* Image is for illustrative purposes only.Hanamaki Castle
花巻城
- Era
- The dates of construction and abandonment have not been confirmed in primary sources
- Designation
- Hanamaki City designated historic site (Hanamaki Castle main enclosure ruins), Hanamaki City designated tangible cultural property (Ensenji-mon gate), Iwate Prefecture designated tangible cultural property (Jishō: Nanbu Morioka Castle Tower Bell)
- Location
- Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture
- Access
- Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture.
Hanamaki Castle is a historic castle in the Tōhoku region (The dates of construction and abandonment have not been confirmed in primary sources).
Overview
Overview
Hanamaki Castle was a castle in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. The main enclosure ruins are a Hanamaki City designated historic site.
Remains and Designations
The Hanamaki City designated historic site "Hanamaki Castle Main Enclosure Ruins" was designated on September 1, 1988 (Shōwa 63). The Ensenji-mon gate, a Hanamaki City designated tangible cultural property, is said to have been the castle's back gate, and the city describes it as the only remaining structure in Hanamaki. The West Gate was rebuilt in 1995 (Heisei 7) to mark the 400th anniversary of the town's founding, and stone walls from the period remain beside it.
Time Bell
The "Jishō: Nanbu Morioka Castle Tower Bell (Hanamaki Castle Time Bell)," an Iwate Prefecture designated tangible cultural property, was designated in 2015 (Heisei 27). It still tells the time.
Excavation
The Hanamaki City Board of Education compiled the excavation reports for the main enclosure ruins from fiscal 2018 to fiscal 2023 as Report No. 31, published in March 2025.
Connection to Swords
No source tying the castle to a specific sword has been confirmed.
Highlights
- The main enclosure ruins are a Hanamaki City designated historic site (designated September 1, 1988)
- The Ensenji-mon gate is a city-designated tangible cultural property said to be the castle's back gate
- The time bell (Nanbu Morioka Castle Tower Bell) is an Iwate Prefecture designated tangible cultural property
- The West Gate was rebuilt in 1995
* Opening hours and admission fees are subject to change. Please check the official website before visiting.