Kasai Rinkai Park

You could spend an entire day at this park and still feel as if you haven’t seen it all. Located in the far eastern corner of Tokyo’s Edogawa ward, Kasai Rinkai Park (also known as Kasai Seaside Park) covers more than 8,000 square kilometers, making it central Tokyo’s largest, and a playground for adults and children alike.

Within its grounds are Tokyo Sea Life Park, Sea Bird Sanctuary, the Diamond and Flowers Ferris Wheel, hiking trails, spaces for barbecue, and beach access to Kasai Beach Park. It’s a great place to have a picnic, pitch a tent, go fishing, barbecue with friends, cycle, and hike. Take a rest at one of the two large kiosks or stop inside the restaurant Blue Marine for a well-deserved break.

For a great view

Photo by: Panoramio The ferris wheel stands at 117 meters.

For couples, Kasai Rinkai Park is the perfect date spot. Start off by making your way toward Crystal View, a large glass observatory located on a hill in in the center of the park. Large informative panels detail the construction of the park while the large panel windows offer a breathtaking view of Tokyo Bay.

If the views from the observatory aren’t enough, a ride on the Diamond and Flowers Ferris Wheel (117 meters tall) will give you an unforgettable view of nearby places like Tokyo DisneyLand, Rainbow Bridge, the Bousou Peninsula of Chiba Prefecture, and when the weather is right, Mount Fuji (seen in the top photo). A beautiful gardenscape surrounds the ferris wheel area, which has tulip beds and cherry blossoms in spring.

Fun fact: The ferris wheel even has its own cute character and twitter page, and supposedly gets its name from the designs it has when it lights up.

Photo by: ©Yasufumi Nishi/©JNTO Kasai Rinkai Park at Tokyo Bay.

Getting around

If you’re short on time, ride on the park train, aptly named “Park Train,” which will take you on a 3.1 km journey around the park in about 25 minutes. At ¥300, it is a great way to explore, especially if you’re in a group or traveling with children.

Speaking of transportation, the Tokyo Water Bus also operates its Kasai – Odaiba line from Kasai Rinkai Park. If you’re in the mood to complement your nature experience with some sea travel, this may be an alternate itinerary.