Showa Kinen Park

This spacious park in Tachikawa has something for everyone: a fountain-studded promenade lined with ginkgo trees, a huge Japanese garden with an excellent bonsai collection, spectacular seasonal color, and a bouncy mountain, multiple playgrounds, & lots of bike paths for the kids.

When it comes to cherry blossom season, Showa Kinen Park doesn’t mess around. Trees are in full bloom by early April.

Move over, Amsterdam, this park puts on an amazing tulip display for the entire month of April

Showa Kinen Park is known for grand displays of seasonal color, like this field of poppies that blooms in May

Showa Kinen is known for grand displays of seasonal color, like this field of cosmos in September. — Fields of cosmos bloom in September.

The Japanese garden is centered around a large pond, with magnificent trees and grand views

A walled courtyard near the pond displays ancient specimens of bonsai, in many varieties.

I think that the Japanese garden at Showa Kinen is the best place in Tokyo to see Japanese maples bursting with brilliant autumn leaves. — I think the traditional garden at Showa Kinen is the best place in Tokyo to see Japanese maples bursting with brilliant autumn leaves. The change here earlier than the rest of Tokyo, sometimes as early as late September.

Kids never want to leave the playgrounds at Showa Kinen, because they are filled with delightful equipment like this bouncy mountain. — Kids neer want to leave the playgrounds at Showa Kinen, because they are filled with delightful equipment like this bouncy mountain.

The park is so vast, they run a cute little train around to help you get from one side to the other, stopping at all the major attractions along the way.

This park is wonderful in every season, at every time of day, in any weather. — This park is picturesque in every season, at every time of day, in any weather.

Hours: 9:30 – 17:00

Open: Every day except the 4th Monday of every month and Dec 31 – Jan 1.

Admission: Adults: ¥450, Children (6-15) Free, Seniors (65+): ¥210

MAP

Detailed info in English about boat & bike rental, the frisbee golf course, and other activities is on the official website here.

Click here for more

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Jonelle Patrick is the author of five novels set in Japan