Shakujii Koen

Last week Hideaki and I rode our bikes to Shakujii Koen, a park in Nerima ward that is said to be one of Tokyo's best. It's not too far away, but for some reason we haven't been since we moved nearby, and this was our first visit since I lived on the other side of the park, about 12 years ago. Because it's a little far out from central Tokyo it never gets really crowded, except maybe on the weekend when the cherry blossoms are at full bloom. This being a weekday and bit past the cherry blossoms' peak, we almost had the park to ourselves.

The park is divided into two sections, separated by a road. The west side is where we started, and this is where the people were at their fewest and the nature at its most abundant. I was surprised by the diversity of plant life, and while I didn't see as many birds as I'd expected (the park is well known for its waterfowl), we did get to see a pair of the parks famed kawasemi (kingfishers). There was, of course, no way I could get a picture of the shy birds, but hopefully the dozen or so ojiisan (grandfathers) with their giant lenses and professional looking cameras fared better. So here are some ducks instead, and without further comment, the rest of the pictures we took that day.

 

Shakujii Koen
03-3996-3950
1-26 Shakujiidai, Nerima-ku, Tokyo

To get there: a 10 minute walk south of Shakuji Koen station on the Seibu Ikebukuro line, or a 20 minute walk north of Kami Shakujii station on the Seibu Shinjuku line

Comments

[kat]

beautiful park and photos!

[Lilia]

hehe crazy! When my husband and I lived in Oizumi last year, we'd bike ride to that park and jog there every day. We'd vary it by jogging on the wooden boards around the lake on one side, and around the otherside of the park across the road.
I also loved taking pics there and trying to capture the king fisher (not successful of course :)
http://picasaweb.google.com/liliab/AnAutumnDay?feat=directlink

[illahee]

mmmmm, oden and beer!

[Carlyn]

Amy;
beautiful park and photos...looked like a perfect day..

[kat]

love your pictures!

[Mari L'Esperance]

Gorgeous photos. Love the ducks, the new green, the fallen petals... And I really appreciate that no one appears to be talking on their cell phone, texting, or otherwise disengaging from the beauty and serenity around them. I'm not sure that we'd see a similar scene in urban America, especially here in the Bay Area, where people can't even seem to go for a simple walk without digital contact!

[Amy]

Thank you Kat!

Lilia, what pretty pictures! I feel silly for not having gone sooner, but in our defense we live at the northern tip of Oizumigakuen, so it's a major trip for us. We will go again soon though.

Illahee, it was the most expensive oden and beer we've ever had! We had expected to pass a combini to pick up some cheap grub but didn't come upon one, so were forced to blow our budget at the park. I savored every drop of that beer, let me tell you.

Thank you Carlyn!

Thanks Kat!

Mari, there was one guy on his phone, but the way he enjoyed the view while he talked you could tell he was more into the park than his call.