Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park

Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park is a prefectural park in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, and it opened in 1978. Developed on the site of Tokorozawa Airfield, Japan’s first airfield, this expansive park covers about 50 hectares—roughly the size of 11 Tokyo Domes—and is known as “the birthplace of aviation in Japan.” With excellent access just a short walk from the East Exit of Kōkū-Kōen Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, it is one of the largest and most popular attractions in Saitama Prefecture.

The park features sports facilities such as an artificial-turf athletic field, tennis courts, and a baseball field, as well as a 2,000-seat outdoor stage, a Japanese garden, and the tea house “Saishōtei,” creating a space where sports and culture come together. The spacious lawn area also includes playground equipment, a barbecue area, a dog run, and basketball courts, making it a place where families and friends can enjoy a full day.

At the center of the park is the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum, which displays real aircraft such as the American-made C-46 transport plane and the YS-11, Japan’s first domestically produced passenger aircraft. Inside the museum, visitors can enjoy hands-on experiences such as flight simulators and the “Space Walker” gravity experience device, as well as paper airplane workshops and screenings in the large-screen theater, offering children and adults alike a fun way to learn about the history and mechanics of aviation.

Please note that the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum is scheduled to be closed for an extended period for renovation work from September 1, 2025, through the end of March 2027. Please check the latest information before visiting.

In this nature-rich park, about 500 cherry trees bloom in spring, lush green trees provide cool shade in summer, ginkgo and maple trees turn beautifully red and gold in autumn, and wintersweet blossoms with yellow flowers in winter. In particular, the ginkgo-lined avenue stretching from the clock tower is a highlight, and it becomes especially crowded during the autumn foliage season. At Saishōtei in the Japanese garden, visitors can enjoy a tea service featuring local Sayama tea, offering a peaceful and relaxing moment.

In addition, the park regularly hosts “Living Creature Guide Walks” led by specialist instructors, allowing visitors to learn about the park’s flowers, wild birds, and natural environment in an enjoyable way. It is a place of relaxation for local residents and an attractive destination for tourists, where aviation, nature, and culture can all be experienced at once. Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park is cherished by many as a “memorial park of the sky” that connects the past and the future through the beauty of each changing season.