51. Park Review: Shioiri Park (Arakawa-ku)

Minami-Senju is not a popular area of town for tourists. It is right in the middle of Tokyo's 'Shita-machi', older neighborhoods of the working class. This area of Minami-Senju, however, is brand new and so is Shioiri Park. Shioiri Park has all the basics: baseball fields, tennis courts, large grassy lawns, picnic & BBQ areas, and an excellent playground. Located along the Sumida River, there is also a lovely cycling course. I was also impressed that although the riversides are concrete, they left a nice section of reeds right at the waters' edge.I was surprised by, a huge, beautiful, traditional-style building that sits between the park and the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology. It is actually the 'Shirahige Nishi Pump Place', a water treatment facility. What a way to hide an unsightly necessity! (It is the large building on the left below).
Minami-Senju hosts a very large train freight depot. The Shioiri Park area lies just beside it, and the entire area, including all of the residences (mostly high-rise condos), are very new. I don't know what the area was before, but its 'renewal' is very impressive.

I recommend this park for those who want some wide-open space, but don't want to travel very far to find it!

The park is a short walk or bus ride from Minami-Senju Station. There is also reasonably priced parking available.

By the way, keep your eye out for English language tourist brochures of Arakawa Ward. They are excellent. I would never have know about this park if I hadn't read about it in their brochure.

45. Park Review: Senzokuike (Ota-ku)

Senzokuike is one of those little Tokyo gems that I had never heard about, instead I just stumbled upon it. 'Ike' means pond, and Senzokuike is a lovely pond in Ota-ku, right near the borders of Setagaya, Meguro, and Shinagawa Wards.

A shaded walking path surrounds the pond. Along the way there is a playground for kids, a library, a restaurant overlooking the water, swan and row boats for rent, picnic tables, boardwalks over the water, a temple, and a shrine. There is also lots and lots of green, and no tall buildings will remind you that you are actually still in Tokyo.

I was lucky enough to find Senzokuike during the annual festival of Senzokuike Hachimangu Shrine, which was September 8th and 9th. Jindai-kagura (a sacred dance) was performed from 7pm on the 8th.

On the 9th, the shrine's mikoshi (portable shrines) were paraded around the local neighborhood from 8:30am, and returned to the shrine around 7pm. Kasai-bayashi (festival music) was also played on the 9th, from 2pm. 60 open-air food and game stalls were set up on both days.

I was able to enjoy the music and the open-air stalls. Most of the people at the festival were locals, and the atmosphere was very friendly.

Visiting Senzokuike during the festival is certainly best, but I recommend going anytime you just need a bit of nature, but don't have time to visit the countryside. Walk the circumference of the lake, have lunch on a deck overlooking the pond, and explore a bit in a paddle boat. An inexpensive and enjoyable way to spend a day in Tokyo.

Address: Minami Senzoku, Ota-ku.
5-min. walk from Senzokuike Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line.

40. Park Review: Kiba Koen (Koto-ku)

Kiba Koen (Park) is a huge and wonderful green oasis hidden among the flat, grid-like concrete streets of Koto-ku. It is not a sightseeing destination, but it is a great place for picnicking, throwing a Frisbee, or just running around in the grass. The park contains tennis courts, a open space for playing sports, a BBQ area, a flower garden, a large grassy lawn, playgrounds, a walking/cycling course,... A large pedestrian bridge breaks the park into two halves. MOT, the Museum of Contemporary Art - Tokyo, is located in the northern end of the park. The Fukagawa Edo Museum and Kiyosumi Garden are also nearby.

Access: 2 minute walk from Kiba Station. Paid parking is available in the southern end of the park, and at MOT.

17. Park Review: Institute for Nature Study (Meguro)

The Institute for Nature Study is part of the National Science Museum. It is the only place left in Tokyo that is reminiscent of the former Musashino Plain. I had no idea that natural forest and wetlands of this size were sitting in the middle of Meguro. Except for the dull noise of traffic, it is easy to forget you are even in Tokyo. The park is home to many different kinds of plants, insects, birds, and other creatures. If you don't have time to leave the city, but you need some 'nature', this is a good place to visit.The park is nothing fancy, just walking trails through the woods and wetlands. For someone who lives in the countryside, nothing special. For someone who lives in the center of Tokyo, it is a nice oasis.

Address: 5-21-5 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-0071

Phone: 03-3441-7176

Admission: Adults and College Students: 300 yen.

*Free for children and youths in grades 1 - 12

*Free with the Grutt Pass

Hours: 9:00 - 16:30 (last entry 16:00) from Sept. 1 ~ Apr. 30

9:00 - 17:00 (last entry 16:30) from May 1 ~ Aug. 31

Closed on Mondays (if a national holiday, closed on Tuesday) and closed the day after a national holiday (but remains open on Saturdays and Sundays). Also closed from Dec. 28 - Jan. 4.

Access: 7 minute walk from the east exit of Meguro Station of the Yamanote Line

4 minute walk from exit 1 of Shirokanedai Station of th Namboku and Mita Lines

**Free entry with Grutt Pass 2007 (#21)

13. Park Review: Kasai Rinkai Koen (Edogawa-ku)

Kasai Rinkai Koen is a waterfront park along Tokyo Bay, between the Ara River Flood Control Canal and the Edo River. It is also very close to Tokyo Disneyland. The park opened in 1989 and is the largest park within the 23 wards of Tokyo. I was very impressed with this park, and I plan to visit it again and again.

There are a number of things to see and do within the park. The busiest is the 'Tokyo Sea Life Park', an aquarium that has been written up separately. There are also two artificial ponds, one fresh water and the other brackish. These ponds are a bird sanctuary with an observation 'rest house'. Walking trails run in and around the sanctuary, a wonderful way to get some exercise and view nature at the same time.

On the other side of the park is a huge Ferris wheel set right in the middle of a big, green rolling landscape. All of the above attractions are connected my a labyrinth of walking trails that all lead down to the ocean.
The view out into the bay is wonderful, and if it is really clear, you can see Mt. Fuji! Two manmade sand flats have been constructed along the sea. One is a wildlife reserve, but the other is connected to the mainland by a beautiful bridge. As long as the weather is nice, this is an ideal place to visit for exercise, relaxation, to get in touch with nature,... without having to travel very far at all!

It is possible to make an overnight visit, as the Hotel Seaside Edogawa is located within the park. There are also a couple of restaurants, and during the day, a number of food carts. For those with small children or disabilities (or those who just want to take a ride!), there is a cute little tram that constantly runs around the park.

Address: Rinkai-cho 6-2-1, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo (Zip: 134-0086)

Kasai Rinkai Park Service Center: 03-5696-1331

Access:

By train: 1 minutes walk from Kasai Rinkai Koen Station of the JR Keiyo Line.

By car: Shuto Expressway Wangan Line, Kasai Exit (just before Tokyo Disneyland). Paid parking only.

By boat: This is a great way to get to the park! Boats leave regularly from Hinode Pier (see previous blog).