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[Morioka, Iwate Prefecture] Take a ride on the Dendenmushi train to Morioka Castle Ruins Park! The historic, imposing stone walls are worth a visit

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  • Last updated: 2024.04.30

One of the most famous spots in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, is the ruins of Morioka Castle. While gazing at the remnants of the now-defunct castle, the still-standing stone walls evoke a sense of atmosphere and eternal beauty. In this article, we will introduce Morioka Castle Ruins Park, an essential part of any discussion of Morioka

You can get to Morioka Castle Ruins Park from Morioka Station by taking the "Dendenmushi" bus for 100 yen

Morioka Castle was the castle of the Nanbu clan of the Nanbu domain. It is a 5-minute walk from Morioka Station and is a must-see spot for tourists. From the station, there is a 100 yen bus called Dendenmushi, which makes access even more convenient. If you take the bus from the station, you will arrive in 5 minutes

Morioka Castle is especially famous for the size of its stone walls. Among the many famous castles, this castle stands out for its particularly huge stone walls, which are truly impressive

Eboshi Rock is also one of the highlights. It was originally a stone that got in the way when the castle was being built, and they tried to remove it. However, when it was excavated, it was discovered to be a huge rock, and they decided to worship it as a god. Locals also call it "Omamori Rock."

Another popular spot is the monument to Ishikawa Takuboku's poem, "Lying on the grass of the castle in the distance, my fifteen hearts absorbed into the sky," bearing the inscription. As a boy, Takuboku escaped through a window at school to rummage through books, concluding the poem with a daydream. The inscription was carved by Kindaichi Kyosuke

Morioka Castle Ruins Park is divided into three areas

Morioka Castle Ruins Park is roughly divided into the Honmaru, Ninomaru, and Sannomaru areas. In the stone wall of Sannomaru, there is a plaque with the names of two magistrates who worked on the stone wall engraved on it. Usually, these names are marked with an engraving. However, this plaque has the names handwritten, which is an extremely rare case. The names of the magistrates are written not only in Sannomaru, but also in Ninomaru

A few meters below Ninomaru is the Sakakiyama Inari Kuruwa. However, all that remains are the remains of a well. Originally, this was the site of Sakakiyama Inari Shrine. However, it was relocated when the castle was abandoned. What makes it unique is that it is a very acute triangular kuruwa. To match this, the outer stone walls are also triangular. When viewed from Ninomaru, you can see that only this stone wall protrudes in a triangular shape. Why was the kuruwa made in such a triangular shape? It is a place that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of those who see it

You can get to the Honmaru from the Ninomaru Corridor Bridge. The remains of the Honmaru Three-Story Tower are a must-see spot. Originally built as a tower, it became the castle tower. It must have been a real landmark of Morioka Castle. Part of the stone walls have now been reconstructed on the site

To the east of the castle ruins is the beautiful Tsurugaike Pond. The area around here is known as a firefly village and has been developed to make it easy to walk around

Morioka Castle Ruins <Information>

  • Name: Morioka Castle Ruins (Iwate Park)
  • Address: 1-37 Uchimaru, Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture, 020-0023
  • Phone number: 019-681-0722
  • Official URL: http://www.moriokashiroato.jp/

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