Fiery red maple leaves welcome you

Morioka City's famous autumn foliage spots include ''Morioka Castle Ruins Park'' and ''Nanchoso,'' but the Japanese garden ''Former Nambu Clan Bettei Garden,'' located on the premises of ''Morioka City Central Community Center,'' is a popular autumn foliage spot among locals.

Gardens have a long history; in the early Edo period, the Morioka clan established Oyakuen, and later, palaces and gardens were developed as villas for successive feudal lords. After the Meiji Restoration, the building was demolished and the garden fell into disrepair, but in 1908, a new building was built as a villa for the Nanbu family, the former feudal lords of Morioka, who became aristocratic, and the garden was also renovated. The ''former Nanbu family villa main building'' that still remains today is a nationally registered tangible cultural property, and the garden is a nationally registered monument (scenic spot).

The garden is a stroll-style garden with a pond that takes in the scenery of the neighboring Mt. Atago (196m above sea level), and has an area of ​​approximately 10,000 square meters. It is built around a pond with three floating islands, and various trees such as red pine, Japanese maple, cherry tree, azalea, maple, and hydrangea show off their seasonal expressions. Especially during the autumn foliage season, the Japanese maple trees planted around the pond turn a fiery crimson color, captivating visitors. On days when there is no wind, you can also enjoy the ''upside-down maple'' reflected on the water surface.

There is a place in the park where the maple trees form a tunnel, so be sure to take a stroll through it. At the end of autumn, fallen leaves will cover your feet and you can walk on a red carpet of maple leaves. The best time to see autumn leaves is usually from late October to early November. Enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime autumn leaves that change every moment, from the time they begin to change color to the time they fall.