13 big parks in Tokyo for you to visit this Golden Week

In Tokyo, many parks boast vast land areas. If you go to a large park with your family, friends, or loved ones, you can spend the whole day doing fun park activities like having a picnic, taking a troll, sightseeing, and taking a nap!

And now that Golden Week and spring are coming, we've rounded up some of Tokyo's biggest parks just for you. We have also carefully selected the best activities in the surrounding areas of the parks, so gear up for a day packed with activities with the gang!

Shinjuku Gyoen is easy to find and go to since it's within walking distance from stations around Shinjuku!

One of the things that you can do here is to enjoy the different scenery the park shows every season, such as cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves in autumn. The garden, which is a rare combination of European and Japanese gardens in Japan, is also a must-see. How about spreading out a sheet on a large lawn and enjoying a picnic or playing some fun sports like badminton or frisbee outside? After chilling at the park, you can also try scarf dyeing, a traditional Japanese cultural activity in Shinjuku!

Only a walking distance from Takadanobaba, Toyama Park is a place of relaxation where students, friend groups, and families can spend some quality time together and enjoy! Since the park is about 450,000 square meters, you can expect to do a lot of activities here like exercising, taking a stroll, and having a picnic.

Apart from the activities that we just mentioned, we actually recommend climbing Mt. Hakone in the park, the highest peak (approximately 45 meters high) on the Yamanote Line. When you reach the summit, the service center in Toyama Park will issue a summit certificate just for you. Climbing a mountain can be challenging, but why not give it a try?

If you get tired from climbing, you can have a lunch picnic first before resuming your climb!

Among the big parks in Tokyo that you can enjoy for free, Yoyogi Park has got to be the park that sets the standard.

Another reason for its popularity is that it is within walking distance from Harajuku Station. In addition to the massive lawn, there are places where you can enjoy the sight of wild birds like the Bird Sanctuary.

Some events and festivals are held every weekend at the event square adjacent to Yoyogi Park, so do drop by if you're free! There are even some stores selling rare foods and products from all over the world sometimes, so you're lucky if you get to visit the park when they're there.

Once you're done exploring the park, you can also try interacting with snakes at the Tokyo Snake Center in Harajuku!

Easily known as one of Tokyo's most famous parks, Ueno Park is a crowd favorite, especially during the cherry blossom season. This park is also the first urban park in Japan and it is not only famous for its cherry blossoms but also for the beautiful lotus flowers of Shinobazu Pond!

This large city park is only a two-minute walk from Ueno Station, and some fun activities that you can do here include biking, walking, sightseeing, and even picnicking! Inside the park are different museums that you can visit like the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum and the National Museum of Nature and Science. There’s also a zoo inside, the Ueno Zoo, which houses different animals like tigers, elephants, and seals. 

After exploring Ueno Park, you can also try street go-karting in Akihabara, which is right next to Ueno Park!

In Asakusa, just three stations away from Ueno on the Ginza Line, you can also try renting a kimono as you stroll around the city streets!

Sumida Park boasts an area of ​​about 80,000 square meters along the Sumida River.

In spring, it is one of the best cherry blossom spots in Tokyo, and in summer, it is a crowd favorite during the Sumida River Fireworks Festival.

Once you're at the Japanese garden, you'll be greeted by the stunning view of the Tokyo Skytree! Feel free to take photos in the garden with the Tokyo Skytree as your background.

The Tokyo Skytree is located on the opposite bank of the Sumida River, Oshiage, so you can climb up to the observatory after you visit Sumida Park!

The next big park on our list is Shiba Park which is also known as one of the oldest parks in Japan! Shiba Park is a must-visit since it's conveniently located right next to Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple.

The spacious park is also perfect for both big and small groups looking for a place to spend the holidays to just chill and admire the beautiful scenery and vibe of spring. We recommend having a hearty picnic, biking around, or playing with your pets while you're here!

After all the fun you've done at Shiba Park, how about going up to the Tokyo Tower to see more stunning city views?

Next up on the list is Odaiba Seaside Park, a marine park where you can enjoy the impressive sights of the city, Rainbow Bridge, and Tokyo Tower!

Another highlight of this park is that you can enjoy playing on the beach in the summer. Then from autumn to winter, you can enjoy the fountain show in front of the seaside park along with the night view.

If you're a family (with kids) still looking for more things to do, we recommend stopping by Legoland Discovery Center!

However, if you're a group of adults only, we recommend a visit to Tokyo Joypolis instead!

Kasai Rinkai Park is known as the largest park in Central Tokyo! Inside the park are attractions like the Diamond and Flower Ferris wheel, the Tokyo Sea Life Park aquarium, and a bird sanctuary.

You can still have a picnic or take a stroll if that's what you prefer, but we recommend that you try one or two of the park's attractions. There's also a playground located at Wakuwaku Square, just close to Lawn Square, perfect for your kids!

Hikarigaoka Park in Nerima Ward is a vast park with a site area of ​​about 600,000 square meters. Inside the park are several areas for you to explore like camping areas, a pond, a tennis court, a basketball court, public art area, and a bird sanctuary!

The sight of bountiful Ginkgo trees is especially famous here, and you can even marvel at the falling autumn leaves in autumn.

Looking for more attractions to visit? Drop by the Sunshine Aquarium that's near Nerima!

Next up is Komazawa Olympic Park, as its name suggests, a park that's also a sports facility. There are jogging and cycling routes inside the park, so it's perfect for those looking to burn some calories!

Aside from the jogging and cycling routes, there are also other sports areas like a tennis court, soccer area, baseball area, swimming area, and more. If you wish to just relax and take a breather in the park, there's a massive open lawn for you to rest and sightsee.

One of the highlights of the Komazawa Olympic Park is the running path for dogs, so it is definitely a hot spot for those with dogs!

Hibiya Park has a long history, having opened in 1903 as Japan's first Western-style park.

Inside the park are two flower gardens — one with mainly tulips and a large fountain, while the other, blooming with rows of roses! There is also a music hall in the park, where many festivals and events are held.

Once you're done with your Hibiya Park experience, you can try Klook's Tokyo Sky Hop Bus and sightseeing around Tokyo!

Inokashira Park opened in 1917 as Japan's first suburban park, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017!

The Inokashira Pond in the center of the park is famous for its rowing boats. There are also about 250 cherry trees planted in the park, and in spring, it is undoubtedly crowded with cherry blossom viewers.

Other facilities in Inokashira Park include the Ghibli Museum, a zoo, an aquarium, and a massive green lawn!

To cap off our list is Kiba Park, a park that measures about 240,000 square meters.

A highlight of this park is that it's pet friendly, so feel free to take your pet out on a date in this park!

Inside the park is Kiba Midorium, a children's space called "Kids Ream" where both parents and children can play! Another fun attraction here is the running area for dogs, where you can let your dog run freely in a large space.

Other attractions include a jogging path, a barbecue area, and a tennis court!