Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park

Get your fill of chill here!

Desert flora, Himalayan blossoms and a Dutch windmill… in Osaka?! That’s right, you can discover all these wonders and more without even leaving the massive metropolis.

Photo by: tomoko The windmill is impressive in spring surrounded by tulips.

Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park, officially known as Tsurumi Ryokuchi Expo ’90 Commemorative Park, is as gigantic as its name. Blanketing over 300 square acres of the city in green, this park is home to diverse animal and plant life, a traditional tea house, and vibrant cherry blossoms. A gorgeous urban escape on the outskirts of Osaka, it’s typically less crowded than popular local parks like Osaka Castle Park and Expo ‘70 Commemorative Park. Yet this lesser-known attraction has just as much going for it.

Photo by: panoramio The botanical gardens are also a hot feature.

The park came into being during the 1990 International Flower and Greenery Exhibition, an event that drew over 20 million visitors. Afterward, the site was memorialized as a park and is designed so that it has flowers bursting into bloom during every season. Even in winter, the park is kaleidoscopic. With a large lawn and gigantic lake perfect for lounging, spaces for barbecues and camping, and more, it’s evolved into a great place to escape the crowds of the nearby city.

Photo by: Hideyuki KAMON Park in the city.

Other attractions

Mountain Area (Yama no Eria) – Like a mini journey around the world, this area features the International Garden representing many countries, from India to Spain to Iran, with actual soil from and architecture representing these locals. There is also a tulip garden with a windmill, a setting straight out of a Dutch storybook, as well as a large Japanese garden.

Photo by: panoramio Get out of the city and see a little wildlife.

The Flower Pavillion (Sakuya Konohana Kan) – This greenhouse is the largest in the nation. Housing plant life from four different types of climates, including desert, tropical, and alpine flora, it is the perfect spot for respite in any season.

Facilities: The park is home to numerous facilities, including a gym, tea house, campsite, swimming pool, an observation tower, barbeque pits, restaurants, and many many more. It’s very easy — and highly recommended — to spend an entire day here.