点评:The Park accompanied its castle, but unfortunately like a few castles (Fukuoka, Ena, Sendai..) that we had earlier visited the main Keep and structures were dismantled and what’s left is the Ruins.
Japanese park designer Yasuhei Nagaoka subsequently helped transformed the castle grounds into the present Iwate Park. The park was renamed Iwate Park to celebrate its regional importance. It is now recognised as one of Japan’s 100 best historical parks where the locals can drop by the popular place for relaxation, recreations, for seasonal festivals and even daily exercise. Especially famous for viewing of cherry blossoms (brochures showed the area illuminated by paper lanterns at night, what a sight !)
We visited on a Monday afternoon in early July and we have walked some 20+ mins from Morioka Hachimangu Shrine. We crossed the Bishamonbashi river before entering the park..
The park is lush with greenery with more than 2 ponds (moats) & a big lawn. A ‘forest’ o trees of various varieties (cherry, plum trees, willow & more)
The park is also home to monuments of some of the great names in literature including Takuboku Ishikawa, Kenji Miyazawa and Inazo Nitobe. Some of the works of each are inscribed on the monuments.
From the Park we walked to the castle ruins..
翻译:这座公园与城堡相伴而生,但遗憾的是,和我们此前参观过的几座城堡(福冈城、恵那城、仙台城等)一样,主城堡楼及各类建筑均被拆除,如今只剩下一片废墟。
后来,日本公园设计师长冈安平协助将这片城堡旧址改造成如今的岩手公园。为彰显其地区重要性,该公园被重新命名为“岩手公园”。如今,这里已被公认为日本百大历史公园之一。当地人常来此休闲放松、开展娱乐活动、参加季节性庆典,甚至日常锻炼。这里尤其以赏樱而闻名(宣传册上展示了夜晚灯笼照亮整个园区的景象,真是美不胜收!)
我们于7月初的一个周一下午到访,从盛冈八幡宫出发后步行了20多分钟才抵达。进入公园前,我们还穿过了毗沙门桥。公园里绿意盎然,有两个以上的池塘(护城河)以及一大片草坪。还有一片种植着多种树木的“森林”(樱花树、李树、柳树等等)。
公园内还立有多位文学巨匠的纪念碑,包括石川啄木、宫泽贤治和新渡户稻造。每位作家的部分作品都被刻在了纪念碑上。
从公园出发,我们步行前往城堡遗址……