Odayama Park is a green and historic park in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture. Centered around 44-meter-high Mount Odayama, the park is a popular place for local residents to relax and is also an attractive sightseeing destination.
The park is known for its beautiful views, seasonal scenery, historic buildings, and cultural monuments. It is particularly popular in spring, when approximately 400 cherry trees burst into bloom.
Odayama Park is also known as “Koi no Mori,” or “Forest of Love,” because of the romantic legend of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto and his wife, Ototachibana-hime. The park covers approximately 97,000 square meters, offering visitors opportunities to enjoy nature throughout the year.
At the summit of Mount Odayama stands the 28-meter-high Kimisarazu Tower. Designed in the shape of a sword, the tower is one of the park’s most recognizable landmarks.
From its observation deck, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Kisarazu City and Tokyo Bay. On clear days, the view extends across the bay toward Yokohama and the Shinjuku skyline, with Mount Fuji also visible in the distance.
The tower is illuminated at night, creating a romantic atmosphere and making it a popular spot for enjoying the nighttime scenery. Couples in particular enjoy visiting the tower after sunset.
The Kimisarazu Tower was inspired by the local Kimisarazu legend. According to the story, Yamato Takeru traveled to the region with his wife Ototachibana-hime.
When a storm threatened their journey across the sea, Ototachibana-hime sacrificed herself by throwing herself into the sea in order to calm the storm and save Yamato Takeru. Grieving for his wife, Yamato Takeru remained in the area and could not bring himself to leave.
The expression “Kimisarazu,” meaning roughly “you have not left,” is traditionally associated with this story and is said to have influenced the name Kisarazu.
Odayama Park contains several facilities and monuments connected with the history and culture of Kisarazu. These include the Kisarazu Local Museum Kane no Suzu, the Former Anzai Family Residence, Tachibana Shrine, a memorial tower, and several monuments bearing Japanese poetry.
These sites make the park more than just a scenic destination. Visitors can also use the park as a starting point for learning about the region’s history and traditional culture.
Located within the park, Kisarazu Local Museum Kane no Suzu is a local history museum that inherited the role of the former Chiba Prefectural Kazusa Museum.
The museum focuses on the theme of “Technology in Everyday Life” and introduces local history, traditional technologies, and tools associated with Kazusa-bori, a traditional well-drilling technique from the Kazusa region.
One of the museum’s highlights is its collection of important cultural properties excavated from the Kinreizuka Kofun, an ancient burial mound. These artifacts provide valuable insight into the history of the region during Japan’s ancient period.
The Former Anzai Family Residence is a traditional farmhouse dating from the middle of the Edo period. The building was relocated and restored within Odayama Park, where it preserves the architectural character of the Kazusa region.
Its distinctive thatched, hipped roof and traditional structure offer visitors a glimpse into rural life in premodern Japan. In 1981, the residence was designated as a Cultural Property of Kisarazu City.
The residence is believed to have been built in the early 18th century and is considered one of the largest surviving traditional farmhouses in the Kazusa region.
It was originally built in a style known as buntō-gata, in which the living quarters and earthen-floor area were housed in separate structures. During the 19th century, the building was remodeled into the hiraya-gata configuration, in which the spaces were brought together under one main roof.
The house has a traditional irimoya-style layout with a hipped thatched roof. It measures approximately 13 ken, or 23.4 meters, across the front and five ken, or about 9 meters, in depth.
The residence is divided into living spaces and an earthen-floor area. The living section includes rooms such as a four-tatami entrance area, an eight-tatami central room, a six-tatami formal room with an alcove, a large 24-tatami room, a Buddhist altar room, and an eight-tatami storage and sleeping room.
The earthen-floor section contains a kitchen and a room for household workers. The arrangement provides an interesting look at how a large farming household was organized and how different activities were accommodated within a traditional Japanese home.
The Anzai family is traditionally said to have descended from a family that served Minamoto no Yoritomo during the Kamakura period. During the Edo period, members of the family held important local positions, including village head and assistant village head.
The residence therefore provides valuable information not only about traditional architecture but also about the social structure and everyday life of the Kazusa region.
Tachibana Shrine is dedicated to Ototachibana-hime, the heroine of the Kimisarazu legend. Because of this connection, the shrine is traditionally associated with love and good relationships and attracts visitors seeking blessings for romance and marriage.
The shrine also plays a role in the annual Kinrei Festival. A purification ceremony is held at Tachibana Shrine as part of the festival’s opening events.
Odayama Park has walking paths and a field athletics course, allowing visitors to enjoy the natural surroundings while exploring the hillside.
Various monuments are scattered throughout the park, including the Memorial Tower for the War Dead and poetry monuments associated with local literary figures.
The Memorial Tower for the War Dead was erected in 1954 to commemorate those who died in war. It serves as a place of remembrance within the park.
Two notable poetry monuments can be found in the park. One was erected in 1957 in honor of Hosoi Gyotai, a poet and tanka writer from Kisarazu.
The other was established in 1990 in honor of Koyama Yoshio, who served as superintendent of education in Kisarazu and was later named an honorary citizen of the city.
Odayama Park is particularly beautiful in spring. Approximately 400 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino and weeping cherry varieties, cover the park in shades of pale pink.
The combination of cherry blossoms, greenery, and views over Kisarazu makes the park one of the city’s best-known hanami spots. Hanami is the Japanese tradition of enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms, often with family and friends.
The annual Kinrei Festival is held around the cherry blossom season and features stage performances and other local entertainment. The park becomes lively with residents and visitors during the event.
When the cherry trees are illuminated after dark, the scenery takes on a magical atmosphere. The combination of blossoms and nighttime lighting also makes Odayama Park a popular location for photography.
Odayama Park has a long connection with the history and legends of Kisarazu. The area’s association with the Kimisarazu legend is traditionally linked to the origin of the city’s name.
During World War II, Mount Odayama also had a military role. Anti-aircraft gun positions, tunnels, and underground shelters were constructed in the area.
After the war, local residents began developing new community traditions. The Kinrei Festival began in 1953, and in 1978, improvements to the site as an urban park were completed, establishing the basic form of the park seen today.
Odayama Park offers an appealing combination of nature, history, traditional architecture, local culture, and scenic views. Visitors can admire cherry blossoms in spring, enjoy panoramic views from Kimisarazu Tower, explore the Former Anzai Family Residence, and discover the history of Kisarazu at the local museum.
The park’s connection with the romantic Kimisarazu legend has also given it the affectionate nickname “Forest of Love.” This makes it an appealing destination for couples, families, history enthusiasts, and travelers looking for a relaxing place away from the busiest tourist areas.
Odayama Park is approximately 15 minutes on foot from the East Exit of Kisarazu Station on the JR Uchibō and Kururi lines.
Visitors can also take a Nitto Kotsu bus on the Ota Loop route. Get off at the Koi no Mori bus stop, followed by a walk of approximately five minutes.
For visitors arriving by car, a free parking lot with space for approximately 68 vehicles is available along Prefectural Route 23.
Odayama Park is one of Kisarazu’s representative sightseeing destinations, bringing together seasonal natural beauty and the history of the region in one location.
From the approximately 400 cherry trees that bloom in spring to the panoramic views from Kimisarazu Tower and the traditional architecture of the Former Anzai Family Residence, there is plenty to discover within the park.
A visit to Odayama Park is an opportunity not only to enjoy a beautiful green space but also to experience the legends, traditions, and cultural heritage that have shaped Kisarazu over the centuries.