Ashiya Park, also known as Matsuhama Park, is an urban park in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture. Stretching along the left bank of the Ashiya River from National Route 43 toward the river mouth, the park offers a pleasant green retreat close to the sea. Approximately 420 Japanese black pine trees, the official city tree of Ashiya, grow throughout its grounds, which cover 29,433 square meters.
Ashiya Park is a popular place for local residents to relax, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. Families can make use of the playground equipment, including swings, slides, jungle gyms, climbing bars, and combination play structures. Health and fitness equipment is also available, along with benches and other facilities for visitors. The park additionally has tennis courts, meeting rooms available for a fee, and parking.
With its pine trees, open spaces, and proximity to the coast, the park offers a refreshing setting for a leisurely walk. Scattered throughout the grounds are monuments and historical landmarks that reveal aspects of Ashiya’s local history and cultural heritage.
The park’s history dates back to the Taisho period (1912–1926), when the Nuezuka monument was erected in 1917. The site has since become associated with local legends and the cultural history of the area.
In 1956, a tennis court opened in the park. That same year, the 11th National Sports Festival of Japan held its hard-court tennis competition there. On July 7, 1973, the Japan-China Friendship and Peace Tower was erected as a symbol of friendship between the two countries following the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1972.
One of the park’s most distinctive landmarks is Nuezuka, a mound associated with the legend of the nue, a mysterious monster from Japanese folklore. According to the story, the warrior Minamoto no Yorimasa shot and killed a nue that had been terrorizing the imperial court at Nijo Castle in Kyoto. The creature’s remains were said to have drifted down the Katsura River and washed ashore near Ashiya.
Fearing the mysterious creature, local fishermen are said to have built a mound to bury its remains. The monument was established in 1917 and remains a symbol of the area’s folklore and historical identity.
Erected in 1930, this monument commemorates Yasuaki Sarumaru, who contributed significantly to the development of the Ashiya area. His achievements included improvements to the Ashiya River, agricultural land consolidation, and efforts associated with the establishment of JR Ashiya Station. The monument bears the signature of Tsuyoshi Inukai, a prominent Japanese politician of the time.
The park also contains a monument inscribed with a haiku by Teiko Inahata, a poet from Ashiya. Her poem reflects on the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and the resilience of the city:
“Having endured the earthquake, Ashiya’s pines are cool.”
The verse commemorates the disaster and expresses a sense of calm and renewal through the enduring presence of the pine trees. The monument serves as a reminder of the earthquake’s impact and the community’s recovery.
The Japan-China Friendship and Peace Tower was built on July 7, 1973, by a committee established for the project. It commemorates the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and China in 1972 and stands as a symbol of peace and friendship between the two nations.
The park is conveniently located about a five-minute walk from Ashiya Station on the Hanshin Electric Railway. Its easy access makes it a pleasant stop for visitors exploring Ashiya or looking for a quiet green space near the coast.
Ashiya Park combines the natural beauty of Japanese black pines with monuments that preserve local legends, regional history, and memories of modern Japan. Visitors can enjoy the playgrounds and sports facilities, take a relaxing walk beneath the trees, or explore the stories behind Nuezuka and the park’s other memorials. It is a welcoming place to experience a quieter side of Ashiya while discovering the history woven into the city’s everyday landscape.