Showa Kinen Park - Herb Garden

Herb garden has about 200 different kinds of herbs.
You can enjoy not only seeing flowers but also smelling, feeling and even eating herbs.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Showa Kinen Park - Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden has a pond, waterfall and streams.
There're bridges and several old style buildings.

Bonsai exhibition area has many magnificent bonsai trees.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Showa Kinen Park - Flower Gardens

There're several flower fields around the open field.
This park has some flowers blooming all through the year.

There's a pond with waterlilies,  too.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Showa KInen Park - Open Field

There's a huge open field in the center of Showa Kinen Park.
People are playing balls, having lunch sitting on the ground, sleeping and relaxing.

This field may be the symbol of this park.
A big tree in the center of the field is an accent of open space.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Showa Kinen Park - Waterfowl Lake

There's a lake in front of Nishi Tachikawa Gate.
Pedal boats are available in the lake.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Showa Kinen Park - Fureai Field

Fureai Field (Friendship Field) has a canal with fountain and well maintained flower beds.

There's a restaurant here.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Showa Kinen Park

Showa Kinen Park was made for the 50th anniversary of Showa Emperor's reign.
This huge park has 7 entrances and filled with green.

Park train and bicycles are available.
Park train : 310 yen per ride
Bicycle : 410 yen for first 3 hours

There're several fields, lake, ponds, flower gardens and Japanese Garden.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Nishi Tachikawa station on Ome Line

<Admission>

410 yen        Closed from Dec. 31 to Jan.1,
                   The 4th Monday of Feb. and the following day

Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 : 9:30 - 17:00
Nov. 1 - Feb. 29 : 9:30 - 16:30
Weekends and Holidays between Apr. 1 to Sep. 30 : 9:30 - 18:00

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Nagoya Castle

Nagoya Castle was built by Ieyasu Tokugawa in 1609.
This had been the castle for Tokugawa family until Meiji era.

There're golden fish on top of the roof of the castle tower.
It's known as symbol of Nagoya Castle.

Currently main building is being restored for the opening in 2018.
Current concrete castle tower is planned to be restored as wooden castle tower as the same construction as the original tower.

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<The Nearest Station>

Shiyakusho station on Meijo Line (Subway)  (Aichi Prefecture)

<Admission>

500 yen

9:00 - 16:30     Closed from Dec. 29 through Jan. 1

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Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle was built in 1589 by Hideyoshi Toyotomi who unified Japan for the first time. After his death in 1598, his son Hideyori took over this castle.

This castle was attacked by Ieyasu Tokugawa twice, winter in 1614 and summer in 1615, then Toyotomi family was terminated.

On top of the ruin of the castle, ground level was raised by filling earth.

New castle was built by Tokugawa family in 1629.
It's lost by fire at Meiji Restoration.

Current castle tower was built in 1931.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Osakajo Koen station

<Admission>

600 yen

9:00 - 17:00     Closed from Dec. 28 through Jan. 1

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Odawara Castle

Odawara Castle was built in 1417.

This castle used to be surrounded by huge earthwork and dry moat.
It's called an impregnable castle and held out against the attacks by Kenshin Uesugi or Shingen Takeda who were known as strong Feudal Lords.

You can see the ocean from castle tower.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Odawara station (Kanagawa Prefecture)

<Admission>

500 yen

9:00 - 17:00     Closed on Dec. 31 & Jan. 1

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Aizu Wakamatsu Castle

Original Aizu Wakamatsu Castle was 1384.

Masamune Date in Sendai attacked this castle and got it in 1589.
But it was taken over by other Feudal Lord by the order of Hideyoshi Toyotomi.

This castle was the battle place of Aizu war at Meiji Restoration in 1868.

Current castle tower was made of concrete in 1965.

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<The Nearest Station>

JR Aizu Wakamatsu station and bus

<Admission>

510 yen

8:30 - 17:00

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