Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi is a vast urban park extending across Tsurumi Ward in Osaka City and neighboring Moriguchi City. Covering approximately 122 hectares, the park is one of Osaka’s four major green spaces, along with Hattori, Kyuhoji, and Oizumi parks.
The park was originally developed as part of Osaka’s air-defense greenbelt plan in 1941. It officially opened as Tsurumi Ryokuchi in 1972 and later became the main venue for the International Garden and Greenery Exposition, Osaka, Japan, 1990, commonly known as the Garden Expo.
Following the success of the exposition, many of its facilities and gardens were preserved, transforming the park into a popular destination where visitors can enjoy flowers, gardens, sports, recreation, and historical architecture throughout the year.
Tsurumi Ryokuchi began as part of Osaka City’s wartime air-defense greenbelt program. After World War II, the project was incorporated into broader efforts to create more green space in the city, and the park opened to the public in 1972.
In 1990, the International Garden and Greenery Exposition was held here under the theme of coexistence with nature. Approximately 23 million people visited the exposition, where gardens and plants from around the world were presented.
Several facilities from the exposition remain in the park today, including Sakuya Konohana Kan and the former Tower of Life, giving visitors a chance to experience part of the history of this internationally focused event.
Sakuya Konohana Kan is a large greenhouse built as a commemorative facility for the 1990 Garden Expo. It houses approximately 5,500 species and 15,000 individual plants from environments ranging from the tropics to polar regions.
Special exhibitions, lectures, and other events are also held regularly, making the facility an attractive destination for anyone interested in plants and botanical diversity.
The Tower of Life was one of the symbolic structures of the Garden Expo. It once served as an observation tower offering views over the park and Osaka City, but it is now closed to visitors.
Even though the tower can no longer be used as an observation facility, its distinctive exterior remains a reminder of the 1990 exposition and the history of the park.
Hanamizuki Hall, formerly known as the Water Pavilion Hall, is located within an innovative building designed by architect Arata Isozaki for the Garden Expo.
The hall features an approximately 11-meter-high ceiling that allows natural light to enter the space. It is equipped for a variety of events, including exhibitions and symposiums, and continues to serve as a cultural and community facility.
Flower Expo Memorial Hall, formerly used as the International Exhibition Hall during the Garden Expo, hosts international events, symposiums, and other activities.
The facility was donated to Osaka City by the late Konosuke Matsushita and remains one of the park’s notable facilities connected with the history of the exposition.
Murasaki-tei is a traditional Japanese tea house that welcomed many guests from Japan and overseas during the International Garden and Greenery Exposition.
Surrounded by a beautiful Japanese garden and greenery, the tea house provides an opportunity to experience traditional Japanese architecture and tea culture amid seasonal scenery. It can be used by visitors with advance reservations.
Windmill Hill is one of the park’s best-known landmarks. A large windmill continues to turn against a backdrop of flowers and greenery, creating a picturesque landscape.
The windmill was already present before the Garden Expo and has remained a beloved symbol of Tsurumi Ryokuchi. It is also a popular spot for photographs.
The International Gardens created by participating countries during the 1990 Garden Expo have been preserved within the park. Visitors can see a variety of garden styles from around the world while staying in Osaka.
The Japanese Garden offers a more tranquil atmosphere, with scenery that changes throughout the seasons. It is a pleasant place for a leisurely walk and a chance to appreciate traditional Japanese garden design.
However, some structures in the international gardens have deteriorated over time. Certain areas, including buildings in the Nepal Garden, are off-limits for safety reasons.
Hana Sajiki and Hana no Tani are colorful flower-filled areas where seasonal blooms add vibrant scenery to the park.
They are particularly popular in spring and autumn, when visitors can enjoy the flowers while taking a relaxing stroll through the spacious grounds.
At approximately 39 meters above sea level, Mount Tsurumi-Shinzan is regarded as the highest point in Osaka City.
The area was once a wetland and was later developed using land associated with a waste-disposal site. It was formerly known for its views, but growing trees now obstruct much of the scenery.
Nevertheless, the hill remains an interesting natural feature and can be enjoyed as a short hiking-style walk within the park.
Located in the northwestern part of the park, the Tsurumi Ryokuchi Equestrian Center offers horseback riding experiences for beginners and experienced riders.
