Hello, travelers!
I’m Ayu-Mama, a writer for SaruKuma.

Today I’d love to share a hidden gem in Mifune Town, Kumamoto Prefecture:
[Shiroyama Park (城山公園)].
This little hilltop park sits right behind the famous Mifune Dinosaur Museum.
As the name suggests (“Shiroyama” means “Castle Mountain”),
this is the historical site where Mifune Castle once stood.

You can climb up on foot,
but this time I drove up via the access road on the Mifune Elementary School side.
The parking area is small — just enough room for a handful of cars.
Next to the parking lot you’ll find a restroom,
and a water fountain.
There are no vending machines,
so be sure to bring your own drinks!
From this point, no vehicles are allowed.
Now, let’s storm the castle on foot like brave samurai!
A traditional gate appears.
My son said it looked just like the Ninja Academy from the anime Nintama Rantaro (lol).

Step through the gate, and…
a wide open plaza unfolds before you!
This is surely where the castle once stood — what kind of fortress was it?
It’s the perfect place to let your imagination run wild!
There’s one cute little slide for kids.
An impressive bronze statue stands here too.

I looked it up — it’s a statue of Kiyoshi Tazoe,
president of the Kumaen Railway, the predecessor of today’s Kumamoto Bus.
The paint is a bit chipped,
so he looks a little worse for wear…
(Mifune Town — please give him a touch-up if the budget allows!)
At the far end, you’ll find a small Shinto shrine —
Shiroyama Tenmangu.
The enshrined deity is none other than the famous Sugawara no Michizane!
He’s the Japanese god of learning and scholarship, so I made a wish to grow wiser.

Highlights & Recommendations

The view is the absolute highlight!
You get a sweeping panoramic view over the entire town of Mifune.
Mifune Elementary School lies in the foreground,
with peaceful rural countryside stretching into the distance.
Here’s the view from the opposite side.
You can even spot the Mifune Dinosaur Museum.
There’s also a panoramic map on display,
so you can identify landmarks while enjoying the scenery!
(Sorry — the tree shadows make it a bit hard to read in this photo…)
The park is also home to many plum and cherry trees.
In fact, it’s one of Mifune’s well-known cherry blossom (sakura) viewing spots.
I’d love to come back during hanami season for the full pink-petal experience!

Park Facilities

Frequently Asked Questions

※ Information was current at the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change — please confirm before your visit.