A short trip: city stay or separate temple days?
Stay one Morioka night for stone-wall walks and bank interiors, or one Hiraizumi night for leisurely separate Motsuji and Konjikido days. The Morioka plan starts after arrival at Morioka Station, and the Hiraizumi plan after arrival at Hiraizumi Station. Seasonal Run Run operates on specified days; choose dated temple returns first.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Two days: Morioka walks and food
Stay one Morioka night for stone-wall walks and indoor bank-building displays. Walk the castle-site park on day 1, then explore free and paid restored areas at the Red Brick Building before departing on day 2.
Two days: Morioka walks and food →2 days / 1 nightTwo days: Hiraizumi’s two temples on separate days
Stay one Hiraizumi night for leisurely visits to Motsuji’s Oizumi-ga-ike garden, Chusonji’s Konjikido and Sankozo. Walk the garden on day 1, then climb the approach for the golden hall/displays on day 2.
Two days: Hiraizumi’s two temples on separate days →Two days: Morioka walks and food
Stay one Morioka night for stone-wall walks and indoor bank-building displays. Walk the castle-site park on day 1, then explore free and paid restored areas at the Red Brick Building before departing on day 2.
Day 1 · Morioka Station → castle-site park → station-area stay
After arrival at Morioka Station, walk the castle-site park and eat in the city. Stay in Morioka tonight.
- Morioka Station → Walk or anticlockwise circular bus to the castle-site park
Tourism association guidance gives about 15 minutes on foot from Morioka Station to the park. For less walking, take anticlockwise Dendenmushi from station stop 16 to the castle-site park stop. Adult rides cost JPY 150, excluded from the day-1 walking-return subtotal.
Tourism association park accessAnticlockwise Dendenmushi timetableOperator circular-bus guidance
- Castle-site park → Stone walls and Taiko Bridge walk
Allow a suggested one to two hours for leisurely walks along the stone walls and Taiko Bridge. Avoid areas marked for construction and closed paths, then eat in the centre before returning to station-area accommodation.
After walks along the stone walls and Taiko Bridge, return towards the station for a meal. Avoid construction areas and closed paths.
Day 2 · station stop 15 → Red Brick Building → Bus Center stop 14 → Morioka Station
See indoor Red Brick Building displays before leaving Morioka.
- Morioka Station stop 15 → Clockwise circular bus to Bus Center stop 15
Take clockwise Dendenmushi from Morioka Station stop 15 to Morioka Bus Center stop 15. Facility guidance gives about one minute on foot to the Red Brick Building. Adult bus rides cost JPY 150. Return after viewing from Bus Center stop 14 on the anticlockwise service.
Clockwise DendenmushiOperator circular-bus guidanceFacility accessIwate Bank Red Brick Building facilities and restored areas
- Bus Center stop 15 → Red Brick Building visit
Walk about one minute from the bus centre. The building opens from 10:00 to 17:00, with last admission at 16:30. Adult paid-area admission costs JPY 300. Explore free and paid areas separately. There are no lockers or lift; ask the facility first about large luggage or difficulty using stairs.
Clockwise DendenmushiFacility accessOfficial FAQOperator circular-bus guidanceIwate Bank Red Brick Building facilities and restored areas
- Red Brick Building → Bus Center stop 14 and Morioka Station
After viewing and meals, take anticlockwise Dendenmushi from Bus Center stop 14 to Morioka Station. Choose your return from the dated timetable and leave time for your departure train.
Facility accessAnticlockwise Dendenmushi timetableOperator circular-bus guidance
Red Brick Building opening hours are 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. On Tuesdays or 29 December–3 January, swap indoor visits with park walks/meals on another day. There is no lift or lockers; ask about accessible viewing areas if stairs are difficult.
Included: Red Brick Building paid area JPY 300 + two Dendenmushi rides at JPY 150. Day 1 walks both ways to the park.
Extra costs and conditions: Choosing a park bus adds JPY 150 per ride. Excludes one night, meals, arrival/departure trains and luggage storage.
