A short trip: city stay or temples on separate days?
Stay one night in Morioka for stone walls and bank interiors, or in Hiraizumi to give Motsuji’s garden and Chusonji’s Golden Hall a day each. The city route starts at Morioka Station and the temple route at Hiraizumi Station. Runrun to and from Chusonji operates by season and day of the week; choose both journeys for your date first.
Choose a 2 days / 1 night itinerary
One night: walks and food in Morioka
Stay one night in Morioka for stone-wall walks and a bank building’s indoor exhibitions. Visit the castle park on day one, then see the Red Brick Building’s free areas and paid restored areas before leaving on day two.
One night: walks and food in Morioka →2 days / 1 nightOne night: Hiraizumi’s two temples on separate days
Stay one night in Hiraizumi to take your time at Motsuji’s Oizumi-ga-ike garden and Chusonji’s Golden Hall and Sankozo. Walk through the garden on day one, then climb the approach for the Golden Hall and exhibitions the next day.
One night: Hiraizumi’s two temples on separate days →One night: walks and food in Morioka
Stay one night in Morioka for stone-wall walks and a bank building’s indoor exhibitions. Visit the castle park on day one, then see the Red Brick Building’s free areas and paid restored areas before leaving on day two.
Day 1: Morioka Station → castle park → stay near the station
After arriving at Morioka Station, walk through the castle park and have a meal in the city. Spend the night in Morioka.
- Morioka Station → Walk or take the anticlockwise loop bus to the castle park
The tourist association gives about a 15-minute walk from Morioka Station to the castle park. If walking is difficult, take the Dendenmushi anticlockwise loop from stand 16 and get off at Morioka Castle Site Park. The adult fare is ¥150 per ride. This is extra: day one’s subtotal assumes walking both ways.
Tourist association park accessDendenmushi anticlockwise timetableOperator’s loop bus information
- Castle park → Stone walls and Taiko Bridge walk
Allow about one to two hours for a relaxed walk beside the stone walls and Taiko Bridge. Avoid construction areas and closed paths, then eat in the city centre before returning to your accommodation near the station.
Walk beside the stone walls and Taiko Bridge, then return towards the station for a meal. Avoid construction signs and closed paths in the park.
Day 2: station stand 15 → Red Brick Building → bus centre stand 14 → Morioka Station
See the Red Brick Building’s indoor exhibitions before leaving Morioka.
- Morioka Station stand 15 → Clockwise loop to bus centre stand 15
Take the Dendenmushi clockwise loop from stand 15 outside Morioka Station and get off at Morioka Bus Center stand 15. The facility gives about a one-minute walk from the stop to the Red Brick Building. The adult bus fare is ¥150 per ride. After visiting, return on the anticlockwise loop from bus centre stand 14.
Dendenmushi clockwise loopOperator’s loop bus informationFacility accessIwate Bank Red Brick Building facilities and restored areas
- Bus centre stand 15 → Visit the Red Brick Building
Walk about one minute from the bus centre to the Red Brick Building. It opens 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30 and adult admission to paid areas of ¥300. Explore the free and paid sections separately. There are no lockers or lifts; contact the facility first if you have large luggage or concerns about stairs.
Dendenmushi clockwise loopFacility accessOfficial FAQOperator’s loop bus informationIwate Bank Red Brick Building facilities and restored areas
- Red Brick Building → Bus centre stand 14 and Morioka Station
After the visit and a meal, take the Dendenmushi anticlockwise loop from bus centre stand 14 back to Morioka Station. Choose a return service from your date’s timetable and leave time to board your train at the station.
Facility accessDendenmushi anticlockwise timetableOperator’s loop bus information
The Red Brick Building opens 10:00–17:00, with last admission at 16:30. On Tuesdays and 29 December–3 January, swap the indoor visit with another day’s park walk or meal. With no lift or lockers, ask the facility which areas you can visit if stairs are difficult for you.
Included: Red Brick Building paid areas ¥300 plus Dendenmushi ¥150 × two rides. Walk to and from the castle park on day one.
Additional costs and conditions: Add ¥150 per ride if taking a bus to the park. One night’s accommodation, meals, arrival and departure trains and luggage storage are excluded.
