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Unlike famous castles throughout Japan, there is no castle tower or building surrounding the castle, nor is there an admission fee. It is a park anyone can enter freely, and as a wonderful, wonderful park of relaxation for Morioka Citizens that continues to be loved to this day, you can enjoy relaxing by the Nakatsu River, the trees of the castle, the stone walls, and the lawn.
In this article, based on photos actually taken by the author, we introduce the charms of Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park).
Charms of Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park)
Morioka Citizens’ Park of Relaxation “Morioka Castle Site Park”
Unlike famous castles throughout Japan, there is no castle tower or building surrounding the castle, nor is there an admission fee. It is a park anyone can enter freely, and as a wonderful, wonderful park of relaxation for Morioka Citizens that continues to be loved to this day, you can enjoy relaxing by the Nakatsu River, the trees of the castle, the stone walls, and the lawn.
Morioka / Kozukata Castle Site Park Nestled Beside the Nakatsu River
Iwate / Morioka is a town where three large rivers—the Kitakami River, Shizukuishi River, and Nakatsu River—intersect; a town of water and greenery blessed with water and blessed with mountains. Morioka Castle Site Park, located nestled beside the Nakatsu River flowing through the city, is a park overflowing with the healing of the river.
Morioka Castle Site Park viewed from the opposite bank of the Nakatsu River is lined with trees, and you are captivated by the beauty of the blooming flowers.
The path looking out at the riverfront on the left and right and the castle site somehow wraps you in a mysterious sensation; while walking along such a wonderful small path enjoying the clear air and the healing of green, you occasionally almost fall into the riverbed, so extreme caution is required.
Entering the small path of the park from the Nakatsu River side, it is like a trekking course, a stroll path for healing full of water ions.
Lawn Plaza Where You Want to Relax on Holidays
The plaza along the Nakatsu River is a carpet of lawn, and in summer lush green lawn spreads out. You cannot enter the lawn area to play, but you often see elderly couples sitting slowly on benches arranged along the path. Elderly couples smiling in the park look happy.
Morioka History and Culture Museum
At Morioka Castle Site Park, adjacent to the lawn plaza, there is the “Morioka History and Culture Museum” where you can learn the history of Morioka. In the past, it was a civic library. Books were plentiful, and inside the library, dedicated desk spaces for reading books were loaned out to visitors, making it a good library where exam students in Morioka City could study in a quiet environment. However, when summer vacation came, the inside of the building was completely filled with junior high and high school students studying, so it might have differed from the original purpose of a library.
Now a culture museum where Morioka’s history is displayed, there are many deeply interesting and amusing exhibits, and the float for Morioka’s festival displayed on the 1st floor is a masterpiece.
Yare-yare-yare-yare~♪
The festival shout is “Yare-yare-yare-yare~♪”, but it might be unique to Morioka.
Sakurayama Shrine
Right next to the culture museum, there is a quiet shrine, “Sakurayama Shrine.” It is a shrine called Sakurayama because it is wrapped in cherry blossoms in spring.
The fortune-telling papers are colorful and cute.
Beside Sakurayama Shrine, there are beautiful stairs.
Climbing up, there is a rock! There is a rock called “Eboshi-iwa” shaped like a court noble’s hat. In reality, you can’t wear such a huge hat (it’s heavy), but “Eboshi-iwa” was widely believed in in Nanbu Domain Morioka, and in front of the rock, Shinto rituals praying for peace against disasters and epidemics were performed. As the “talisman rock” of Nanbu Domain Morioka, it is worshiped by many people even now.
As expected of “Iwa” (rock) te!
The Eboshi-iwa of Sakurayama Shrine is also a “rock” of Morioka; inside the premises of the Morioka District Court, there is also the “Ishiwari-zakura” (Stone-Splitting Cherry Tree) where a cherry tree grows by splitting a stone, and the “Mitsuishi Shrine” (origin of Iwate’s prefecture name) where an ogre struck handprints on a rock as a “promissory note not to do bad things”—there are several “legendary rocks” in central Morioka. It’s a mysterious town, Morioka!
To the Multipurpose Plaza via the Pond
Re-entering the park from Sakurayama Shrine through the Morioka Castle Site Park Historic Site Entrance,
The pondside is comfortable.
