Hakusan Park

Hakusan Park is a historic park located in the center of Niigata City’s Chuo Ward. It stands next to Hakusan Shrine, the principal guardian shrine of Niigata, and was originally part of the shrine grounds. Even today, it retains a landscape integrated with the shrine and is cherished as one of Niigata City’s leading places of relaxation.

Construction of Hakusan Park began in 1872, when Masataka Kusumoto, who had just been appointed prefectural governor, took the initiative. This site was a scenic spot overlooking Mount Yahiko, Mount Kakuda, and the Echigo mountain range across the Shinano River, and it had long been a popular outing destination for the people of Niigata Town, especially during festivals such as the Hakusan Festival. In 1873, it was officially approved under Daijo-kan Proclamation No. 16 as one of the earliest urban parks in Japan, and it has since been used as a place for leisure and gatherings.

The park is designed as a Dutch-style strolling garden incorporating elements of modern Western garden design, with ponds, artificial hills, and flowering trees arranged skillfully throughout. On the east side is Hyotan Pond, and on the west side is Lotus Pond. Between the two ponds stands the artificial hill Miyukigaoka, built in 1878 to coincide with Emperor Meiji’s visit to Niigata, and it is one of the park’s highlights. Scenic rocks and stone lanterns are placed throughout the grounds, and many stone monuments and historic sites, including the Niigata Yuen Monument that explains the park’s origins, can be found here.

The plantings are diverse, centered on pines and plum trees, along with azaleas, wisteria, and other species, allowing visitors to enjoy different seasonal expressions throughout the year. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom profusely; in summer, the lotus leaves and flowers spread across Lotus Pond; in autumn, the foliage turns brilliant colors; and in winter, the snow-covered scenery captivates visitors with its seasonal beauty.

Since its creation in the early Meiji era, Hakusan Park has been maintained without major changes to its spatial composition. Its historical and scenic value has been highly regarded, and in October 2018 it was designated a National Place of Scenic Beauty. It was also selected in 1989 as one of the “100 Best Urban Parks in Japan.” Along with Ueno Park and Asakusa Park in Tokyo, Kairakuen Park in Mito, Sumiyoshi Park in Osaka, and Itsukushima Park in Hiroshima, it is one of the 25 parks that were among the first to be established in Japan.

In 1998, the park grounds were expanded, and six rooftop gardens together with connecting aerial walkways were developed around the adjacent Niigata City Performing Arts Center, Ryutopia. This made it possible to stroll through the park and continue walking toward the Shinano River area, further enhancing its appeal as a park symbolizing Niigata, the “City of Water.” The rooftop gardens linking Hakusan Park and Ryutopia are also known as a famous cherry blossom spot, and at night they are illuminated, creating a fantastical landscape.

The park also includes an area equipped with playground equipment such as swings, seesaws, and slides, where many families with children can be seen enjoying themselves. Its moderate size makes it easy to keep an eye on children, and it provides a safe environment for toddlers through elementary school students to play.

In addition, the park is home to Enkikan, a building that was relocated and reconstructed from part of the residence of a major merchant family from the Meiji period. Enkikan features a tea room and an inner reception room, and is used for cultural activities such as tea ceremony, while also being open to the public. Visitors can enjoy matcha there and spend a peaceful moment relaxing in a calm space while looking out over a Japanese garden. The view of Lotus Pond from inside the building is especially exquisite.

Scattered throughout the park are also bronze statues and monuments that convey Niigata’s history to the present day. These include a statue honoring the loyal dog Tamakou, who lived in present-day Muramatsu Town and saved human lives, as well as a bronze statue of Masataka Kusumoto, the founder of Hakusan Park, offering a glimpse into Niigata’s modern history.

Hakusan Park is a representative park of Niigata City, where history, nature, culture, and the daily life of its citizens exist in harmony. Even simply strolling through the park provides a soothing and peaceful experience, making it a place recommended for people of all ages, from children to adults.