Morioka’s Pop-up Pedestrian Zone Draws Crowd for Food Stalls, Mochi Pounding
11:41 JST, November 8, 2023
MORIOKA — Pedestrians took over a street near Morioka Station in Iwate Prefecture last month. Despite the rain, crowds packed the car-free road at the “Morioka Ekimae Kaiun Hokoten” event on Oct. 21, with food and drink stalls lining the street.
The event was put together by an association for the shopping street, the Morioka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and other organizations.
Preparations for the event began last November as the first step toward creating a more walkable town.
The 130-meter stretch from the east exit in front of the station to Kaiun Bridge was transformed into a pedestrian zone for about four hours, with about 20 shops and local restaurants setting up stalls.
Kids could enjoy a mochi pounding event and a special street stall area, and a photo area was set up to allow for pictures from a usually inaccessible spot.
“I want people to use this event as a starting point to walk around the city and feel the wonder of Morioka,” said Kazunori Ishida, 73, chairman for the event committee.
Tetsumasa Sato, 23, a local government employee in Morioka, visited the event with a colleague. “It’s a fresh and different scene, and it’s fun. I hope they’ll hold it again in the future,” he said.
"Features" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Famous Weeping Cherry Tree in Full Blossom in Fukushima Pref. Town
-
Traditional Japanese Knife Store in Tokyo’s Ningyocho District Dates to Edo Period
-
Tokyo Station’s Reconstructed Domes Bring Back Prestigious Tradition; Station Building Hotel Loved by Literary Giants
-
Mysterious Charm of Eye-Catching General Store Draws People In; Said to Have Several Thousand Items
-
Kagawa: Video of 3 Dolphins Picking Up Garbage Goes Viral; Staff Trained Them to Exchange Trash for Food
JN ACCESS RANKING
- M6.0 Earthquake Hits Japan’s Tohoku Region; Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi Prefectures Observe 4 on Japanese Scale With No Risk of Tsunami
- China Mutes Memorialization of Reformer Hu Yaobang; Memories Could Spark Critique of Xi Administration
- Shinkansen Services Suspended After Man ‘Searches for Phone’ on Tracks; Disruption Affects About 14,000 Passengers
- U.S. 7th Fleet officer Arrested on Suspicion of Stealing Sushi, Sashimi, Chicken at Kanagawa Shopping Mall; Suspect Caught Mid-Meal
- UNRWA Director Describes Catastrophic Destruction in Gaza; Says Relief Trucks Robbed, ‘People’s Hearts Destroyed’