Showa Kinen Park (Showa Memorial Park)

Showa Kinen Park, which straddles the cities of Tachikawa and Akishima, is one of western Tokyo's largest parks, combining vast lawns, tree-lined avenues, flower fields and a Japanese garden. On the Minna no Harappa (Everyone's Meadow), about 11 hectares in total, families spread picnic sheets and play ball games in every season. The park is divided into the Water Zone, Open Space Zone, Forest Zone, Midori Culture Zone and more, and it is too large to cover fully in a single day.

The land was formerly the US Tachikawa air base. The base was fully returned in 1977, and on October 26, 1983, the first phase of about 70 hectares opened to the public. Development continued afterwards: the Japanese garden was added in April 1997, and the Midori Culture Zone opened in November 2005 together with the Showa Emperor Memorial Hall. The planned area is about 181 hectares, and as of 2025 about 169 hectares, roughly 93 percent, are in service.

The highlights are scattered across the grounds. The Canal, which runs from the Tachikawa Gate, is a waterway about 200 meters long, and in autumn the ginkgo trees along it and the Katarai Ginkgo Avenue turn golden. Around the Waterfowl Pond (about 5 hectares of water) lies the Flowering Tree Garden, which grows about 200 species of flowering trees and about 200 species of flowers, and the bird sanctuary lets visitors watch waterfowl. There are also the Japanese garden, a bonsai garden, the Children's Forest, the Stream Plaza and the Cherry Blossom Garden, and visitors can rest at the Okaka Cafe, whose design was supervised by Kengo Kuma and Associates. A dedicated cycling course about 14 km long is available too, and bicycles can be rented at the Cycle Center.

Seasonal flowers are a major draw. In spring, camellias, daffodils, rapeseed blossoms, cherry blossoms, tulips and poppies bloom one after another. Hydrangeas peak in the rainy season and sunflowers in summer, and the Sagiso (egret flower) Festival is held in August. Cosmos fields spread out from September to October, and in November the maples of the Japanese garden and the ginkgo avenues change color. In some years the Canal, the ginkgo avenue and the Japanese garden are lit up at night as the "Autumn Night Walk." The fireworks display on the last Saturday of July draws large crowds every year.

To see the main sights on foot, allow about half a day; if you also want to enjoy the flower fields and cycling, plan on a full day. The same Tama area also has Tama Zoological Park, Seibuen Amusement Park and Sanrio Puroland, which can be combined into an itinerary.