Partial costs for one adult, excluding accommodation and meals.
Two days: Hiraizumi’s two temples on separate days
Stay one Hiraizumi night for leisurely visits to Motsuji’s Oizumi-ga-ike garden, Chusonji’s Konjikido and Sankozo. Walk the garden on day 1, then climb the approach for the golden hall/displays on day 2.
Day 1 · Hiraizumi Station → Motsuji → station-area stay
After Hiraizumi arrival, see Motsuji’s garden and stay nearby. Visit Chusonji tomorrow.
- Hiraizumi Station → Motsuji access and garden
Walk about seven minutes from Hiraizumi Station to Motsuji. Explore Oizumi-ga-ike garden. Open 08:30–17:00, closing 16:30 from 5 November–4 March. Allow time to finish garden viewing after afternoon arrival.
- Motsuji → Return towards station, accommodation and admission
After the garden, return towards the station for dinner and a Hiraizumi night. Adult Motsuji admission is JPY 700.
Return towards the station after Motsuji. Finish before the seasonal closing time.
Day 2 · Hiraizumi Station → Chusonji → station departure
After yesterday’s Motsuji visit and overnight stay, give today to Chusonji.
- Outside Hiraizumi Station → Run Run bus to Chusonji stop
Take the circular Run Run bus from outside Hiraizumi Station to Chusonji. In 2026 it operates weekends/public holidays from 11 April–29 November, and daily 13–16 August. This cost assumes an operating day. Regular buses on non-operating days have different timetables/fares and do not accept the Run Run day pass.
- Chusonji bus stop → Uphill approach and Konjikido
Climb Tsukimizaka past the main hall to Konjikido and Sankozo. Adult standard admission costs JPY 1,000. The temple opens from 08:30 to 17:00 from 1 March–3 November, and from 08:30 to 16:30 otherwise; ticket sales end ten minutes earlier. Allow ascent/descent separately from bus travel and return down the same path. Special openings need separate tickets.
- Chusonji bus stop → Return to Hiraizumi Station
Allow ticketing, uphill walking, viewing and descent, then take a station-bound bus. Choose your return through the operator before viewing, allowing time for the station departure train.
- Hiraizumi Station → Take your departure train
From Hiraizumi Station, continue to your next destination. Two adult Run Run rides total JPY 400, cheaper than the JPY 550 day pass.
Ticket sales end ten minutes before closing. For a morning Hiraizumi departure, move Chusonji to the previous day or a later trip.
Included: Motsuji JPY 700 + Chusonji standard JPY 1,000 + two Run Run rides at JPY 200, on its operating dates above.
Extra costs and conditions: One night, meals, arrival/departure trains, Chusonji special-opening tickets and luggage storage.
Partial costs for one adult, excluding accommodation and meals.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bus to the castle-site park included?
The Morioka plan’s JPY 600 includes day-2 paid building admission JPY 300 and two Dendenmushi rides JPY 300. Day 1 walks both ways. Choosing park buses adds JPY 150 per ride. Accommodation, meals, arrival/departure trains and luggage storage excluded.
Can the separate-temple plan run unchanged on weekdays?
Keep the separate-day structure, but Run Run does not operate most weekdays. In 2026 it runs weekends/public holidays 11 April–29 November and daily 13–16 August. Other weekdays/winter need regular-route returns/fares checked. JPY 2,100 includes Motsuji JPY 700, Chusonji standard JPY 1,000 and two Run Run rides JPY 400. Regular buses change the subtotal.
Sources and dates checked
- Tourism association park access ·
- Operator circular-bus guidance ·
- Anticlockwise Dendenmushi timetable ·
- Official FAQ ·
- Facility access ·
- Run Run timetable ·
- Chusonji ·
- Chusonji access ·
- Motsuji ·
- Tourism association walking route ·
- Clockwise Dendenmushi ·
- Chusonji viewing hours and standard ticket ·
- Iwate Bank Red Brick Building facilities and restored areas ·