Mitsuike Park 三ツ池公園

With three ponds, gorgeous colors in all seasons, and ample sport and leisure facilities, Mitsuike Park is an excellent spot for picnicking, strolling or letting off some steam.

Take the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen to Shin-Yokohama Station, then take the No. 6 or No. 104 city bus bound for Tsurumi-eki Nishi-guchi, and get off at Mitsuike-koen-kitamon. The park is about 300 meters south.

Mitsuike Park is a wonderful place to view the cherry blossoms, with around 1,600 trees from 78 different species. The first one to bloom each year is the kanzakura in or around mid-February. This diversity makes timing your visit to coincide with the blossoms an easier task.

The colorful leaves in autumn reflected in the ponds also make for spectacular photos.

The park contains a Korean garden with a reproduction of a mountain villa like those frequented by Korean aristocrats before the 20th century.

There are two main walking trails around the park. One hugs the edges of the ponds and provides a view of the ducks on the water. The other path meanders through the surrounding woods.

Small children will have fun going down the slides and climbing the obstacle course. A fountain helps them cool off in the hot summer. The trio of pools is another way to beat the heat.