Dec 8th; Red Bridge, Oike Park (Photo: Rey Waters)

Oike Park (Kodomo Nature Park)

Yokohama Suburb Parks - 1

Dec 8th; Red Bridge, Oike Park (Photo: Rey Waters)
Rey Waters   - 4 min read

Yokohama is filled with beautiful nature parks and one that I frequently visit is Oike Park.

Oike Park is designated as a Yokohama City Cultural Asset, because it is a habitat for Genji-fireflies.

The parks is one of the largest in Yokohama comprised of 4815 square meters or 118 acres. There is a very nice children's play area, a small petting zoo called Makigahara Chibikko, a youth outdoor activity center, baseball field, and community grown rice paddies. In the fall they make all types of colorful scarecrows to keep the birds away before harvesting the rice. In the Youth Center you can see displays of the wildlife found in the park.

Because of the size and a good parking area, they hold several festivals throughout the year, including the Asahi Ward Jazz Festival.

During the Edo era the large pond was the water supply to Futumatagawa.

Dec 8th; Fall at Oike Pond
Dec 8th; Fall at Oike Pond

I walk to this park approximately twice a month. In the winter I go mainly to see the Ume plum tree grove. There are 200 plum trees in this park with 30 varieties.

Feb 25th; Ume plum trees in full bloom
Feb 25th; Ume plum trees in full bloom

In the early spring I walk to what is called Sakura Mountain to view more than 1000 cherry trees. There are bbq pits covering most of the Sakura area and I often see families sitting under the blooming trees enjoying a good meal.

April 6th; Sakura Mountain, Oike Park
April 6th; Sakura Mountain, Oike Park

In June they have a nice display of hydrangea near the rice paddies.

July 12th; Hydrangea near rice paddies, Oike Park
July 12th; Hydrangea near rice paddies, Oike Park

The rest of the year I go for the exercise and to bird watch. There are Kawasemi-Japanese Kingfishers, woodpeckers, herons, ducks, finches, tits and lots of other birds throughout the park.

June 6th; Kingfisher enjoying breakfast
June 6th; Kingfisher enjoying breakfast

For me it is a fifty five minute walk from Higashi-Totsuka on the road to Totsuka Country Club. On the way back, I take a longer route which ends up on Highway 17 also known as Route 2. Including hiking around the park I usually end up walking thirteen to fifteen kilometers or eight to ten miles. You can take a train to Futumatagawa Station on the Sotetsu line and walk south for twenty minutes, or take a bus from the station to the park.

The best way to describe this beautiful park is to show pictures from every month of the year.

It is well worth visiting anytime and if you’re an early bird you may see me by the pond taking pictures of the Kingfisher.

Getting there

Twenty minute walk from Futumatagawa Station Sotetsu Line or take a bus from the station directly to the park

Rey Waters

Rey Waters @rey.waters

Born in the U.S.A. - Worked 30 years in executive management high tech Industry, owned a management consulting firm and a wildlife art publishing company.  In 2012 completed the Ultimate Travel Writer’s course and published my first article Tower Hopping in Japan with Travel Post Monthly.  Since ...