Pony rides and beginner riding lessons are particularly popular with children. Citizens’ discounts are also available, making the facility an enjoyable way to interact with horses while surrounded by nature.
Park golf is a recreational sport that originated in Hokkaido and can be enjoyed by people of various ages.
The park golf course at Tsurumi Ryokuchi offers equipment rentals, allowing visitors to enjoy the activity without bringing their own gear. It is suitable for families and groups of friends.
The park also has a large sports ground for soccer, rugby, and American football. The stands can accommodate approximately 3,730 spectators, and the venue is equipped with lighting and broadcasting facilities for larger competitions and events.
Tsurumi Sports Center is an indoor sports facility open to the local community. Visitors can enjoy a variety of sports, including basketball, volleyball, and badminton.
The expansive lawn is a popular place for families to enjoy picnics, walks, and outdoor recreation. A barbecue area is also available, and visitors can arrange a barbecue with equipment and supplies provided by making a reservation in advance.
Tsurumi Ryokuchi Yumenoyu Suishun is a hot spring facility located within the park. After walking or enjoying sports, visitors can relax in spacious indoor baths and open-air baths.
The park also has areas where visitors can enjoy barbecues and camping. These facilities are especially popular on weekends and holidays, and advance reservations may be required.
Other recreational facilities include tennis courts, sports grounds, a heated swimming pool, and horseback riding facilities. Some areas of the park are also suitable for visitors accompanied by their pets.
Several cafés are available within the park, including Starbucks and Komeda Coffee. They provide convenient places to take a break while enjoying the surrounding greenery.
An electric shuttle bus operates within the park, primarily for elderly visitors and people with disabilities. Because Tsurumi Ryokuchi covers such a large area, the shuttle can make it easier to move between different facilities.
The service does not operate on Mondays and during the year-end and New Year holiday period, so visitors should check the latest operating information before relying on the shuttle.
The park is conveniently accessible by public transportation.
The nearest station is Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Station on the Osaka Metro Nagahori-Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Line, located immediately beside the park. Yokozutsumi Station on the same line is approximately a 10-minute walk away.
Keihan Bus and Osaka City Bus services can also be used to reach different parts of the park. A Keihan Bus stop named Tsurumi-Ryokuchi is located near Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Station, with Route 19 services running toward Keihan Moriguchi-shi Station. Because this service operates approximately once an hour, checking the timetable in advance is recommended.
Several Osaka City Bus stops are located around the northern and southern sides of the park, including Flower Expo Kinen Koen Kitaguchi, Midori 4-chome, and Moroguchi.
Shin-Mori-Furuichi Station on the Osaka Metro Imazatosuji Line is another option, located approximately 500 meters from the park’s northwestern entrance.
Osaka Metro Nagahori-Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Line: Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Station — immediately beside the park
Osaka Metro Nagahori-Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Line: Yokozutsumi Station — approximately 10 minutes on foot
Keihan Bus: Tsurumi-Ryokuchi stop — Route 19 toward Keihan Moriguchi-shi Station
Osaka City Bus: Flower Expo Kinen Koen Kitaguchi, Midori 4-chome, and Moroguchi stops
Osaka Metro Imazatosuji Line: Shin-Mori-Furuichi Station — approximately 500 meters from the park
Some facilities and areas within Tsurumi Ryokuchi have aged over the years, and certain locations are closed to visitors for safety reasons.
For example, the building in the Nepal Garden has deteriorated considerably and cannot currently be approached.
The summit of Mount Tsurumi-Shinzan was once known for its views, but the growth of surrounding trees now limits the panorama. Visitors who are particularly interested in viewpoints should check the latest conditions before their visit.
Flower Expo Memorial Park Tsurumi Ryokuchi combines expansive green spaces, seasonal flowers, international gardens, Japanese architecture, sports facilities, and recreational activities across its approximately 122-hectare grounds.
As the former main venue of the 1990 International Garden and Greenery Exposition, the park also preserves a unique part of Osaka’s modern history. Visitors can explore the gardens, admire flowers, enjoy sports and outdoor activities, or simply relax on the spacious lawns.
Its convenient location near Osaka Metro Tsurumi-Ryokuchi Station makes the park easy to visit from central Osaka. Whether you are interested in nature, Japanese gardens, architecture, sports, or the history of the Garden Expo, Tsurumi Ryokuchi offers a wide range of experiences in one of Osaka’s largest urban green spaces.