【Tokyo Park Tour】Boat experience for couples! Enjoyed an adult date at "Shakujii Park" in Nerima

Last weekend, my spouse and I visited Shakujii Park in Nerima, Tokyo. We usually go there to enjoy a walk, but this time we challenged ourselves with a boat experience. Spending time on the water felt refreshing and allowed us to enjoy a sense of adventure.

An oasis for citizens, boasting an area of approximately 226,000 square meters.

This time I visited "Shakujii Park" located in Nerima Ward. It boasts an area of about 226,000 square meters, and on weekends, it becomes bustling with people enjoying nature, including families with children and couples. The park features two ponds, Sanboji Pond and Shakujii Pond, as well as facilities like a boating area and a waterside observation garden. It is conveniently located just a 7-minute walk from Shakujii Park Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. This time I accessed it by train, but there is also a paid parking lot available, making it easy to stop by if you're driving.

Shakujii Park
Address: 1-2 Shakujidai, Nerima Ward, Shakujii Town 5
Hours: Open year-round
Admission: Free (some paid facilities available)

Boarding the rowboat.

The purpose of this outing is to experience boating. On weekends, my husband and I often enjoy visiting parks, but this time we decided to be a bit more active and go for a walk on the water. The boat dock is located along the road, making it easy to stop by, which is nice.

Business hours: 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:00 PM) *In December: 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM (Last admission at 3:30 PM)
Regular holiday: Every Thursday (If Thursday is a holiday, the following day will be closed), Year-end and New Year
*From December to February, open only on weekends and holidays.
*Hours of operation may change depending on the season and circumstances.

The ticket system was through a vending machine, and it felt somewhat nostalgic. There seem to be cycle boats (700 yen every 30 minutes), swan boats (800 yen every 30 minutes), and rowboats (500 yen every 30 minutes). All of them seem fun, but since it’s a special occasion, I decided on the rowboat, which seems to test my abilities!

Let's proceed with the ticket in hand. The boarding point for the rowboat I chose seems to be at the end of this pier.

When I handed my ticket to the staff, they brought the boat for me.

I immediately boarded the rowboat. There was no explanation on how to row the boat, which actually added to the fun. Conversations like “How do we row this again?” were quite lively. I used to ride them frequently during trips when I was a child, but it's been over ten years now.

While I left the steering of the boat to my husband and enjoyed the surrounding scenery... we nearly collided with the shore! No wonder. The person rowing the boat is seated with their back turned to the direction of travel, so they can't see what's ahead. Without even thinking about that, I was enjoying a solo stroll on the water. This too seems like it will become a memorable moment.

Amidst all that, after about five minutes of rowing, it seemed like I had grasped the trick, and I felt a sense of relief. Since Shakujii Pond is large, it seems difficult to explore everything in just 30 minutes, but the view from the water is extraordinary. I can enjoy the adventure feeling while feeling the pleasant breeze.

Around Shakujii Pond, beautiful nature spreads out, and I discovered some wild birds that are not often seen. I had presumed that while on the boat, we would relax without much conversation, but surprisingly, the conversation did not stop. Since both of us have been busy lately, sitting and talking like this felt somehow nostalgic.

After fully enjoying the 30 minutes, we disembarked. It was a moment that passed by more quickly than I had imagined. While the usual park strolls are fun, it’s nice to occasionally challenge ourselves with activities. We boarded the boat smoothly without any waiting time, but a line had formed afterwards. It seems we had good timing.

Right next to the boat dock, there was a kiosk, which was very crowded, possibly because it was a holiday. It seems Tokyo yakimochi is famous, as I saw many people eating it. With tables and chairs set up, it looks like we could relax comfortably after the boat experience.

●Tokyo Metropolitan Park Association

Search Walking goods on Amazon