By Elaine Lies MORIOKA, Japan, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Once viewed as a backward part of northeast Japan, so snowy it was known as "Japan's Tibet," the city of Morioka and surrounding Iwate prefecture came into their own 30 years ago, when the superfast Shinkansen train began running up north. Just 2.5 hours from Tokyo, Morioka and its laid-back lifestyle, surrounded by mountains ideal for hiking in summer and skiing in winter, makes a good weekend getaway for anyone tired of the bustle of Tokyo.