The Natives Like Nature

How to be a Native - Step One

Springtime view from over a bridge.

Go to a park.

Although I left Japan three years ago, I still cannot stop praising Showa Kinen Park (昭和記念公園) in Tachikawa.  This park is Disneyland for nature enthusiasts.  The beauty and limitless activities are unrivaled.  There is more to see here than I can say and no amount of pictures could ever capture the true feeling of amazement one gets in person.  But my favorite parts cannot go unmentioned. 

Flowers shaped like a star.

What captivated me the most were the floral displays.  They are everywhere; in all shapes, sizes and colors.  They are treated as living artwork, changing with the seasons. 

Cherry blossoms in the spring. 

The best is the cherry blossom trees.  They are one of the symbols of Japan and capture the idyllic moments that people dream of.  Sitting under them while surrounded by a multitude of other brilliant flowers can make anyone forget the outside world exists.  They are where you enjoy a bottle of sake wine with friends. 

Purple cosmos next to the open field.

For fields of glory, there are the cosmos and tulip sections.  Paths wind among them, allowing you to take in their expanse of color.  

Purple field of flowers near the open field.

What also makes Showa so special are all the little things you can find like the creative landscape and architecture dotted with sculptured art.  You can spend hours discovering something new.  My favorites, such as the animal statues, the crazy slide, the moon stairs, and the mist zone are in the Children’s Forest.   
  

The crazy slide in the Children's Forest.

Dragon sculpture in the Children's Forest.

Best of all you can see gardens within gardens.  The Japanese Garden is closed off from the rest of the park, making it a peaceful place to visit.  But the real treat is the bonsai trees in the back.  Each tree is different, with designs that make you appreciate the hard work people put into making them.

A bonsai tree in the Japanese Garden.

The observation areas in the Japanese Garden.

To get there take JR Chuo Rapid Line to Tachikawa train station.  Exit at the North Gate ( 北口) and follow the street under the monorail to the park entrance.  The park is free on April 29, Showa Day.

The fountain at the Tachikawa Gate Plaza.