Showa Kinen Park

A paradise for families, this sprawling park was opened on the site of the old Tachikawa air base in 1983, to mark the golden jubilee of Emperor Showa. Fifteen minutes' walk from Tachikawa Station, the 1.8sq km (0.7sq miles) park boasts a wide range of facilities, including spacious lawns, wooded areas and seasonal flower gardens. Kids will enjoy splashing around in the Rainbow Pool or making mischief in the Children’s Forest play area, where they can immerse themselves in clouds of artificial mist. The park also has some lengthy cycling tracks (bike rental for three hours costs ¥250 for under-15s, ¥400 for adults), as well as pedal boats, mini golf and a range of other games and activities.