Makuhari Seaside Park is a large prefectural urban park in Mihama Ward, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. Located in the modern waterfront district of Makuhari New City, the park provides a valuable green space surrounded by office buildings, residential areas, convention facilities, and the coast of Tokyo Bay.
The park serves as a place for relaxation and recreation for both local residents and visitors. Its extensive grounds include spacious lawns, seasonal flowers, a traditional Japanese garden, cultural facilities, sports venues, and a seaside area. Because of its location in one of Chiba’s major international business and entertainment districts, it also functions as a gathering place for large-scale events and international activities.
Makuhari Seaside Park is divided into two main areas. Blocks A to C extend between Makuhari New City and Makuhari Baytown, while Blocks D to G stretch along the waterfront of Tokyo Bay.
Blocks A to C are managed by Prefectural Makuhari Seaside Park Midori and Sea Partners and Seibu Landscape, while Blocks D to G are directly managed by Chiba Prefecture.
F Block is home to Chiba Marine Stadium, now known as ZOZO Marine Stadium, one of the area’s most recognizable sports venues.
The park has also appeared frequently in Japanese media. Weather News cameras often show views of the area, and weather presenters have occasionally referred to the location as “Komaki Park.”
The development of the area began in the late 20th century as Makuhari was transformed into a modern new urban district created largely through land reclamation.
In 1987, an area known as Aoba no Mori opened, laying the foundation for the development of Makuhari Seaside Park.
In 1990, Chiba Marine Stadium opened, and the traditional Japanese garden Mihama-en was also established. Mihama-en features traditional Japanese landscaping and includes Shoraitei, a tea house constructed using traditional Kitayama cedar.
The tea house provides visitors with an opportunity to experience the atmosphere of traditional Japanese architecture and tea culture within a modern waterfront city.
In 1995, the National Urban Greening Fair was held at the park, increasing its recognition as a major green space and event venue.
A large-scale development concept known as the “Sea Silk Road” was later scaled back in 1996. The park also suffered damage from soil liquefaction during the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011, but restoration work subsequently allowed the area to return to use.
Since 2012, the Makuhari Beach Fireworks Festa, also known as the Chiba City Citizens’ Fireworks Festival, has been held annually.
The spectacular fireworks illuminate the summer night sky over Tokyo Bay and attract large crowds. The event has become one of the area’s best-known summer attractions.
In 2015, Makuhari Seaside Park hosted the first Red Bull Air Race World Series Chiba event in Japan.
The international air-racing competition was held here every year through 2019, attracting aviation and motorsport enthusiasts from Japan and overseas. The events helped establish the Makuhari waterfront as a distinctive venue for large international sporting events.
A Block is located on the north side of the JR Keiyo Line and serves primarily as a landscaped promenade.
The area includes Deai no Hiroba, meaning “Meeting Plaza,” Sosaku no Hiroba, or “Creative Plaza,” and the Fureai no Promenade.
These spaces provide pleasant surroundings for walking, relaxing, and enjoying greenery while remaining close to Makuhari’s modern urban environment.
B Block is centered around a large lawn area and is one of the most open and spacious parts of the park.
One of its most recognizable features is the Floral Clock. The area also includes a distinctive Hat Pergola, while seasonal flowers add changing colors throughout the year.
In 2024, plans were announced to redevelop part of the area. A new building featuring cafes and retail facilities is scheduled to be introduced in 2027, adding further amenities to the park.
C Block is home to Mihama-en, a traditional Japanese garden, as well as the park’s Park Center.
Mihama-en is designed as a tranquil Japanese landscape within the modern Makuhari district. Visitors can enjoy ponds, greenery, seasonal scenery, and traditional architectural elements.
The garden’s Shoraitei Tea House uses traditional Kitayama cedar and provides an elegant setting for experiencing aspects of Japanese tea culture.
Admission to Mihama-en is 100 yen for adults and 50 yen for children. The garden is open throughout the year.
