On a short trip, stay in the city or give the temples separate days?
Stay one night in Morioka to combine a stone-wall walk with an indoor visit to the bank building. Stay one night in Hiraizumi if you prefer to see Motsuji’s garden and Chūson-ji’s Konjikido slowly on separate days. The city route starts after arrival at Morioka Station; the temple route starts at Hiraizumi Station. Runrun buses to and from Chūson-ji depend on the season and day of the week, so choose both services for your date first.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Two days: walks and food in Morioka
Spend one night in Morioka for stone-wall walks and bank building interiors. Walk the castle park on day one; see the Red Brick Building's free and paid restored sections the next day before departing.
Two days: walks and food in Morioka →2 days, 1 nightTwo days: Hiraizumi's temples on separate days
Spend one night in Hiraizumi for an unhurried visit to Motsuji's Oizumi ga Ike garden and Chūson-ji's Konjikido and Sankozo. Walk the garden on day one, then climb the approach for the Golden Hall and exhibits the next day.
Two days: Hiraizumi's temples on separate days →Two days: walks and food in Morioka
Spend one night in Morioka for stone-wall walks and bank building interiors. Walk the castle park on day one; see the Red Brick Building's free and paid restored sections the next day before departing.
Day 1 / Morioka Station → castle park → accommodation near the station
After arriving at Morioka Station, walk the castle park and eat in the city. Stay in Morioka tonight.
- Morioka Station → Walk or left loop bus to the castle park
Tourism association guidance gives about a 15-minute walk from Morioka Station to the castle park. If walking is difficult, take the Dendenmushi left loop from station bay 16 to Morioka Castle Site Park stop. The bus costs JPY 150 per adult ride, excluded from the subtotal assuming day-one walking both ways.
Tourism association: park accessDendenmushi left-loop timetableOperator: loop bus guide
- Castle park → Stone walls and Taiko Bridge walk
Allow about one to two hours for an unhurried walk around the stone walls and Taiko Bridge. Avoid construction signs and restricted paths, then eat in the city centre. Return to accommodation near the station after your meal.
After the stone walls and Taiko Bridge, head back towards the station for a meal. Avoid park construction areas and restricted paths.
Day 2 / station bay 15 → Red Brick Building → bus centre bay 14 → Morioka Station
See the Red Brick Building's interior exhibits before leaving Morioka.
- Morioka Station bay 15 → Right loop · bus centre bay 15
Take the Dendenmushi right loop from Morioka Station bay 15 to Morioka Bus Centre bay 15. Facility guidance gives about a 1-minute walk to the Red Brick Building. The adult fare is JPY 150 per ride; return after your visit on the left loop from bus centre bay 14.
Dendenmushi right loopOperator: loop bus guideFacility accessIwate Bank Red Brick Building: facilities and restored areas
- Bus centre bay 15 → Red Brick Building visit
Walk about 1 minute from the bus centre to the Red Brick Building. Hours are 10:00–17:00, with last entry at 16:30; adult paid-section admission is JPY 300. Explore free and paid sections separately. There are no lockers or elevator; contact the facility first if large luggage or stairs are a concern.
Dendenmushi right loopFacility accessOfficial FAQOperator: loop bus guideIwate Bank Red Brick Building: facilities and restored areas
- Red Brick Building → Bus centre bay 14 and Morioka Station
After your visit and meal, take the Dendenmushi left loop from bus centre bay 14 to Morioka Station. Choose a return in your date's timetable with time before your departing train.
Facility accessDendenmushi left-loop timetableOperator: loop bus guide
Red Brick Building hours are 10:00–17:00, last entry 16:30. On Tuesdays and 29 December–3 January, swap the interior visit with another day's park walk and meals. With no elevator or lockers, ask the facility about accessible visiting areas if stairs are difficult.
Included: Red Brick Building paid section JPY 300 + two Dendenmushi rides at JPY 150. Walk both ways to the castle park on day one.
Extra costs and conditions: Add JPY 150 per ride if taking buses to the park. Excludes one night's accommodation, meals, arrival/departure rail travel and luggage storage.
Partial costs per adult, excluding accommodation and meals.
Two days: Hiraizumi's temples on separate days
Spend one night in Hiraizumi for an unhurried visit to Motsuji's Oizumi ga Ike garden and Chūson-ji's Konjikido and Sankozo. Walk the garden on day one, then climb the approach for the Golden Hall and exhibits the next day.
