Kanagawa Prefectural Mitsuike Park is a large, nature-rich park located in Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama. As its name suggests, the park features three ponds: Kami-no-ike, Naka-no-ike, and Shimo-no-ike. Each pond creates its own scenic atmosphere and is an important symbol of the park.
The ponds were originally developed in 1787, during the Edo period, as a source of agricultural irrigation water. They have a long history and continue to form the heart of the park’s landscape.
In 1941, Mitsuike Park was designated as an urban planning green space intended to serve as a large disaster-prevention green area. Park development began in 1950 as part of an employment-relief program. The site was designated a prefectural park in 1954 and became a Kanagawa Prefectural urban park in 1957.
Further improvements were carried out over the years, including a comprehensive renovation in 2005, which helped create the park’s present appearance.
Mitsuike Park is particularly popular in spring, when cherry blossoms attract many visitors. More than 1,000 cherry trees representing 35 varieties are planted throughout the grounds. Some 70 percent of them are Somei Yoshino cherry trees, which create a beautiful spring landscape.
The park has been selected as one of Japan’s “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots.” The different varieties bloom in succession, allowing visitors to enjoy the changing scenery throughout the season.
The park is also an excellent place for observing nature. It has been selected as one of Kanagawa Prefecture’s “50 Best Birdwatching Sites.” Visitors may spot small birds among the trees as well as waterfowl on the ponds.
Thanks to this variety of birdlife, Mitsuike Park is a popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.
The park offers a range of sports and recreational facilities, including a softball and baseball field, tennis courts, and a swimming pool. There are also open spaces for various activities, making the park suitable for visitors of different ages.
Families and sports enthusiasts can enjoy physical activities while spending time in a natural setting.
Mitsuike Park is home to several cultural features and historical remains. One notable example is a stone monument engraved with a waka poem by Okumura Masutsugu, also known as Fujiwara Masutsugu, a late-Edo-period retainer of the shogunate.
The monument was erected in 1843, during the Tenpo era, and is registered as a tangible folk cultural property of Yokohama City.
Another important site is Mitsuike Kofun, an ancient circular burial mound located on a hill within the park. It is a valuable archaeological site and is considered part of a group of burial mounds that once existed in the northern part of Tsurumi Ward.
The Korea Garden was created in 1990 to commemorate the friendship agreement between Kanagawa Prefecture and Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. Its design reflects the traditional residential architecture of the yangban, the aristocratic class of the Joseon Dynasty, and introduces visitors to the distinctive features of traditional Korean gardens.
The garden includes features such as a stone pond and an island arranged according to the principles of feng shui. It brings together important elements of Korean culture in a peaceful garden setting.
The garden incorporates the traditional concept of the “Three Powers,” representing earth, heaven, and humanity through stone arrangements. This design expresses a wish for future prosperity.
It also reflects the philosophy of yin and yang. For example, the square pond represents the earth, while the circular island represents heaven. The layout is based on traditional feng shui principles.
The Korea Garden is a valuable place for cultural exchange, allowing visitors to experience traditional Korean garden design in Japan.
Mitsuike Park has a variety of facilities for visitors. These include two parking areas: the North Gate Parking Lot, which accommodates six large vehicles, 91 regular vehicles, and two vehicles for visitors with disabilities; and the Main Gate Parking Lot, which accommodates 55 regular vehicles and two vehicles for visitors with disabilities.
The park’s management facilities include a Park Center, an exhibition area, a free-use space where visitors may eat and drink, and a shop. Sports facilities include a softball and baseball field, tennis courts, a swimming pool, a multipurpose sports field, and changing rooms.
Visitors can also explore the historical features of the park, including Fujiwara Masutsugu’s poem monument and Mitsuike Kofun.
Kanagawa Prefectural Mitsuike Park brings together history, nature, culture, and sports in one setting. With its seasonal scenery and extensive facilities, it is a much-loved green retreat in Yokohama.