Kasai Seaside Park

Summary

A day trip to Kasai Seaside Park in East Tokyo. Aquarium, big wheel, flower garden, beach, playground, game center, tour via train

From Wikipedia:
Kasai Rinkai Park (葛西臨海公園 Kasai Rinkai Kōen) is a park in Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan, which officially opened on June 1, 1989. The park includes an aquarium and a bird sanctuary, and was built on reclaimed land which includes two manmade islands, a viewing tower and a hotel.

There is a Ferris wheel which opened in 2001. On a clear day, it affords views of Tokyo Bay, Chiba, Edogawa, Tokyo Disneyland, and Mt Fuji.

The park is always crowded during the 'hanami' period of spring, when the Japanese party under cherry trees in bloom.


**Has parking**East Tokyo**For Elementary or Middle School Kids**Full day Activity**Admission free**9:00-17:00 (In some cases 9:00-18:00, 9:00-19:00 depending on the season**

Rating: 8/10 - Huge, huge park with a great atmosphere. Check the weather forecast before you go, though!


Website

Kasai Seaside Park　(English)

Location/Access

江戸川区臨海町六丁目
Edogawa-ku, Rinkaicho, 6chome
TEL 5696-1331


View Larger Map


By Train: 1 minute walk from the Kasai Rinkai Koen Sta.葛西臨海駅 of JR Keiyo Line　京葉線

By Car: Take the Chuo Kanjou　highway 首都高速中央環状線 or the Wangan highway 首都高速湾岸線 to Kasai Junction. 葛西I.C.

By Boat: You can catch a boat/water bus from Odaiba kaihin park お台場海浜公園, on the Tokyo Mizube line 東京水辺ライン (45 minutes)


Activities

The park is filled with activities suitable for a sunny day:

Ferris Wheel
At 117m above the ground, and lasting around 17 minutes for a round trip, this is one of the biggest Ferris Wheels around. From the top you can see many famous sites around Tokyo, as well as Mt. Fuji!

The cost is 700 yen for all over 3 years, although there are discounts for disabled and elderly people.

Aquarium
The aquarium here is famous for it's Tuna fish, or Maguro. The architecture of the building is very interesting; as it is a glass dome that is designed to look as if it's floating over Tokyo Bay.

Bird Observation Park
An attempt to recreate pre-industrialization forest conditions ideal for bird life to thrive.

In addition, there is a train taking passengers on regular tours around the park. Also, there are street performers putting on shows during the summer months, a playground complete with swings and slides, as well as a number of paths laid out for strolling around and enjoying the surrounding scenic beauty of the park.

To top it all of, there's hotel on site, for those traveling from further away and looking to make a weekend of it.

Food

There is a restaurant in the aquarium, where you can enjoy Tuna Curry amongst other seafood themed dishes.

As well as this, another restaurant, called "Blue Marine", closer to the car park, serves up the standard staple; such as: pasta, curry, katsu, ramen etc.

In addition, there are a number of fast food stands on site, selling hot dogs, fries, chicken and other warm snacks.

Finally, if you head away from the park and towards the train station, you will find the omnipresent MacDonalds as well as a number of Japanese restaurants.

Cost

The car park is 200 yen per hour, with the food and drinks being priced at fairly standard rates. Entrance to the park is free.


Rating

One of the best parks in Tokyo, if not the world. A beautiful peaceful atmosphere and a real joy for the whole family. The view from the Ferris Wheel is breathtaking; and the bird watching area, aquarium, train tour and sheer size of the park ensure that there is enough to keep everybody entertained for the whole day.

My family and I live 20 minutes away from this park, and as a result make the trip at least once a month. Even though we've been over a dozen times, we have yet to make our way round the whole area, such is the size of the place.

If you pick a sunny day, you can really have a great time here. However, if it rains you won't be left with much to do. Use the weather forecast and plan carefully!

Pros: Lots of activities, inexpensive, great access, large parking area, huge space, great atmosphere, Huge Ferris Wheel

Cons: no sports facilities, not much to do if it rains, could do with a better restaurant.


Rating: 8/10