Discover Tachikawa: Parks, Art and City History

Tachikawa offers a variety of highlights for a stay: the national Showa Kinen Park, public art, exhibitions, and a museum about the city's history, folklore, and nature. These themes differ considerably. If you are looking for a hotel in Tachikawa, it may help to first consider whether cycling, art, local history, or activities for children will be a particular focus of your trip.

Showa Kinen Park: Cycling Route, Garden and History

The national Showa Kinen Park covers 180 hectares and spans Tachikawa and Akishima. A 14-kilometer cycling route can be used with rental bikes or your own bicycle. This makes it easy to plan cycling as a focus of your park visit. The Akebono entrance is in the Green Culture Zone; it is about a 10-minute walk from the north exit of Tachikawa Station on the Chūō Line.

The site's history also contributes to the park's character: it was created as part of a commemorative project on the grounds of the former Tachikawa US military airfield. A visit therefore combines the park with a specific historical connection to the city.

Within the park, the Japanese Garden offers a different focus. It covers about six hectares and was created in April 1997 to give visitors the opportunity to experience traditional cultural activities. Compared with the park as a whole, the garden is considerably smaller; however, its stated purpose differs from that of the cycling route. If you are weighing up a longer bike ride against a cultural focus while planning your trip, these two areas of the park offer different options.

Public Art and City History

FARET Tachikawa Art comprises 109 public artworks by 92 artists from 36 countries. Various art tours are led by members of the volunteer group FARET Club. If you would like to include a tour in your stay, check in advance which dates are available during your visit.

The Tachikawa City History and Folklore Museum's permanent exhibition features exhibits on Tachikawa's history, folklore, and nature. Its timeline stretches from prehistoric times to the present. The exhibition thus brings together several subject areas and eras rather than focusing on a single period of the city's history.

Exhibitions and Activities for Children

PLAY! MUSEUM in Green Springs has exhibitions about picture books, manga, and art, including interactive and multisensory presentations. PLAY! PARK offers something different: an indoor play area for children, with workshops on design and music, as well as numerous programs for parents and children to take part in. This clearly distinguishes the museum's exhibitions from the play and workshop activities at PLAY! PARK.

Different Historical Perspectives

The park and the museum offer two different ways of exploring history: the park was created on the site of a former military airfield, while the museum's permanent exhibition spans from prehistoric times to the present. If you are interested in Tachikawa's past, you can consider these perspectives side by side.

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For the main travel overview: Tokyo.