Showa Kinen Park 国営昭和記念公園

Sprawling flower fields, bike paths, paddleboats and more

Showa Kinen Park, located thirty minutes outside of central Tokyo, is a national government park which covers 180 hectares of land. While Tokyo is full of parks catering to a variety of tastes, from immaculate gardens to sporting grounds, Showa Kinen Park's location in the suburbs of Tachikawa makes it a multi-purpose recreational playground for local adults and children alike. Attractions include abundant natural play areas for children, fields of flowers, long paths perfect for cycling, paddleboats, outdoor fitness groups, and nature photography classes.

Before functioning as a park, the grounds here were used as a Japanese Imperial military base, and subsequently a US military base during the American occupation after WWII. The park opened in 1983 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Emperor Hirohito’s reign.