A subtotal for one adult, excluding accommodation and meals.
One night: Hiraizumi’s two temples on separate days
Stay one night in Hiraizumi to take your time at Motsuji’s Oizumi-ga-ike garden and Chusonji’s Golden Hall and Sankozo. Walk through the garden on day one, then climb the approach for the Golden Hall and exhibitions the next day.
Day 1: Hiraizumi Station → Motsuji → stay near the station
Arrive at Hiraizumi Station, visit Motsuji’s garden and spend the night here. Leave Chusonji for tomorrow.
- Hiraizumi Station → Walk to Motsuji and visit the garden
Walk about seven minutes from Hiraizumi Station to Motsuji and take your time around the Oizumi-ga-ike garden. Hours are 08:30–17:00, closing at 16:30 from 5 November to 4 March. For an afternoon arrival, leave enough time to explore and exit before closing.
- Motsuji → Return towards the station for your overnight stay
After the garden, return towards the station for dinner and your Hiraizumi stay. Adult admission to Motsuji is ¥700.
Return towards the station after Motsuji’s garden and 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 → Take Runrun to the Chusonji stop
Take the Runrun loop bus from outside Hiraizumi Station to Chusonji. In 2026 it runs Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11 April to 29 November, plus daily from 13 to 16 August. This itinerary’s bus cost applies on Runrun operating days. Ordinary buses on other days have different timetables and fares, and the Runrun day pass cannot be used.
- Chusonji bus stop → Uphill approach and Golden Hall visit
Climb the Tsukimizaka approach from the stop, pass the main hall and visit the Golden Hall and Sankozo. The standard adult ticket is ¥1,000. Hours are 08:30–17:00 from 1 March to 3 November and 08:30–16:30 otherwise; ticket sales stop 10 minutes before closing. Allow time for the climb and descent separately from the bus ride, and return down the same approach. Special openings need an additional ticket.
- Chusonji bus stop → Return to Hiraizumi Station
Allow enough time for tickets, the climb, sightseeing and descent, then return to the stop for a Hiraizumi Station-bound bus. Before visiting, check your date’s return service with the operator and allow a comfortable connection to your train.
- Hiraizumi Station → Board your departure train
At Hiraizumi Station, board your train to the next destination. Two adult Runrun rides in this itinerary cost ¥400, less than the ¥550 day pass.
Ticket sales finish 10 minutes before closing. If leaving Hiraizumi in the morning, move Chusonji to the previous day or save it for another trip.
Included: Motsuji ¥700 plus Chusonji standard ticket ¥1,000 plus Runrun ¥200 × two rides. Runrun must be operating on the dates listed above.
Additional costs and conditions: One night’s accommodation, meals, arrival and departure trains, Chusonji special-opening tickets and luggage storage are excluded.
A subtotal for one adult, excluding accommodation and meals.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bus to the castle park included?
The one-night Morioka subtotal of ¥600 covers day-two Red Brick Building admission of ¥300 and two Dendenmushi rides totalling ¥300. Day one assumes walking both ways to the castle park. Add ¥150 per ride if taking a park bus. Accommodation, meals, arrival and departure trains and luggage storage are excluded.
Can I follow the separate-day temple itinerary unchanged on weekdays?
You can still visit Motsuji and Chusonji on separate days, but Runrun to Chusonji does not operate on most weekdays. In 2026 it runs weekends and public holidays from 11 April to 29 November, plus daily 13–16 August. For other weekdays or winter, check ordinary services’ return times and fares separately. The ¥2,100 subtotal covers Motsuji ¥700, Chusonji standard admission ¥1,000 and two Runrun rides ¥400. Recalculate it if replacing Runrun with a different fare.
Sources and verification dates
- Tourist association park access ·
- Operator’s loop bus information ·
- Dendenmushi anticlockwise timetable ·
- Official FAQ ·
- Facility access ·
- Runrun operating timetable ·
- Chusonji ·
- Chusonji access ·
- Motsuji ·
- Tourist association walking routes ·
- Dendenmushi clockwise loop ·
- Chusonji hours and standard ticket ·
- Iwate Bank Red Brick Building facilities and restored areas ·