A wooden boardwalk connects the wetland course of the Moriya Bird Path directly to the ruins of Moriya Castle. Destinations in the municipality offer different highlights: forest and wetland trails, a castle park, and a park with a viewpoint and seasonal iris blossoms. For planning, comparing the trails is especially helpful: the Bird Path is longer overall and has different types of courses; Kōfuku no Michi is a shorter route reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.

Forest and wetland courses or a walking path?

The Moriya Bird Path is 4.8 kilometers long overall. It consists of five forest courses on dirt trails and one wetland course on a boardwalk. From the Yasaka exit of Moriya Station, it takes about 15 minutes on foot to reach the north entrance. This is an estimate: trail conditions and route configurations may change, so it is worth checking the trail information before your visit.

A shorter alternative in the municipality is Kōfuku no Michi: the route runs from Minami-Moriya Station to Matsugaoka and is a little over two kilometers long. It is reserved for pedestrians and cyclists; cars are not allowed. The two routes therefore differ not only in length, but also in character: the Bird Path focuses on forest and wetland courses, while Kōfuku no Michi is a continuous walking path.

Kōfuku no Michi is suitable for jogging, walking dogs and morning walks. The path is also considered safe for young children accompanied by an adult. This suitability is explicitly conditional on adult supervision. If you choose the path for a walk, you can use its two endpoints and length of a little over two kilometers as a guide.

Castle Park and local history

The ruins of Moriya Castle are in Honchō and have been developed as a castle park. Information boards and cleared vegetation make the surviving dry moats visible. This adds structural remains to the forest and wetland trail experience: the park shows where the moats have been preserved and makes their course across the landscape clear.

There are different historical attributions associated with the castle. It is attributed to the Sōma clan; one tradition, however, identifies it as the residence of Taira no Masakado. This distinction is of interest if you are curious about the history of the site: the attribution to the Sōma clan and the tradition about Masakado are not the same claim.

On November 10, 2024, an approximately 320-meter-long boardwalk was completed in the lower section of the wetland course. It connects the existing boardwalk directly to the ruins of Moriya Castle. The trail’s connection to the castle park provides a tangible link between the natural and cultural attractions, without treating the two trail profiles as the same.

Views and seasonal iris blossoms

Shiki no Sato Park has a viewpoint near the center of its pond, offering a good view of the park. Children’s play equipment includes a slide and swings, among other things. Around 38,800 Hanashōbu and Ayame irises also grow in the park. Blooming is seasonal and varies; if it is important to your trip, check the flowering period for your planned visit.

More cultural experiences

The City of Moriya’s trade festival, “きらめき守谷夢彩都フェスタ,” features Yosakoi Sōran dances and other performances. Dates and programs are subject to change. If the festival is a reason for your trip, check the dates and the program for your travel period.

The specific differences can help you choose what to focus on: the Bird Path offers five forest courses and one wetland course, while Kōfuku no Michi is a path of a little over two kilometers for pedestrians and cyclists. The castle park adds visible dry moats and different historical attributions to the trails. Shiki no Sato offers a different highlight, with its viewpoint, play equipment and iris plantings.

Discover more destinations: Chikusei, Kashima, Koga, Kamisu, Naka, Bandō, Hitachinaka, Oarai

For the broader travel overview: Ibaraki Prefecture.