Blocks D to G extend along the Tokyo Bay waterfront and offer a very different atmosphere from the landscaped areas around the city center.
The area includes Makuhari Beach, an artificial beach, as well as sports and recreational facilities. Visitors can enjoy expansive views of the bay and the open coastal landscape.
However, swimming is prohibited at Makuhari Beach. The beach is intended primarily for enjoying the scenery, walking, events, and other recreational activities rather than swimming.
Blocks D and E include the Takamiya Memorial JFA Yume Field, a major football facility, as well as JFA Yume Field Makuhari Onsen Yurakuri-no-Sato, a hot spring bathing facility.
The area has also been used for special events connected with major exhibitions at Makuhari Messe. In the past, test-driving events were held here for visitors attending the Tokyo Motor Show.
F Block is home to ZOZO Marine Stadium, originally opened in 1990 as Chiba Marine Stadium.
The stadium later underwent changes to its naming rights. In 2011, it became known as QVC Marine Field, and in 2016 it was renamed ZOZO Marine Stadium.
The stadium is the home ballpark of the Chiba Lotte Marines, a professional baseball team in Japan’s Pacific League. For baseball fans, visiting the stadium adds a sporting dimension to a trip around Makuhari.
G Block occupies the westernmost section of the park, near the Hamadagawa River.
From this area, visitors can see Messe Ohashi Bridge to the west. A mountain bike course is also provided, making this part of the park suitable for visitors looking for a more active outdoor experience.
One of the greatest attractions of Makuhari Seaside Park is the contrast between its natural environment and the modern cityscape surrounding it.
Skyscrapers, convention centers, hotels, shopping facilities, and sports venues are located nearby, yet visitors can quickly find themselves surrounded by lawns, trees, flowers, gardens, and open waterfront scenery.
This combination makes the park suitable for many different types of visitors. Travelers can take a leisurely walk, relax on the lawn, explore a Japanese garden, enjoy seasonal flowers, attend a sporting event, or head toward the waterfront.
Spring brings fresh greenery and colorful flowers to the park. The spacious lawns and landscaped areas are particularly pleasant for walking and relaxing during the mild weather.
Summer is one of the liveliest times of year, especially around the waterfront. The Makuhari Beach Fireworks Festa creates a spectacular nighttime atmosphere, while the seaside areas offer expansive views across Tokyo Bay.
In autumn, the trees and gardens gradually take on seasonal colors. The quieter atmosphere of Mihama-en makes it an especially appealing place to appreciate the changing season.
During winter, the open waterfront provides wide views and a refreshing atmosphere. The park’s combination of urban scenery and coastal landscape can be enjoyed even outside the major event seasons.
The park is approximately a 5-minute walk from the South Exit of Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line.
Its convenient location makes it easy to combine with visits to nearby Makuhari Messe, shopping areas, hotels, and other attractions in Makuhari New City.
When traveling by car, the nearest expressway interchanges include Wangan Chiba Interchange and Wangan Narashino Interchange on the Higashi-Kanto Expressway, as well as Makuhari Interchange on the Keiyo Road.
Makuhari Seaside Park is a versatile destination where visitors can experience nature, Japanese culture, sports, entertainment, and waterfront scenery in one area.
The peaceful atmosphere of Mihama-en offers a glimpse into traditional Japanese garden design, while the large lawns provide an open space for relaxation. Along the coast, Makuhari Beach and the surrounding waterfront create a sense of spaciousness that contrasts with the densely developed urban district nearby.
The park has also hosted major events, including fireworks festivals and international air races, giving it an important role in Makuhari’s event culture.
For overseas visitors, Makuhari Seaside Park is an interesting way to experience a different side of the Tokyo Bay area. Rather than being a traditional sightseeing district, Makuhari combines a modern international business center with extensive public green spaces and a waterfront landscape.
From a quiet stroll through Mihama-en to a baseball game at ZOZO Marine Stadium or a sunset walk beside Makuhari Beach, the park offers many ways to enjoy Chiba’s modern waterfront.