Kulture Kaiwa

Showa Kinen Kouen (Showa Memorial Park) is an easy train ride from Tokyo and well worth the trip. With multiple flower fields, museums, water features, and playgrounds, you can easily plan to spend a whole day here.

How to get to Showa Memorial Park

Showa Memorial Park is located 40 – 50 minutes West of Tokyo, depending on which station you’re coming from and where you choose to enter the park. When it comes to hiring a bike at the park it’s important to consider where you enter because the gate where you hire your bike from is the same one you will have to return it to.

For a full day: If you plan to spend the whole day at the park, I recommend entering via the Nishi-Tachikawa gate as you can enter directly here from Nishi-Tachikawa Station. Simply take the JR Chuo Line from Shinjuku, Yotsuya or Tokyo stations and jump on one of the Ome Special Rapid trains bound for Ome and get off at Nishi-Tachikawa Station. Turn left towards the Park Exit and you’ll find you’re already entering the park.

For a half day: If you want to tick off more Tachikawa activities in the same day and are only after a morning/afternoon trip to the park, then the Tachikawa gate is the one for you. From Tokyo Station you can take the Chuo Special Rapid on the JR Chuo Line, which differs from the Special Rapid but both trains will get you there, so don’t stress! The Chuo Special Rapid is just a bit quicker. You can tell the difference on the digital train boards at the platform by the colour that the train glows in, the Chuo Special Rapid will be labelled with a blue background and the Special Rapid will be orange.

Note: Type the desired end station into Google Maps for the quickest route from your location if you’re coming from a different area. Google Maps is highly accurate when travelling in Japan and will even give you the prices for particular routes/trains.

Showa Memorial Park: Fees

A general admission ticket for an adult will set you back ¥450. Now you can make it through the entire park on foot for free but keep in mind, it is a BIG park. I recommend hiring a bike to ride to specific pit stops around the park, that way you’ll have more time to explore different sections of the pike and you’ll get far less tired doing so.

When it comes to renting bikes, there are both adult (￥600/800) and kids (￥350/400) bicycles for rent, priced for 3-hour/whole-day hire. Or you can make it extra fun and opt for a tandem bike ride around the park for ￥1500, but note that this option is only available for 3 hours. Simply choose your ticket type using the ticket machine at the bicycle rental office and present it to a staff member who will take you to the bikes (and show you how to use them if, like me, you’re not experienced with the particular bike stands the tandems use).

Another option is to get around via the park train – get the day pass for ￥600 to get on and off freely around the grounds.

Facilities and getting around

The sheer size of Showa Memorial Park can make getting around it feel a bit overwhelming. My recommended first course of action is to pick up one of the park maps at the ticket gate – there a several different language options available. This will help you make planned stops for sights you want to see so that you’re not wandering aimlessly and missing out on potential gems around the park.

The many bathroom facilities scattered throughout the park are also marked on the map with vending machines beside them to keep you hydrated as you make your rounds. If you’re feeling peckish, there are a few cafes and restaurants to check out. However, I feel the grounds are so beautiful and peaceful that it’s worth packing your own lunch and picnicking in one of the grassed areas, or take advantage of the barbecue facilities at the ‘barbecue garden‘.

There’s a specific cycling track for those on bicycles with numbered parking areas so you can stop and wander on foot around the beautiful gardens, ponds, and playgrounds. Cruising around by bike on the mostly flat track with lush foliage providing shade along way was a relaxing and welcome break from the busy Tokyo scene. I could’ve spent the whole time just enjoying the ride to be honest, but I suggest leaving adequate time for walking through the areas where bikes are not permitted to truly take in the serenity of the park.

What to do at Showa Memorial Park

From themed playgrounds to historical museums, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at Showa Kinen Kouen. Even with 3 hours to spend on our tandem bike we didn’t get to see all of the areas, so there truly is a lot to do here.

For families traveling with kids, the ‘dragon dunes’ and ‘bouncing dome’ are a must-stop for your visit. The domes are sectioned according to age groups and are basically giant white trampolines, unfortunately not for adults. Parents can take a rest break here in the shade while the kids continue to tire themselves out with jumps of joy.

For plant fanatics, wander through the Japanese garden to see a selection of bonsai or head to the several flower gardens blooming according to the season and enjoy the dotted colours all around you. Our visit in summer meant sunflowers galore!

For water lovers, make your way to the boat house where you can venture over the Waterfowl Pond in a row boat or pedal boat (if your legs haven’t had enough of a workout from the walking and cycling).

Note that the Rainbow Pool and Water Play Square are closed until further notice.

Best times to visit Tachikawa’s Showa Memorial Park

We made our trip to Showa Memorial Park in the middle of summer, which is a great time for viewing sunflowers but the heat can make venturing around the park extra tiring.

If I were to visit again it would be during the autumn months of September to November when the ginkgo trees and maple leaves are in full show colours of ambers and gold. Spring is also a prime time for the park with it’s cherry orchard, tulip garden, and many other florals decorating the grounds in their full bloom.

You can find more information on pricing, facilities, and seasonal guides at the official website with English options here: https://www.showakinen-koen.jp/park-information/price/