Asukayama Park

Asukayama Park, located in Tokyo's Kita Ward, holds the distinction of being one of Japan's oldest public parks, established in 1873 during the Meiji era. The park's history extends even further back to 1720, when the eighth Tokugawa shogun, Yoshimune, planted thousands of cherry trees here and opened the grounds to commoners. This act made Asukayama one of Tokyo's most celebrated hanami (cherry blossom viewing) spots for over three centuries, a tradition that continues today with approximately 600 cherry trees of various species.

The park sits atop a small hill and encompasses roughly seven hectares of green space, offering a rare expanse of nature within the dense urban landscape of northern Tokyo. Beyond its cherry blossoms, Asukayama serves as an important cultural site, housing three museums on its grounds: the Shibusawa Eiichi Memorial Museum, dedicated to the father of modern Japanese capitalism who lived nearby; the Paper Museum, chronicling the history of papermaking in Japan; and the Kita City Asukayama Museum, which explores local history and culture.

Visitors can explore the park's walking paths, historic monuments, and seasonal flora, including hydrangeas that bloom in early summer. Families particularly appreciate the Asukayama Park Monorail, a free short funicular railway called the Asuka Park Rail that assists visitors in ascending the hill from street level. The park also features a small playground area with a vintage D51 steam locomotive and Toden streetcar that children can explore.

Access to Asukayama Park is straightforward via the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line to Oji Station, with the park entrance directly adjacent to the station's central exit. Alternatively, visitors can take the Tokyo Sakura Tram (Toden Arakawa Line) to Asukayama Station or Oji-Ekimae Station. The Namboku subway line also serves the area via Oji Station.