Umekoji Park and Playground (Kyoto) – The Locals` Favorite Family Park

Umekoji Park is a large park frequented by locals and tourists. It`s situated between the Kyoto Railway Museum and the Kyoto Aquarium and holds a beautiful Japanese Garden and 6m tall waterfall, lush greenery and beautiful walking paths, an open space for ball games and kite flying, man-made streams and ponds, a small cafe and train cafe, a large playground and a mini train to take you around the park. Umekoji park is gorgeous in autumn with beautifully illuminated red maples and pine trees, and scenic in spring with flowers abloom. In summer kids can splash around the man-made artificial stream and cool off under the cover of trees. For our three days in Kyoto with kids recommendations check here.

The Umekoji Park Playground is perfect for toddlers through elementary school age kids. It has two separate climbing equipment, one for toddlers the other for older children, equip with multiples slides, stairs and bridges. Kids can run around freely in the open space, parents can watch calmly seated on the benches surrounding the park or on the grass surrounding the flower beds. A great spot after a morning at either the Kyoto Railway Museum and the Kyoto Aquarium.

Umekoji Playground Park holds craft sessions on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 10:00 – 15:00 and mini play park sessions on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 14:30 – 16:00 and 2nd Friday of every month from 10:00 – 11:30. There is also a small “Chin Chin Train” that takes patrons for a ride around the park that runs on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays.

Umekoji Park Playground, Kyoto Details:

Japanese Garden Hours: 9:00-17:00 (last entry 16:30). 200 JPY entry for elementary school aged kids and up. Closed on Mondays, if monday is a public holiday then closed Tuesday.
Address: 56-3 Kankijicho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto (〒600-8835京都市下京区観喜寺町５６-３梅小路公園内)
Phone: 075-352-2500
Access: By Bus: From Kyoto Station Bus stop B3. Approximately 10 minutes on bus route 205 or 208. Get off at Umekoji-koen-mae bus stop and walk for approximately 3 minutes. Approximately 8 minutes on bus route 103, 104, 110, 86, 88. Get off at Nanajo Omiya/Kyoto Aquarium bus stop and walk for approximately 5 minutes.
Website: http://www.kyoto-ga.jp/umekouji/

***********