Absolutely stunning that such a quiet and serene place can exist in the midst of an extremely busy and bustling metropolitan setting. We experienced complete silence at times, other than sounds of birds and flowing water. Seemed to be visited mainly by local folks - did not appear to be a tourist's destination at all. Very well worth the visit!
No, the park itself is free to enter. However, particular areas, such as the Zoo and children's amusement area, may require tickets for specific attractions.
You are welcome to bring your food and have a picnic in the park. Various food vendors are also within the park if you prefer to purchase snacks or drinks.
Yes, well-behaved pets on leashes are allowed in most park areas. However, they are not permitted in the Zoo or children's amusement area for safety reasons.
The park is beautiful all year round, but it's trendy during cherry blossom season in late March to early April. Autumn, when the leaves change color, is also a great time to visit.
Yes, paid parking is available near the park entrance. Various public transportation options also make getting to the park accessible and convenient.
I love this park. It's basically my local. The wide open park is connected to a free zoo, Hikawa Shrine, the NACK5 soccer stadium, a bicycle race track, and the Museum of History and Folklore. There is a small lake in the middle of the park, too, that has rowboats you can take out for 20 minutes for a modest fee. This park is a destination spot for hanami (cherry-blossom viewing) in late March and early April, so if you want to go there with a group, send someone ahead of time with your shikimono (tarp) to secure a nice spot. The zoo is small but free, and it has an aviary as well as a hyena, a bear, and some monkeys and pigs. Nice for the kids. A fun playground is right next to that. Hikawa Shrine is obviously the main draw, and it's a beautiful building with grounds, even having a beautiful red bridge over a pond as you approach the temple. A huge red torii gate will let you know where the grounds actually start. The soccer stadium is home to the J-League Omiya Ardija football club, and the bicycle race track next door is a place were all the old men hang out and bet on races. The museum is nice to visit once, too, as it has an interesting collection of local folklore artifacts. Photography is permitted in some areas but forbidden in others. Basically, you could spend half a day here easily.
Lovely quaint park outskirts of Tokyo. Great for kids, with a mini amusement park and mini zoo. Amusement park is coin operated so bring your coins along. Lots of clean benches around for a nice picnic too. Plenty of toilets available too
