Hyogo Prefectural Maruyamagawa Park is a public sports and recreation complex in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture. Set amid the region’s beautiful natural surroundings, the park offers a wide range of opportunities to enjoy sports, outdoor activities, and cultural experiences. It is a popular destination for local residents, families, and visitors looking to combine active recreation with time in nature.
The park stands beside the Maruyama River, within the area of San’in Kaigan National Park. Its peaceful riverside setting provides an attractive backdrop for a diverse collection of sports and cultural facilities. Highlights include the only outdoor ice-skating rink in the northern Kinki region, a boating area, a 50-meter swimming pool, and an art museum.
With facilities for activities in every season, Maruyamagawa Park offers visitors a chance to enjoy the natural environment while participating in sports, learning new skills, or exploring local culture.
Maruyamagawa Park encourages visitors to connect with nature through outdoor recreation. At the boating area, visitors can enjoy activities using kayaks, Canadian canoes, and other types of boats. The boating facilities are generally available from late March through late November.
When winter arrives, the outdoor ice-skating rink opens, offering a distinctive seasonal attraction for families, couples, and skating enthusiasts. The park also has an inline-skating area, a 50-meter swimming pool, grassy open spaces, and a gateball court.
Additional nature-based experiences are available in the surrounding area. River kayaking can be enjoyed on the Maruyama River and Sasaura Bay, while sea-kayaking tours explore sea caves and coastal formations within San’in Kaigan National Park. These activities offer a different perspective on the region’s rivers, coastline, and dramatic scenery.
The park hosts a variety of sporting events and competitions throughout the year. These include the Maruyamagawa Park Cup, which features sports such as soccer, canoe polo, and ice hockey, as well as the Hyogo Junior Ice Hockey Tournament and the Tajima Youth Soccer Tournament.
Canoe polo is a particularly distinctive activity. Players paddle kayaks while passing a ball and attempting to score goals, combining boat-handling skills with teamwork and strategy. The sport adds an exciting water-based element to the park’s recreational program.
Maruyamagawa Park also serves as an educational destination, welcoming groups from elementary schools and children’s organizations for outdoor learning and sports experiences. Its programs help participants discover the natural environment while developing an interest in physical activity.
Popular initiatives include the Maruyamagawa Park Nature School and events celebrating the opening of the ice-skating rink. These programs attract school groups from across Hyogo Prefecture and provide opportunities for children to learn through hands-on experiences.
The park’s outdoor facilities are designed for a wide range of activities. The boating area accommodates kayaks, Canadian canoes, and other watercraft, while the winter ice-skating rink provides a seasonal attraction unique to the northern Kinki region.
Other facilities include an inline-skating court, a 50-meter swimming pool, a grassy recreation area, and a gateball court. Together, these amenities make the park suitable for visitors with different interests and activity levels.
Indoor facilities include an art museum, a multipurpose studio, and the Terrace restaurant. The museum regularly hosts exhibitions, giving visitors an opportunity to experience art and culture alongside outdoor recreation.
Changing rooms and warm-water shower facilities are also available, helping visitors freshen up after sports and water-based activities.
Several well-known attractions are located near Maruyamagawa Park, making it easy to combine a visit with other sightseeing activities. Highlights include Hiyoriyama Coast, Kinosaki Marine World, the famous Kinosaki Onsen hot spring district, and Kehi-no-Hama Beach.
Visitors can spend the day enjoying sports and outdoor activities at the park before exploring the coastline, visiting the aquarium, relaxing in a traditional hot spring, or taking a walk along the beach.
From Kinosaki Onsen Station on the JR San-in Main Line, take a Zentan Bus bound for Kehi and get off at Kinomaki Shrine Bus Stop. The park is approximately a 10-minute walk from there.
Alternatively, take a bus bound for Hiyoriyama and get off at Kojima Bus Stop, followed by a walk of approximately 20 minutes.
1163 Kojima, Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Hyogo Prefectural Maruyamagawa Park brings together outdoor sports, cultural facilities, and nature experiences in a scenic riverside setting. Whether you want to paddle a kayak, swim, skate in winter, explore an art exhibition, or simply spend time outdoors, the park offers activities throughout the year.
For travelers exploring the Tajima region, it is an appealing destination for an active day out, with the natural beauty of San’in Kaigan National Park and the attractions of Kinosaki Onsen close at hand.