Neighborhood Parks in Tokyo

Although Tokyo is popularly known as a concrete jungle, you can find some fun parks and some very large ones if you know where to look. It is also important to consider the proximity to open spaces/parks when choosing your accommodation if travelling with children. We spend 3-4 weeks when we are in Tokyo and being near a park makes all the difference. Here are some neighborhood parks we personally visited and links to others. (I will list larger parks and amusement parks in another posting.) Let me know of others you like to visit!

Jidoyuen in Meiji Jingu Outer Gardens
This was one of our favorite parks! This park is located in the Meiji Jingu Outer Gardens and in Japanese is called Jidoyuen. We loved it because there were so many cool play structures for the kids – some might be considered a bit dangerous. Our then 2 year old loved the slide made of rollers. Our then 4 year old climbed up what looked a mast of a ship numerous times to ring a bell (it was high, not for anyone with a fear of heights). The kids could cross bridges made of chains and logs and monkey around on see saws etc. The park is divided into three areas, one for toddlers, one for 4-6 year olds or so and another for 6 years and up. It’s a really fun park. There is a nominal fee for admissions. I am not sure what the park is like in the summer months (we were there mid-June to mid-July) since it is attached to a beer garden.

When we went back to it last summer, June 2009, the park was closed for renovation. Hopefully it is back in operation this summer.


Arisugawa Park
Another favorite of ours. Located in the Hiroo Azabu area, the park, not surprisingly, appears to be popular with the expat families living in the area. The park boasts slides, see saw, an old-fashion jungle gym, swings and a large sand area. There is also a water faucet which translates to wet muddy clothes.

The play area is part of a larger park which is wonderfully landscaped and also has a creek running through it. Tennis courts are available for rent and the central branch of Tokyo Metropolitan Library is also housed on the park grounds.

Koji Park
We stumbled onto this park by mistake. We were looking for Arisugawa Park and found this one. This small neighborhood park is off a large street, the Gaien Nishi Dori. It is small but is feels like something you would find at a camp in the woods. It has a large play structure made of wood with a bridge. It also has a zip line of sorts. A lot of fun.

Tokyo Midtown
Tokyo Midtown’s park is a beautiful open space behind the high end Tokyo Midtown development, which houses an indoor mall, supermarket, the Ritz Carlton, etc. We went there often, whenever the kids needed to run around. It was so convenient to where we were staying. There isn’t much in terms of play structures, some swings and slides which are more art than functional playground equipment. However, there is a beautiful garden with a rather large pond and creek which the children loved. The girls and their boy cousins also enjoyed the water feature at Midtown, which was perfect for water play …we brought swimsuits and the kids had a blast getting wet and running through the water bubbling and spraying from the ground.

Roppongi Hills
The Hills also has a beautifully landscaped outdoor space but it is not a place for running around. It’s great a place to unwind and admire the Japanese garden but because the garden is on a graded slope, it is not stroller friendly. However, next to the garden is a large open space with a huge screen which beams out snippets of TV shows (marketing for one of the TV network housed in one of the Hills building). There are tables and chairs places around the open space and you will usually find moms and kids eating snacks. (There is also a cute kids clothing store which opens onto the space.)


Koganei Koen
Koganei is a large, serene and beautiful park. It is not meticulously kept, in fact it could use a lot more upkeep but it was nice to stroll under the trees and enjoy the space and greenery. The only reason we discovered this park was because we visited Edo Tokyo Tatemono-en (Tokyo Open Air Museum). Unless you are going to the museum, there isn’t any reason to go to this out of the way park.

Sakurazaka Koen
Do your kids like slides? Then this is the park for you. Located very near Roppongi Hills, this park boasts 9 slides! There is one very long roller slide and the kids had so much fun running up and down the hillside to get on and off the slide. Great place to burn off energy! The park is small and it is mostly about the slides but it is a lot fun. If you are in need of a bathroom, go across the bridge to Roppongi Hills and you will find a very clean bathroom.


Park Near Kidzania
If after visiting Kidzania and feel the need for the actual outdoors, head to the park nearby. It’s a really nice park! It has lots of fun structures and is fairly new. Most of the structures look very European.

Links to other parks:

http://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/english/park/detail_02.html

http://www.kananet.com/japanguide/link16hotelhiroo.htm

http://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/e/liv/serv/cul/faci/faci05/index.html