Kitamoto Children’s Park aka Kitamotoshi Kodomo Koen 2012 to 2022!
Kitamoto Children’s Park is the English name for Kitamotoshi Kodomo Koen, but the latter is on Google Maps as the English name. I use both throughout this post so they are searchable. When I first wrote this blog post in 2012 I only had two children and they were both toddlers. Fast forward ten years and I now have four children aged between 7 and 12 years old! And we still visit this park from time to time, especially during cherry blossom season. Its an all round fun park for families especially those with small children.
It is still enjoyable for my girls, but my son, the eldest has outgrown this park. So we combine it with a trip to the neighboring Kitamoto Nature Park and nature study center. The famous Jougaya cherry blossoms are close by too, within walking distance if you have older children. I really recommend visiting the area during the cherry blossom season has Kitamoto has some excellent sakura spots.
Kitamoto Children’s Park
Below is the original post from 2012 and most of it still stands true in 2022:
My favourite park / playground (2012) to bring my toddlers to in the Hiki District of Saitama is Kitamoto Children’s Park. I love it, because it has something for children of all ages. I like that, in the summer, the playground suited to small children is in the shade and they have a wading river to cool down in. In the winter, they have an indoor playroom for babies and toddlers. Spring brings the stunning sakura and it is a great place for hanami. They fly carp for children’s day during the cherry blossom season up to Golden Week.
Features;
Please scroll down for more photos:
- Indoor playroom (no temperature control)
- Playground suitable for toddlers
- Another playground suitable for preschoolers
- And a playground suitable for older children
- Giant outdoor mountain / air trampoline
- 35 metre roller slide
- Climbing wall
- A water splash area (Golden Week to September)
- A small zoo; two areas with animals including peacocks and monkeys
- A stage with seating
- A nature trail
- Picnic area
- Special events
Facilities;
- A baby room for nappy changing and breast feeding
- A family toilet with miniature toilet for children, a baby keep, a nappy changing area, a clothes changing area
- Three separate ladies toilets with multiple cubicles
- Two separate mens toilets with multiple cubicles
- On site staff
- A tuck shop on the weekends and holidays
- Vending machines
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| Family toilet |
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| Climbing wall |
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| 35 meter Roller Slide |
Zoom in: water play area
The water play area in Kitamoto Children’s Park is a particularly nice one. However, for a lot of the day it is directly in sunlight. But there are areas beside it that are in the shade most of the day. There is a nice grass areas beside the wading river. Moreover, there are large square type seats, like a tatami mat, if you prefer to sit off the ground. The stream starts from a rocky fountain which is a little dangerous for small children unless you are supervising them closely. There is a wading stream from the fountain that is quite shallow, just covers an adult’s feet. It leads to a small pool of water on the opposite end. There the water is deep enough to cover a child lying flat.
In 2023, the water play area is available from Golden week until a date in September yet to be announced. The water area’s official hours are from 9.30 am to 5 pm, but we have occasionally arrived to no water at 9.30 am! I think it depends on the weather; if its a cool morning they might start the water later. They also sometimes close the park for maintenance. You can check the official website linked in the information section for the latest information.
Kitamoto Children’s Park Cherry Blossoms 2023
The park is particularly picturesque in spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. It is a great park for hanami with children. There are some stunning mature cherries in the park. Moreover, the playground at the front of the park is hugged by beautiful spreading cherry branches. In addition, from early April they hang carp streamers so you can see the flying carp with sakura in the background. In 2023, the period of bloom is expected to be from around March 20th to about April 4th. Of course, without a crystal ball there is no way to know for sure. This is the best “guestimate” at this moment in time (April 2022).
Cherry blossom festival
They also usually have a cherry blossom festival, as well as several other events throughout the year. It is just one part of the larger “Kitamoto Cherry Blossom Festival”. Before the pandemic, the festival was normally on the first Saturday and Sunday of April. There was actually a festival lite in 2022, but there was no festival in either 2020 or 2021. Here’s hoping the festival will be back in 2023.
The Kitamoto Cherry Blossom Festival is usually held at three different locations; the Kitamoto Takao sakura park is the main festival area and there is also a festival at both the Kabazakura (a famous cherry blossom as it is the only one of its type in the whole world) and here at the Kitamoto Children’s Park.
Kitamoto Children’s Park Access
Kitamotoshi Kodomo park is approximately 70 minutes from Tokyo by car. And approximately 15 minutes from the Okegawa – Kitamoto Interchange on the Chuo expressway. During the period of the cherry blossom festival there is usually a free shuttle bus to the park from Kitamoto Station on the Takasaki line.
Address: 3-225 Ishitoshuku, Kitamoto City, Saitama
Tel: 048-592-4050
It’s a nice park I can visit the place by car 🙂