The Big Bounce at Showa Kinen Koen

This year, we went to Showa Kinen Koen earlier in the day so that Little Brother could bounce. We went too late in the day last year. This area was closed by the time we walked through the park.

As you can see, there were lots of kids bouncing. He had fun. Click on the picture to enlarge it. See all the shoes around the edge? Click on the label below to see pictures from last year.

Same Season, Different Time of Day

There were lots of people in the poppy fields at Showa Kinen Koen. Click on the picture to enlarge it.

There were lots of people in the wading stream, too. Compare pictures from last year by clicking on the label below. There are other fun things to see and do here.

Giant Koinobori at Showa Kinen Koen

This is a huge koinobori. This picture was taken at the top of the hill. The koinobori is down in a ravine. With the children standing in front, you can tell how big it really is. Click on the label below to see last year's pictures.

The koinobori from last year was moved and draped among the trees like a tent. Kids were running through it.

Bouncing at Showa Kinen Koen

There are many fun things to do at Showa Kinen Koen, Showa Memorial Park. Here is one of them. See that big white blob in the background? It's a place to bounce. By the time we got there, it was closed. We were too busy doing other things. Besides we got there late in the day. It's a good thing we went yesterday. Today is a rainy day.

Click on the picture to enlarge. There is a person in a blue shirt on the left. That will give you an idea how big it is.

Dragon Sand Mountain at Showa Kinen Koen

There were big dragons to climb

and slide down at Showa Kinen Koen, Showa Memorial Park.

They were made out of concrete and pieces of pottery, shells, marbles and stones.

The pavement leading to the Dragon Sand Mountain had round and square tiles decorated by children.

More Climbing at Showa Kinen Koen

Near the Dragon Sand Mountain, there was this replica of a Mayan Temple. There were food stalls all around, but in this picture they were closing and cleaning up.

There was also a grassy knoll. That's a bench made out of pieces of pottery or tile.

There were stairs up the grassy knoll. At the top of the stairs was a huge replica of the moon. You can walk around the moon and look out on the park.

There were several small bubbles along the railing of the stairs. This one had two squirrels eating.

Showa Kinen Koen

More Fun Things to Do at Showa Kinen Koen

Click to enlarge and you may be able to see children playing in this stream. It is really a flowing fountain, I guess. It is made out of concrete and pebbles. It was a really hot day and this was a cool place to sit.

This is the same stream at another angle. Everyone has gone.

This is putt-putt golf. No big animals or windmills. Just a course of mounds and shrubs.

This little train was available to go around the park.

Showa Kinen Koen

Late Bloom

While sitting under this tree, we looked up to find

cherry blossoms! Rather late and alone and unusual. At least we had never seen a clump of blossoms on a tree full of green leaves before.
Showa Kinen Koen

Poppy Fields at Showa Kinen Koen

This is what I was looking for.

Fields of poppies.

It's nice to see big fields of the same kind of flowers.

Showa Kinen Koen is a big park, isn't it?

Wheat Field at Showa Kinen Koen

This was part of the flower garden near the entrance.

A crop circle?

Showa Kinen Koen

Concrete River

This river was near the entrance of Showa Kinen Koen. Note that some of it has a concrete bottom. And there's a door in the riverbank!

A Huge Carp and A Koinobori

This koi or carp was in a "valley" at Showa Kinen Koen, Showa Memorial Park. It was huge. Click to enlarge and you may be able to see people on the right. That will provide perspective to know how big it really is.

It was far away and we were all looking down on it, so it looks smaller in the pictures. Here is a mother and son looking at it.

TOYS "R" US sells traditional Japanese holiday decorations like this koinobori. These koi or carp will be strung together and hung outside. Maybe you can figure out how much it costs in your country's currency.

Kids Web Japan-- Children's Day