TOKYO'S RETRO PLAYGROUNDS – The Tokyo Chapter

Japanese playgrounds can be like a work of art. Here are my favourite retro playgrounds in and around Tokyo
Think Japan is all robots and the latest in technology?
There are actually so many delicious retro, vintage elements of Japan – mostly leftovers from Bubble Economy days. It’s like little polaroid pockets all around the country.

These vintage treasure spots are some of our most-loved play destinations.

Here are some of my favourite time-warp, retro-licious Tokyo playgrounds:

The Godzilla Slide at Kurihama Flower World
This park and playground is a retro Japan slice of delight. Although it is quite a distance from the centre of Tokyo (70 mins on the train and then a 15 minute walk or a few mins in a taxi from Kurihama Station), it is a full day event. The park has the godzilla slide, a gigantic playground including a gigantic roller slide, a children’s train (flower train) to ride around the park and beautiful fields of flowers (of course, colours and varieties vary with each season.)

The Godzilla Slide is located in a section of the park called “Bouken Land” (Adventure Land). There are lots of restrooms, change tables and places to buy snacks throughout the park.
I’ve written a whole new (and much more detailed) post on this Godzilla park.

Dinosaur Park (Kodomo no Mori), Shinagawa
It’s old and retro and I live for this kind of clean but maybe haunted vibe!
It’s in Shinagawa Area. (5 mins walk from Shin-Banba Station.)
It’s quite small but my kids absolutely love coming here and then it’s always hard to get them to leave (!!) I’ve included information on the facilities, address and more pictures in my Dinosaur Park post here.

Komazawa Olympic Park called the Pig Park.
This is a section of the Komazawa Olympic Park called the Pig Park.
It’s full of small pig statues, a giant pig slide, swings, slides and a sandpit. Lots of shade and there is a toilet block right next to the playground.

Read more about the Pig Park here.

The Elephant Slide at Akagi Children’s Park
This small playground is 18 mins from Tokyo Station if you travel by train to Kagurazuka Station. It’s a little hidden treasure. It is quite well hidden so you’ll need to keep your eyes open for a small alleyway entrance to the park itself. It is tucked away in the residential area in Kagurazaka (3 mins walk from Kagurazaka Station.)

The park has the large elephant slide a few small animal statues to climb on. I’ve included more information on the Elephant Slide Park here – including the facilities at the park and the address.

**The next 3 parks are really close together!!**
Asukayama Park
So the first of the 3 parks close together is Asukayama Park. I’ve written about Asukayama Park in detail here.

Not far at all from Asukayama Park (7 mins by taxi or 17 mins on foot) is a much smaller Tokyo suburban playground Oji Rokuchome Jidou Park with a giant robot with a double slide.

Oji Rokuchome Jidou Park
I am obsessed with this playground and you’d never guess it was here if you didn’t know!

Afterwards, we were able to wander on to another park on the same road (only 300 metres away) for some different play equipment.

Toshima Park
The second park is called Toshima Park and has a water splash area that will open this year on July 12. There were actually more local children here than at the Robot slide park. I’m thinking maybe because this one is more visible from the street so feels a bit safer perhaps? Toshima Park has public restrooms. Anyway, we filled up almost an entire day just between these two parks and 7-Eleven for more drinks and snacks.

TOSHIMA PARK
北区王子6-3-43
6-3-43 OJI, KITA

Inokashira Park
Inokashira Park is the beautiful park outside of Tokyo that is famous for it’s stunning cherry blossoms views and those adorable swan boats.
I’ve written about Inokashira Park in Kichijoji in great detail here to include the facilities, restaurants, swan boat tips etc.

Robot Park (Sakurazaka Park) in Roppongi
This playground is one of my kids’ favourites and it’s in an area, Roppongi, with so many family-friendly spots and restaurants near by.
Highly highly recommend.
This place is more “Willy Wonka” than retro but still deserves a spot here.

Tyre Park (real name : Nishi Rokugo Koen)
Not even many locals know about the treasure that is the Tyre Park (real name : Nishi Rokugo Koen) Warning: if you don’t like your kiddies getting dirty – this one isn’t for you. It’s also right next to the trainline so great for trainlovers like my little boy.

Nishikidaini Park or Oni Park
And if you loved the other retro suburban playgrounds like I do, this Devil slide at Nishikidaini Park or Oni Park (Oni means devil) also won’t disappoint either.
I speak about it in greater detail in my Nishikidani Park blog post here but there is also a burger shop right across from the park.
In fact, you can make a day of it by going to Showa Kinen Park for a large park play with lots of flowers and greenery, then on to the Nishikidaini Park for a playground play and lunch and then on to Ikea Tachikawa for a bit of shopping before heading back into central Tokyo!

Sumida Park ( Whale Playground)
Another park worth wandering too if you’re in Asakusa with kids is the playground in Sumida Park – just by the river.
A lovely friend told me about this one and it is a true gem – and only 7 minutes walk from Sensoji Temple.
This playground is also just one train station from Tokyo Skytree ( you call also go there by foot as it’s approx 14 mins walk or 8 mins, approx 800 yen in a cab)
I have all the details in my Sumida Park blog post but there is also a coffee shop right next to the playground.

Shinjuku Chuo Park Playground
This Shinjuku ( west side of Shinjuku so a bit of a hike from Shinjuku station but close to the Park Hyatt and Hilton etc) playground has a few retro pieces of play equipment and is a great spot for a break from one of the busiest parts of Tokyo.
I’ve put lots of pictures and tips in my Shinjuku Chuo Park Playground post here.