Showa Kinen Park

Showa Memorial Park is a national park developed on the former site of Tachikawa Airfield as part of the commemorative projects marking Emperor Showa’s 50th year on the throne. It spans Tachikawa and Akishima in Tokyo. Covering approximately 180 hectares, it is about three times the size of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and roughly equivalent to 40 Tokyo Domes. The first phase of the park was opened to the public in 1983, and it was developed as a space where nature and people coexist in harmony under the theme of “restoring greenery and enhancing humanity.”

The park is divided into five zones, A through E, along two axes: the “urban axis” and the “natural axis.” Zone A, the “Green Culture Zone,” is the closest area to JR Tachikawa Station and offers free admission. Zone B, the “Exhibition Facilities Zone,” hosts events and outdoor exhibitions. Zone C, the “Water Zone,” features ponds and trees, offering lush natural scenery. Zone D, the “Plaza Zone,” includes “Minna no Harappa,” an open lawn about the size of two Tokyo Domes, and also serves as an evacuation area in times of disaster. Zone E, the “Forest Zone,” allows visitors to experience the tranquility of deep woodland-like nature.

In spring, more than 1,500 cherry trees and tulips bloom; in early summer, sunflowers appear; and in autumn, 5.5 million cosmos flowers bloom, captivating visitors with seasonal flowers throughout the year. In winter, the dazzling “Winter Vista Illumination” is held, offering romantic nighttime scenery. In summer, the “Rainbow Pool,” with nine pools, is especially popular with families. The park also features the “Children’s Forest,” with a giant trampoline and hammocks; “Komorebi no Sato,” which recreates a 1950s Musashino rural landscape; and an authentic Japanese garden, providing a wide variety of experiences.

In addition, the park includes the Showa Emperor Memorial Hall, which conveys Emperor Showa’s view of nature, as well as exhibition and learning facilities serving as a base for nature experiences and environmental education. Dining options are also plentiful, with restaurants, shops, and barbecue gardens where visitors can enjoy a meal without bringing anything. For getting around this vast park, rental bicycles and the park train are convenient, making it a place where visitors can leisurely spend plenty of time exploring.