Day 1 / Hiraizumi Station → Motsuji → accommodation near the station
After arriving at Hiraizumi Station, visit Motsuji's garden and stay locally. Visit Chūson-ji tomorrow.
- Hiraizumi Station → Motsuji access and garden visit
Walk about 7 minutes from Hiraizumi Station to Motsuji and explore the Oizumi ga Ike garden. Hours are 08:30–17:00, closing at 16:30 during 5 November–4 March. For afternoon arrival, leave time to explore and exit the garden.
- Motsuji → Return towards the station, accommodation and admission
After the garden, return towards the station for dinner and a Hiraizumi stay. Adult Motsuji admission is JPY 700.
Return towards the station after Motsuji's garden. Finish before the seasonal closing time.
Day 2 / Hiraizumi Station → Chūson-ji → station departure
After yesterday's Motsuji visit and local night, give today to Chūson-ji.
- Outside Hiraizumi Station → Runrun bus · Chūson-ji stop
Take the Runrun loop bus from Hiraizumi Station to Chūson-ji stop. In 2026, it runs Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays during 11 April–29 November, plus daily on 13–16 August. This itinerary's bus costs assume a Runrun operating day. On non-operating days, ordinary buses have different timetables and fares, and the Runrun day pass is unavailable.
- Chūson-ji stop → Uphill approach and Konjikido visit
Climb Tsukimizaka from Chūson-ji stop, passing the main hall to Konjikido and Sankozo. Regular adult admission is JPY 1,000. Hours are 08:30–17:00 during 1 March–3 November and 08:30–16:30 otherwise; ticket sales end 10 minutes earlier. Allow uphill and downhill walking separately from bus travel and descend the same approach. Special openings require additional tickets.
Chūson-ji accessChūson-ji opening hours and regular admission
- Chūson-ji stop → Return to Hiraizumi Station
Allow enough time for tickets, the climb, visits and descent, then take a Hiraizumi Station-bound bus from the stop. Before visiting, check your date's return with the operator and leave a buffer before your departing train.
- Hiraizumi Station → Board your departing train
At Hiraizumi Station, take a train to your next destination. Two Runrun rides cost JPY 400 per adult, less than the JPY 550 day pass.
Ticket sales end 10 minutes before closing. If leaving Hiraizumi in the morning, move Chūson-ji to the previous day or save it for another trip.
Included: Motsuji JPY 700 + regular Chūson-ji admission JPY 1,000 + two Runrun rides at JPY 200. Assumes the operating dates listed in this itinerary.
Extra costs and conditions: Excludes one night's accommodation, meals, arrival/departure rail travel, Chūson-ji special opening tickets and luggage storage.
Partial costs per adult, excluding accommodation and meals.
Frequently asked questions
Does the subtotal include a bus to the castle park?
The one-night Morioka subtotal of JPY 600 includes only the following day’s JPY 300 Red Brick Building paid-area ticket and two Dendenmushi rides totalling JPY 300. It assumes you walk to and from the castle park on day one. Add JPY 150 per ride if you choose a bus to the park. Accommodation, meals, trains into and out of Morioka, and luggage storage are excluded.
Can I follow the separate-day temple itinerary unchanged on weekdays?
You can still visit Motsuji and Chūson-ji on separate days, but the Runrun bus used for the Chūson-ji return journey does not run on most weekdays. The 2026 guide lists weekends and public holidays from April 11 to November 29, plus daily service from August 13 to 16. On other weekdays or in winter, check return services and fares on regular routes. The JPY 2,100 partial subtotal consists of Motsuji admission at JPY 700, Chūson-ji regular admission at JPY 1,000 and two Runrun rides at JPY 400. Recalculate it if you switch to regular buses, whose fares differ.
Sources and check dates
- Tourism association: park access ·
- Operator: loop bus guide ·
- Dendenmushi left-loop timetable ·
- Official FAQ ·
- Facility access ·
- Runrun operating calendar ·
- Chūson-ji ·
- Chūson-ji access ·
- Motsuji ·
- Tourism association walking route ·
- Dendenmushi right loop ·
- Chūson-ji opening hours and regular admission ·
- Iwate Bank Red Brick Building: facilities and restored areas ·