Sanbu-no-Mori Park is a large recreational park located in Haniya, Sammu City, Chiba Prefecture. Designed around the theme of connecting with nature, the park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities and facilities, including an athletic area, camping facilities, barbecue areas, walking trails, ponds, and flower gardens.
With its spacious grounds and combination of nature, recreation, and community facilities, Sanbu-no-Mori Park is a popular place for families, friends, and visitors looking to enjoy a relaxing day outdoors.
Sanbu-no-Mori Park covers approximately 12 hectares and was developed as a comprehensive park where visitors can experience nature while enjoying a variety of recreational activities.
The Fureai Plaza is a large open lawn surrounded by trees, including cherry trees that create a beautiful display of blossoms in spring. At the Flower Valley, seasonal flowers provide colorful scenery throughout the year.
A small stream flows from the Ikoi Plaza toward Yasuragi Pond. During summer, the stream becomes a popular spot for children to enjoy playing in the water.
Several public facilities are also located around the park, making Sanbu-no-Mori a place that is closely connected with the daily lives of local residents.
The Green Tower was a 60-meter-high landmark tower inspired by the shape of Sanbu Cedar, the local cedar tree for which the region is known.
On clear days, the observation deck offered panoramic views extending to Mount Fuji, Mount Tsukuba, and Tokyo Skytree.
However, the tower was closed at the end of March 2021 because the external emergency spiral staircase had deteriorated. The structure is planned to be used in the future for municipal wireless communications and as a mobile-phone base station.
Fureai Plaza is a spacious grassy area that can be used for a variety of outdoor activities.
Families can enjoy activities such as playing catch or having a picnic, while various community events are also held here. The open lawn provides a pleasant place to relax and spend time outdoors.
Ikoi Plaza is an outdoor recreation area featuring an athletic course, barbecue facilities, and a roller slide.
The roller slide was removed in 2011 because of deterioration but was reinstalled in 2014. It has since become a popular attraction for children visiting the park.
Donguri-no-Mori is the park’s camping area. Several wooden decks are provided where visitors can set up tents and enjoy an overnight stay surrounded by trees.
Camping in the natural surroundings provides an opportunity for families and friends to spend quality time together away from the city.
Flower Valley is a landscaped flower garden where different flowers bloom throughout the seasons.
Spring brings cherry blossoms, while summer features flowers such as hydrangeas and sunflowers. The changing scenery makes the area a pleasant place for a leisurely walk and seasonal photography.
Yasuragi Pond is a quiet pond where water birds gather. A small stream flows into the pond, and several smaller ponds can also be found in the surrounding area.
The peaceful waterside environment is ideal for slowing down, observing nature, and enjoying a relaxing break during a walk through the park.
The park also has walking trails such as Komorebi-no-Michi and Warabi-no-Michi.
These paths pass through wooded areas and are suitable for enjoying a relaxing walk surrounded by greenery. The experience of walking beneath the trees makes them pleasant places for forest bathing, a Japanese-style practice of spending quiet time in nature for relaxation.
Sanbu-no-Mori Park is approximately 10 minutes by car from the Sanbu-Narutō Interchange on the Chiba-Togane Road.
Sanbu-no-Mori Park itself is generally available 24 hours a day throughout the year.
However, individual facilities such as the camping area and barbecue facilities have their own operating hours, closing days, and usage fees. Visitors planning to use these facilities should check the latest information in advance.
Several public and commercial facilities are located close to Sanbu-no-Mori Park, including:
These nearby facilities complement the park and make the area a convenient destination for recreation, community activities, shopping, and learning about the local environment.
Sanbu-no-Mori Park was developed as part of regional revitalization efforts associated with the Furusato Sōsei program, a national initiative launched during the Takeshita administration in 1988–1989.
A comprehensive development plan began in earnest in 1991. The project brought together a park, library, cultural hall, observation tower, and camping facilities as a multifunctional community complex.
The project was completed at a total construction cost of approximately ¥4.3 billion. Funding included national support through the Furusato Fund as well as a local government bond system, making the complex an important community asset.
Sanbu-no-Mori Park is a versatile destination for anyone who wants to relax in nature or enjoy outdoor activities with family and friends.
Visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers at Flower Valley, observe birds and waterside scenery around Yasuragi Pond, or explore the wooded walking trails. Families can also make use of the grassy Fureai Plaza, athletic facilities, camping area, and barbecue facilities.
Although the Green Tower is currently closed, its history as a symbol of the park remains part of the site’s story.
With its spacious grounds, forests, flowers, streams, ponds, and recreational facilities, Sanbu-no-Mori Park is a place where visitors can spend a full day enjoying the natural surroundings of Sammu City at a relaxed pace.