Qibla · Iwate
Qibla direction in Morioka
To face the Kaaba in Morioka, turn to 293.5° measured clockwise from true north, which is north-west (23.5° north of west). The Sacred Mosque in Mecca lies 9,416 km away along the shortest path over the globe, and this is the direction the mihrabs of the mosques in Morioka should follow.
The compass rose shows the Qibla of Morioka as a needle at 293.5°. With a phone app set to true north, simply turn until it reads 294°. A traditional magnetic compass also works, provided you allow for the local difference between magnetic and true north.
Find the Qibla with your phone
How to face the Qibla in Morioka
Stand where you will pray and find north first. Then turn towards west and move a further 23.5° towards north: the result is the bearing of 293.5°. A small error of a few degrees is forgiven by most scholars, but aiming simply at west would leave you about 24° off.
The scholars distinguish two cases: the one who sees the Kaaba aims at the building itself, while the one who cannot see it, as anywhere in Morioka, aims at its direction as well as he reasonably can. Comparing with the mihrab of a local mosque is a quick way to confirm the result. If you travel or move house, check the angle again, since it changes from place to place.
Why a flat map shows a different direction
This is a place where maps mislead badly: a straight line on a flat map from Morioka to Mecca points to 258.1° (west), a full 35.5° away from the true Qibla of 293.5° (north-west). The map line keeps one compass heading and is 427 km longer than the great-circle route. Because the Earth is a sphere, the shortest way to Mecca from Morioka first heads north-west, and that is the direction to face.
The value of 293.5° is the direction in which the shortest route from 39.7000° N, 141.1500° E sets off towards the Kaaba at 21.4225° N, 39.8262° E. Every accurate Qibla calculator, and the plans of well-oriented mosques, arrive at the same angle for this point.
Distance from Morioka to Mecca and Medina
Mecca is 9,416 km from Morioka as the crow flies, and Medina, the city of the Prophet ﷺ, is 9,212 km away. A direct flight would take roughly 11 h 35 min, although most pilgrims from Morioka connect through Jeddah or Medina airport.
Clocks in Morioka run 6 hours ahead of Mecca all year. Prayer times, however, depend on the sun at your own location, so always use the prayer times of Morioka rather than those of Mecca.
Finding the Qibla with the sun in Morioka
On 56 days of 2027, the sun passes exactly through the Qibla direction of Morioka while it is well above the horizon. At that moment, facing the sun means facing Mecca. The effect is most frequent in June (30 days); for example, on 1 June 2027 it happens at 18:15 local time.
On 272 days the sun stands exactly opposite the Qibla: then the shadow of any vertical object, a pole, a door frame or a plumb line, points straight towards Mecca. This is most frequent in March (31 days), for instance on 15 February 2027 at 07:14.
| Date | Sun in the Qibla direction (face the sun) | Sun opposite (shadows point to the Qibla) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January 2027 | — | — |
| 15 January 2027 | — | — |
| 1 February 2027 | — | — |
| 15 February 2027 | — | 07:14 |
| 1 March 2027 | — | 07:34 |
| 15 March 2027 | — | 07:52 |
| 1 April 2027 | — | 08:14 |
| 15 April 2027 | — | 08:32 |
| 1 May 2027 | — | 08:51 |
| 15 May 2027 | — | 09:08 |
| 1 June 2027 | 18:15 | 09:25 |
| 15 June 2027 | 18:12 | 09:34 |
| 1 July 2027 | 18:16 | 09:37 |
| 15 July 2027 | 18:26 | 09:31 |
| 1 August 2027 | — | 09:15 |
| 15 August 2027 | — | 08:56 |
| 1 September 2027 | — | 08:27 |
| 15 September 2027 | — | 08:01 |
| 1 October 2027 | — | 07:31 |
| 15 October 2027 | — | 07:05 |
| 1 November 2027 | — | 06:38 |
| 15 November 2027 | — | — |
| 1 December 2027 | — | — |
| 15 December 2027 | — | — |
Twice a year the sun passes directly over the Kaaba, on 28 May 2027 and 16 July 2027. Both moments are in daylight in Morioka: at 18:18 and 18:27 local time, face the sun and you face the Qibla exactly, anywhere in the city.
Morioka compared with other cities
Compared with Tokyo, 464 km away, the Qibla in Morioka is turned 0.5° further clockwise (293.5° against 293.0°), and Mecca is 58 km closer. The nearest city with its own Qibla page, Ōshū (62 km), prays towards 293.6°, a difference of 0.1°.
Across the 154 cities in Japan on this site, the Qibla ranges from 288.1° in Sasebo to 295.3° in Kushiro, a spread of 7.2°. That is too large to use one national direction, so each city has its own bearing.
See all cities on the Qibla page for Japan.
Qibla in cities near Morioka
Qibla in Morioka: questions and answers
What is the Qibla direction in Morioka?
It is 293.5° from true north, which is north-west: 23.5° north of west.
How far is Morioka from Mecca?
9,416 km in a straight line over the globe, and 9,212 km to Medina.
When does the sun show the Qibla in Morioka?
On 56 days of 2027 the sun stands in the Qibla direction; the table on this page gives the exact time for the 1st and 15th of each month.
Why is the Qibla in Morioka not the direction shown on a map?
Flat maps distort directions. The line on a map points to 258.1°, but the shortest route on the globe leaves Morioka at 293.5°, and that is the Qibla.
Does the Qibla change during the year?
No. The direction of 293.5° is fixed; only the times when the sun lines up with it change from day to day.