Shimizu Park, Botanical garden and park in Noda, Japan
Shimizu Park is a botanical garden and green space in Noda, Japan, featuring ponds, trails, and themed plant sections that showcase native species and international collections. The grounds stretch across gentle hills with wooden bridges, shelters, and open meadows inviting visitors to pause.
The park opened in 1894 during the Meiji period as one of the first public sites dedicated to botanical education in the region. Over the following decades, planners expanded the grounds and added more tree varieties to enrich the collection.
The name Shimizu means "clear water" and refers to the ponds that have served local rituals and recreation for centuries. Today families sit beneath trees sharing bento boxes while children play on the open lawns.
Paths are wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs and pass through shaded and sunny sections. In spring the grounds can get crowded, so an early morning visit or a weekday trip works better.
The grounds belong to Japan's Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots because the trees form dense pink canopies each April. Some of the oldest trees have stood here for over a century and draw thousands of visitors every year.
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