Going straight leads to the multipurpose plaza halfway up the castle. That a “horizontal bar” is installed all by itself is strangely cute. In the past, there was a “slide” too, though.
The Castle’s Honmaru
From here it’s an uphill path heading to the castle’s Honmaru. Naturally, you can’t climb here (if you climb, you’ll be scolding).
Climbing a proper path,
Climbing,
Looking down.
At the Honmaru Palace site, the pedestal of an equestrian statue is enshrined; the equestrian statue (bronze statue) was surrendered to the nation under wartime mobilization during wartime, and currently only the pedestal remains, but even so (or rather, precisely the scene of only the pedestal) is cool.
Leaving the Honmaru for the Ninomaru
Going from the Honmaru to the Ninomaru, the “Tokon-bashi,” a red wooden bridge crossing over, has atmosphere, but because it’s quite an old bridge, crossing it makes your heart beat a little. It’s okay, it’s sturdy, so let’s cross! (Probably)
In the Ninomaru, there is a “monument inscribed with Ishikawa Takuboku’s poem.”
“Lying down on the grass of Kozukata Castle, my fifteen-year-old heart absorbed into the sky.”
When the emotionally rich fifteen-year-old Takuboku in his adolescence lay down on the lawn of Morioka Castle (probably sneaking out of school) and looked at the sky, to the extent that his heart was almost absorbed into the clear sky,
It feels super good!
There are complaints about school or irritations I can’t express well myself, but the clear sky absorbs those feelings together, making all that not matter anymore—the world is vast, huh? Something like that feeling? To be able to read such a poem at fifteen years old, Ishikawa Takuboku is an extraordinarily sensitive poet.
Passing from the Ninomaru through the San-no-maru, going down the slope, returning to the downtown area (Odori) of Morioka City. That was a stroll through Morioka Castle Site Park.
Japan Where Water is Beautiful
At Morioka Castle Site Park, there are often nostalgic water faucets for drinking water. A country where tap water can be used as drinking water is likely one of the valuable resources Japan should be proud of, rare even in the world.
Now, various resources, assets, and cultures inherited from our predecessors are being broken down and destroyed, but we must study history firmly, protect the precious treasures inherited from our ancestors ourselves, and connect them to the future.
Please do enjoy Morioka Castle Site Park—a park of relaxation on a holiday in Morioka.
Location and Access of Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park)
Location
Morioka Castle Site Park is located in the Uchimaru area in the central part of Morioka City. From JR Morioka Station, take the “Morioka City Center Loop Bus ‘Dendenmushi'” counterclockwise from the East Exit bus terminal for about 6 minutes, and get off right at “Morioka Castle Site Park-mae.”
On foot, cross the Kaiun Bridge from Morioka Station and go through the lively Saien-dori street, taking about 15 to 20 minutes. Across the Nakatsu River, it is close to “Plaza Odette” and “Iwate Bank Red Brick Building,” and the charm is being able to access it while enjoying a city stroll. By car, using the paid underground parking lot beneath the park is convenient.
Information of Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park)
| Item | Details |
| Official Name | Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park) |
|---|---|
| Address | 〒020-0023 1-37 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture |
| Admission Fee | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours (Entry possible all day) |
| Closed Days | None (Open year-round) |
| Main Highlights | Stone walls (granite), cherry blossoms (mid-April to early May), autumn foliage, rose garden |
| Designations, etc. | Nationally Designated Historic Site, Japan’s Top 100 Castles, 100 Selected Urban Parks of Japan |
| Parking Lot | Morioka Castle Site Park Underground Parking Lot (Paid / 7:00 – 22:00) and many others in the surrounding area |
History of Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park)
| Period | Event |
| 1597 (Keicho 2) | Nanbu Nobunao appoints his legitimate son, Toshinao, as chief administrator and begins construction of Morioka Castle. |
|---|---|
| 1633 (Kanei 10) | Nanbu Shigenao enters the castle. Thereafter, it becomes the residence castle of the Morioka Domain Nanbu clan throughout the Edo period. |
| 1871 (Meiji 4) | Due to the abolition of the han system and establishment of prefectures, the Morioka Domain is abolished, and Morioka Castle becomes abandoned. |
| 1874 (Meiji 7) | Many of the buildings inside the castle are sold off, dismantled, and removed. |
| 1906 (Meiji 39) | Designed by Nagaoka Yasuhei, a pioneer of modern parks, it opens as “Iwate Park.” |
| 1937 (Showa 12) | Designated as a National Historic Site as “Morioka Castle Site.” |
| 2006 (Heisei 18) | Commemorating its 100th anniversary of opening, the nickname “Morioka Castle Site Park” is given. |
| 2024 (Reiwa 6) | Maintenance continues, such as restoration work on the “Rokabashi” connecting the Ninomaru and Honmaru. |
Frequently Asked Questions About Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park)
Question
Is there a castle (castle tower)?
