people are about cherry blossom viewing.
If you’re coming to Tokyo for cherry blossoms with a group of friends and want to drink, celebrate, and experience the energetic hanami culture, this would definitely be my top pick. -
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Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, Akabeko
JR Ban-etsusai Line, JR Tadami Line and Aizu Railway all converge at Aizu-Wakamatsu Station, a center in Aizu Region. Its building looks like a castle and is selected as one of the Top 100 stations of the Tohoku District. At the east entrance of the station, a big Akabeko greets everyone who visits Aizu, which is a popular photo spot.
I’d always known that Fukushima’s mascot is the red cow, but I didn’t expect to walk out of Aizu-Wakamatsu Station and actually be greeted by one right away!
All I can say is that this city feels completely taken over by red cows. You see them everywhere. Even the sightseeing loop bus had a red cow design. I got so influenced by it that when I saw a capsule toy machine in Nanukamachi, I couldn’t resist getting a red cow one as a souvenir. -
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Tokyo Tower
Tokyo Tower was born in 1958. When it was built, Tokyo Tower proudly stood out as the tallest steel tower in the world. At a height of 33 meters, it was taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. It is located in Minato Ward in the center of Tokyo. Take in sweeping views of the city from the observation deck. Currently under renovation, it is always changing.
It’s not my first time in Tokyo, but every time I see Tokyo Tower, my heart still skips a beat.
Someone once asked me why I like Tokyo Tower so much. Maybe it’s the way it stands, or maybe it’s its glow. To me, this orange-red tower is more than just a tourist spot—it’s the symbol of Tokyo. -
