羅針盤
Iwate - Morioka, Hokkaido & Tohoku
Compass (羅針盤) is a compact, well-regarded kissaten tucked into central Morioka, a short walk from the station and the city's lively shopping arcades, where the steady pulse of Tōhoku life meets warm, analog sound. Step in and you feel guided — the name is fitting — by a map of vinyl and warm wood: low lights, snug counter seating, and rows of records that the proprietor curates with personal flair. This is not a glossy live house but a listening room where jazz brushes, city pop grooves, and occasional folk or Brazilian gems are allowed to breathe; the staff will often spin a rare pressing or arrange short, intimate sets that reward close attention. Locals come for strong coffee and evening cocktails, but return for the conversations you can have about music and the thoughtful, almost nautical sense of direction the place gives your evening. For travelers seeking authentic Japanese music culture in Morioka, Compass offers that rare blend of hospitality, carefully chosen sound, and a lived-in atmosphere that makes even a single visit feel like a meaningful stop on a longer sonic journey through Hokkaido & Tōhoku.
Compass (羅針盤) is a compact, well-regarded kissaten tucked into central Morioka, a short walk from the station and the city's lively shopping arcades, where the steady pulse of Tōhoku life meets warm, analog sound. Step in and you feel guided — the name is fitting — by a map of vinyl and warm wood: low lights, snug counter seating, and rows of records that the proprietor curates with personal flair. This is not a glossy live house but a listening room where jazz brushes, city pop grooves, and occasional folk or Brazilian gems are allowed to breathe; the staff will often spin a rare pressing or arrange short, intimate sets that reward close attention. Locals come for strong coffee and evening cocktails, but return for the conversations you can have about music and the thoughtful, almost nautical sense of direction the place gives your evening. For travelers seeking authentic Japanese music culture in Morioka, Compass offers that rare blend of hospitality, carefully chosen sound, and a lived-in atmosphere that makes even a single visit feel like a meaningful stop on a longer sonic journey through Hokkaido & Tōhoku.