Answer
Regrettably, because all buildings from that time were demolished in the Meiji era, no castle tower or turrets remain. Currently, the beautiful “stone walls” themselves, built with granite characterized by a whiteness rare in Tohoku, serve as the highlight.
Question
How long does a visit take?
Answer
If you make one loop around the park and look around at the stone walls and multipurpose plaza, it takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour. If you also visit the adjacent “Morioka History and Culture Museum” and “Sakurayama Shrine” together, allowing about 1 hour and a half to 2 hours lets you enjoy it with time to spare.
Question
Is it lit up?
Answer
Yes, at night the stone walls are lit up, and night strolls are also possible. Additionally, during event periods such as spring’s “Morioka Sakura Festival” or winter’s “Morioka Yuki-akari,” special illuminations and paper lantern lighting are conducted, allowing you to enjoy fantastical scenery.
Question
Can I enter the park bringing a pet?
Answer
Yes, as long as they wear a lead, entering with a pet is possible. It is also familiar as a stroll course for citizens. You can enjoy a walk in rich nature while observing manners.
Recommended Hotels for Sightseeing and Business Trips in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture
Because Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, is a castle town and an ancient city, Morioka Station, where the Shinkansen stops, and Morioka's downtown area (entertainment and commercial district) are slightly separated. Compared to prefectural capitals in other prefectures (regional areas), Morioka is a city where shops still relatively remain in the center of town (such as the Odori arcade street). Furthermore, as a city of water and greenery with three rivers flowing through it, hotels suitable for sightseeing and business trips are scattered throughout the area.
Among them, the hotel areas in Morioka City are roughly divided into three main zones. The recommended areas vary depending on your priorities—such as location, city sightseeing, gourmet dining, or proximity to downtown/entertainment districts—so choosing a hotel that fits your purpose is recommended.
If you are looking for a hotel in Morioka City, please be sure to check out the following article.
The ancient capital of Morioka, a former castle town, retains the charm of good old Japan. To fully enjoy and sightsee Morioka, choose a high-quality hotel in a recommended area.
Summary: Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park)
Morioka Castle Site Park, which conveys the remnants of Kozukata Castle—the former residence castle of the Nanbu Domain—to the present, is an irreplaceable place of relaxation for Morioka citizens, enveloped in beautiful stone walls and rich greenery.
- Seasonal Beauty: Spring cherry blossoms, fresh green in early summer, and autumn foliage—no matter which season you visit, beautiful scenes welcome you alongside the murmuring of the Nakatsu River.
- Searching for Fragments of History: Though no buildings exist today, highlights never end, such as the “stone walls” boasting the top beauty in Tohoku, the Honmaru site sung in Ishikawa Takuboku’s poetry, and Sakurayama Shrine where the huge “Eboshi-iwa” is enshrined.
- As a Set with City Strolling: Located within walking distance from Morioka Station, tourist spots such as “Iwate Bank Red Brick Building” and “Morioka History and Culture Museum” are also concentrated in the surrounding area. Taking a rest on a park bench between strolls is also a luxurious time.
This place where history, culture, and nature are densely condensed lets you feel the depth of the town called Morioka against your skin.
In addition to Morioka Castle Site Park (Iwate Park), strolling through “Daiji-shimizu” and “Morioka Hachimangu,” which are just right for a stroll to feel good old Morioka, is also a recommended route.
In Morioka, an old capital where the charm of an old-time river town remains vibrant, Morioka Hachimangu Shrine—located a short distance from the station—and Daiji Shimizu, just a 15-minute walk from the shrine, are nostalgic landmarks that evoke the beauty of Japan’s classic eras.
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