Shōwa Memorial Park

Name: Shōwa Memorial Park
Address: 3173 Midorichō, Tachikawa-shi, Tokyo, Tachikawa, Kantō region, Japan
Telephone: 042-528-1751

Shōwa Memorial Park — or Shōwa Kinen-kōen — is one of the largest parks in the greater Tokyo area. Covering an impressive 160 hectares, the park has grassy lawns, sports fields, flower gardens, children’s play areas (including a water park in summer), BBQ facilities, and more than 11km of dedicated cycling paths (plus bicycles for rent).

So big, in fact, is the park that there is even a little train that goes around it. Which is to say that, in ever-crowded Tokyo, there is always room to stretch out here.

Where is Shōwa Memorial Park?

Shōwa Memorial Park is located in Tachikawa, one of Tokyo’s larger western suburbs. It takes about 40 minutes to get here by train from Shinjuku.

What is the park known for?

Besides being a really big park with lots of public recreational facilities, Shōwa Memorial Park has some impressive seasonal displays that draw visitors from around Tokyo. Highlights include cherry blossoms and tulips in spring, maples and gingkos in fall, and illuminations in winter.

Shōwa Memorial Park opened in 1983. It’s creation (on the site of a wartime airfield) was part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for Emperor Hirohito (the Shōwa Emperor). There’s a small museum in one corner of the park with exhibits on the late emperor, but otherwise it’s just a normal (very large) park.

Cycling at Shōwa Memorial Park

Bicycle rental centers, open from 9:30 a.m. until an hour before the park closes, are located at the park’s Tachikawa, Nishi-Tachikawa, and Sunagawa gates. The Tachikawa Gate rental center also has unicycles!

Bicycle rentals cost:

Adult (15 and over): ¥420 (3 hours); ¥530 (all day)
Child (elementary & junior high school students): ¥260 (3 hours); ¥320 (all day)

For more information on bicycles, as well as rowboats, the park train, and other park amenities and facilites, see this handy English-language user guide.