Mizumoto Park

photo by Kentin · CC BY-SA 3.0

photo by Souka Kinmei · CC BY 4.0

The only park in Tokyo with a marshland landscape (水郷): almost 1 km², free, always open

The path runs alongside the 小合溜, the old reservoir dug in the Edo period that gives the park its marshland landscape (水郷), unique in Tokyo by official statement. In June over 200,000 Japanese irises bloom in the dedicated garden, and a forest of about 1,500 metasequoias covers the largest area of its kind among the metropolitan parks. Families bring packed lunches to the two free dog runs or book a barbecue area overlooking the central lawn.

The park lies along the 小合溜 (Koai-tame), a flood-retention basin dug in the Edo period to hold back the floods of the Naka River, and covers 966,814 square metres, as stated on 1 July 2022, between Katsushika and a strip of Misato, in Saitama. According to the body that manages it, it is the only park in Tokyo with a marshland landscape (水郷).

ℹ️ Always open, free entry (some facilities charge a fee). The 水辺のさと visitor centre is open 9:00–16:30, closed on Mondays; a seasonal circular bus runs from Kanamachi Station from March to November at weekends and on public holidays, 9:00–16:40. The Japanese irises (about 100 varieties, 200,000 flowers) bloom from early to mid-June. On blooming weekends the car park fills up by 9:00; several reviews say the toilets need improving, and shade is scarce in some areas on days of strong sun.

🚉 Kanamachi · 29 min walk

Sources: tokyo-park.or.jp · jalan.net

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