Takaoka Kojo Park (Takaoka Castle Ruins)

Site of Takaoka Castle, built by Maeda Toshinaga, 2nd head of the Kaga Maeda family. Moats filling a third of the park trace the castle; about 1,800 cherry trees bloom in spring.

A castle that lasted only six years

Takaoka Kojo Park (Takaoka Castle Ruins) is a park in the centre of Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, laid out on the site of Takaoka Castle. The castle was built in 1609 by Maeda Toshinaga as his home in retirement. Toshinaga was the first lord of the Kaga domain (the domain ruled by the Maeda family) and the second head of the Maeda family. The castle is said to have been designed by Takayama Ukon, a warlord who had taken refuge with the Maeda. It was also Toshinaga who renamed this land, then called Sekino, as Takaoka.

But Toshinaga died in 1614, and the following year, 1615, the castle was abandoned under the "one castle per province" order (a ruling by the Edo shogunate that each lord could keep only one castle in his territory). None of the buildings survive, but the moats, the earthworks (banks of piled-up earth) and parts of the stone walls still keep their original form.

A castle park ringed by moats

In the Meiji era there was a plan to sell the castle site to private owners, but local people campaigned against it and the sale was dropped. The site opened as a park in 1875. It covers about 210,000 square metres, and the water-filled moats that surround the castle site take up about a third of that.

Takaoka Castle is one of Japan's "100 Fine Castles" and was designated a national Historic Site in 2015. You can stroll along the water, taking in the red bridges over the moats, the fountains, and the carp and ducks swimming by.

Cherry blossoms and other sights in the park

In spring about 1,800 cherry trees of 18 varieties bloom, mostly Somei Yoshino, and the park is listed among Japan's "100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots". In autumn you can enjoy the coloured leaves reflected in the water.

Inside the park are Imizu Shrine, which stands on the site of the honmaru (the castle's central enclosure), the Takaoka Kojo Park Zoo, which is free to enter, and the Takaoka City Museum, which covers the history of Takaoka. At the Sannomaru Chaya teahouse you can take a break and buy gojoin (a commemorative seal marking your visit to the castle) and souvenirs.

Getting there

It is about a 15-minute walk from Takaoka Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway. If you come by car, you can use the park's car park.

Rental bikes are available from April to November, which makes it easy to combine the park with other sights around Takaoka, such as Zuiryuji, the temple dedicated to Toshinaga. Check the opening hours of each facility on the official website.

Tips

• The stamp for the "Japan's 100 Fine Castles" stamp rally is kept at the Takaoka City Museum inside the park.
• You can rent bikes at the Sannomaru Chaya teahouse (1 April to 30 November).

Sources

• 高岡古城公園（高岡城跡）| 【公式】高岡観光ナビ (opens in a new tab)
• 高岡古城公園の水濠 | 富山県 (opens in a new tab)
• 高岡城 - Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)

Updated 30 September 2026. Opening hours and prices change, so check the official site before you go.