At a glance
Mizumoto Park is Tokyo's largest waterfront park spanning 96 hectares in Katsushika City, featuring metasequoia forests, expansive ponds, and diverse aquatic plants. Open 24 hours daily with free admission, the park offers cycling lanes, barbecue facilities, playgrounds, a dog run, and excellent birdwatching opportunities including common kingfishers and seasonal migratory species.
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Mizumoto Park
Mizumoto Park spans over 96 hectares along Koaidame (小合溜) in Katsushika City, making it one of Tokyo’s biggest waterfront green spaces. It’s especially known for being the city’s only metropolitan park with a suigo (water-town) landscape, where canals drawn from Koaidame run through the grounds. With free admission and open, park-like access year-round (note that some facilities keep set hours), it’s a favorite for anyone craving wide skies, water views, and long, easy walks in urban Tokyo.
The park’s defining feature is its magnificent metasequoia forest, where about 1,500 dawn redwoods create a calm, slightly “not-Tokyo” atmosphere, especially when the water is still enough for reflections. Seasonal highlights include the long cherry-blossom stretch known as Sakura Tsutsumi (often cited at around 530 to 600 trees along a roughly 3.5 km walkway), and the iris garden, where 14,000 clumps across about 100 varieties produce roughly 200,000 blooms from early to late June. Autumn is also beautiful here, with the metasequoias and other trees shifting into warm colors that make the paths feel cinematic on a clear day.
Facilities include a reservation-only barbecue area, a dog run (with small-dog and all-sizes areas), children’s play zones, and plenty of benches and lawns for picnics. There’s also a bird sanctuary area designed for observation, which helps explain why the park is popular with birdwatchers. If you want to extend your walk, the park’s waterside setting makes it easy to spend a full half-day just looping between the poplar-lined paths, canals, and the big open lawns, with the Misato side of Saitama visible across the water.
Before you go
Entry to Mizumoto Park is free, and the main grounds are open 24 hours for walking and relaxation. Some internal facilities like the Green Plaza or “Mizube no Ikimono-kan” (water-edge nature center) have limited hours (usually 9:30–16:30) and are closed on Mondays or New Year’s period. Barbecue areas and equipment rentals are available but require advance reservations and may have usage fees; check the official park website for details before you go.
Mizumoto Park’s outdoor grounds do not close seasonally; it’s open 365 days a year. Some internal facilities (e.g., Green Plaza, nature exhibits) may close on Mondays (or the next weekday if Monday is a holiday) and around New Year’s (Dec 29-Jan 3).
When to go
Spring brings the spectacular iris bloom at Mizumoto Park, typically peaking in early June when thousands of Japanese iris (hanashobu) create stunning displays along the waterways. Autumn transforms the metasequoia forest into a golden wonderland from mid-November through early December, with the trees' reflections creating mirror-like scenes on the water's surface that attract photographers and nature enthusiasts from across Tokyo. Weekday mornings offer the most peaceful experience for walking and birdwatching, particularly Tuesday through Thursday when visitor numbers remain moderate throughout the day. The park becomes significantly busier on weekends, especially Sunday afternoons when families gather for picnics and recreational activities, though the expansive grounds prevent overcrowding.
Average crowd levels throughout the day, based on historical data.
Public review summary
Visitors consistently praise the parks expansive natural beauty, particularly the stunning metasequoia forest and waterfront views that feel almost foreign. The seasonal displays draw enthusiastic responses, especially autumn foliage and iris blooms. Many appreciate the peaceful atmosphere for walking, cycling, and birdwatching. However, some note crowding during peak seasons and express concerns about visitor etiquette, including unleashed dogs and litter issues in certain areas.
What you'll find here
Location & access
- DirectionsAddress
3-2 Mizumotokoen, Katsushika City, Tokyo 125-0034, Japan
- How to get there
By Public Transport:
From JR Joban Line / Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line Kanamachi Station or Keisei Kanamachi Station, take a bus bound for 戸ヶ崎操車場 or 西水元三丁目 and get off at “Mizumoto Park”; then it’s a 7-minute walk to the park. Walking from the stations is about 20–30 minutes on foot.
By Car:
There are paid parking lots near park entrances (about 1,170 spaces including temporary lots), but they fill quickly on weekends and holidays. Roads can be congested, so public transport is often more convenient.
Common questions
What seasonal attractions can I see at Mizumoto Park?
Mizumoto Park offers stunning seasonal displays throughout the year. Spring features over 1,300 cherry blossoms and vibrant iris blooms, while autumn showcases spectacular metasequoia and ginkgo foliage with beautiful water reflections. The park also displays red spider lilies and various spring flowers including magnolia and weeping cherry.
Are there facilities for children at Mizumoto Park?
Yes, Mizumoto Park is very kid-friendly with multiple playgrounds featuring slides and swings throughout the vast grounds. The central plaza is spacious enough for activities like catch, frisbee, and badminton. Families can also enjoy picnicking on the large lawns and cycling on dedicated paths suitable for all ages.
Can I bring my dog to Mizumoto Park?
Dogs are welcome at Mizumoto Park, with designated areas for different sizes. There's a members-only dog run separated into sections for small dogs and larger breeds. Throughout the park, you'll see many visitors walking their dogs along the waterfront paths and enjoying the open spaces together.
What food options are available at Mizumoto Park?
Mizumoto Park has several food facilities including restaurants near Mizumoto Bridge and at the barbecue area serving items like soba noodles and coffee. There are also shops and occasional food trucks, particularly on weekends. The barbecue area offers rental equipment and ingredients, though advance reservations are recommended.
Is cycling allowed at Mizumoto Park?
Cycling is encouraged at Mizumoto Park with designated bicycle paths separated from pedestrian walkways around the perimeter and throughout sections of the park. Bicycle rentals are available on-site for visitors who don't bring their own. The vast, flat terrain makes it ideal for leisurely cycling while enjoying the waterfront scenery.
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