Kitamoto Mizube (Waterside) Plaza Park is a water play area in a large open area by the Arakawa River. It is not really a park, in the typical sense, but possibly they are planning to develop it into a park. The water play area is quite nice, but my biggest problem with it is there is zero shade. And as it is out in an open field it can get very hot. If you are planning to visit the water play area and / or have a barbecue in the new designated area, make sure to bring at least a sun umbrella or some form of shade.
Kitamoto Mizube Plaza Park
The Kitamoto Mizube Plaza is located close to Kitamoto Camp Field on the flood plains of the Ara River (Arakawa). I visit the camp field and walk along the open area where the mizube plaza is, annually during blossom season. Not just cherry blossoms, but plum blossoms too. However, there are none directly in the plaza area. There are no trees at all. Just a wide open space, a water play area and a toilet. And places to park too. And now a barbecue area it would seem! But please note, there are no permanent facilities in the area yet. They are running this is an experiment. I suspect that if it successful they will put in some more facilities.
They are allowing people barbecue at Kitamoto Mizube Plaza at a designated location near the parking lot, on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in the months of September and October between 10 am and 3.30 pm. The charge is 500 yen per group and can be paid on site on the day. First come, first served. Please note that you need to bring everything yourself and bring your rubbish home too. And there is nowhere to wash up. However, they do have a place to dump charcoal and ash. Also, please note that open flames are prohibited and you need to use either a stove or grill for barbecuing. The aforementioned nearby camp site does have proper facilities and it too is cheap to rent. More information here.
The featured photo at the top of the post was taken at the park this year, by the Arakawa. Unfortunately, I can’t find my photos of the water play area, as I took them many years ago. But if I find them, I will add them later.
Water play
The city don’t provide the dates online that the water is on. In my experience, there is never any water during winter or spring. Presumably, it will be on the whole time the barbecue is open, so the months of September and October. It was on over the summer months too. There is a really great water play area in Kitamoto Children’s park that is open from spring to autumn.
Information
Event: Kitamoto Mizube (Waterside) Plaza Park Barbecue / Water Play 2025
Dates: barbecue on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays in September and October 2025. Water play dates unknown but presumably open the same period.
Time: barbecue can be done between 10 am and 3.30 pm.
Cost: 500 yen for a unmapped barbecue site
Venue: Kitamoto Mizube (Waterside) Plaza Park, Arai, Kitamoto, Saitama 364-0026, Japan. View on Google Maps.
Access: The Kitamoto Mizube (waterside) plaza is only about a ten to fifteen minute drive from the Ken-o expressway’s Okegawa-Kitamoto Interchange. The nearest train station is the Kitamoto Station on the Takasaki line. You can get a public bus bound for “Sanitation Institute Arakawaso” and alight at the “Outdoor Activity Center Entrance” bus stop. The waterside plaza is about a 5 minute walk from the bus stop.