Takaoka Kojo Park

Takaoka Kojo Park occupies the former site of Takaoka Castle, built in 1609 by the first Maeda lord of the Kaga domain and dismantled only a few years later, leaving behind a moat and earthworks that now form the basis of a public park in central Takaoka. Visitors walk paths circling the surviving moat, cross footbridges, and pass a small shrine, a museum, and a folk museum located within the park grounds, along with sports facilities and a botanical corner near the park's edges. The park's roughly 2,700 cherry trees make it one of the region's most visited hanami spots, with blossoms typically peaking in the first half of April and evening illumination extending viewing hours after dark. Outside cherry season, the park functions as a quiet green space for walking and jogging, with the moat home to swans and other waterfowl that add to its scenic character. A relaxed loop of the grounds and moat-side paths takes about one to one and a half hours. Because the park sits a short walk from Takaoka Station and connects easily to the Takaoka Daibutsu and old town districts, many visitors combine it with other central Takaoka sights in a single afternoon. Weekend afternoons during cherry blossom season bring the heaviest foot traffic, particularly around the illuminated evening viewing period.