Just about every major Japanese prefecture has its own castle, Iwate has Morioka Castle. Morioka Castle is a Japanese-style Hirayama-style castle, built in 1611 and home to the Nanbu Daimyo clan that ruled Morioka Domain in northern Japan. The castle is located on a hill. A huge castle, there is a red bridge over a moat that divides the castle into two parts. Each area is protected by a huge Masugata-style composite gate. The most striking feature of the castle is a huge white granite wall, compared to other castles with mud walls. Definitely an architectural marvel of historical significance.