Where art, science and greenery intertwine — a cultural gravity point in central Nagoya. A 'green lung' reborn after the war, crowned to the north by the world's largest planetarium dome and embraced to the south by a temple of art. Cherry blossoms in spring, golden ginkgo in autumn, open 24 hours — a hidden natural sanctuary beside the bustling Sakae district.
Shirakawa Park (白川公園) — a free, 24-hour park in Sakae, Nagoya
🕒 Open 24 hours
Check the sky over Sakae, Nagoya before you set out for the park.
Current conditions
23°C
Overcast
7-day forecast
☂️ Umbrella check
Rain is likely. A full-size umbrella will serve you better than a folding one.
🧥 What to wear
Pleasantly warm. A light layer helps in the morning and evening.
🧴 UV protection
Moderate sunshine. Protection is sensible for long stays outdoors.
Updated: 02:35 PM · Weather data refreshes automatically at regular intervals.
Welcome to Shirakawa Park (白川公園), widely recognized as the central park of Nagoya. Located in the heart of Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, this destination serves as a primary hub for travelers visiting the region — home to the Nagoya City Science Museum and the Nagoya City Art Museum.
Shirakawa Park sits in Naka Ward at the heart of the Sakae district, a 5–10 minute walk from Fushimi Station or Sakae Station on the Nagoya subway. The park is open 24 hours a day, free of charge, with flat and step-free paved paths.
Name
Shirakawa Park
白川公園 · Shirakawa Park
For official updates and regional tourism information, visit Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau ↗ · City of Nagoya (official site) ↗
When visiting Shirakawa Park, visitors can easily explore the surrounding historical landmarks and points of interest, including the Nagoya City Science Museum and the Nagoya City Art Museum, both of which sit within the park's grounds.
Shirakawa Park is one of central Nagoya's most beloved green spaces, lying in the Sakae district of Naka Ward between the Nagoya City Science Museum and the Nagoya City Art Museum. Opened in 1931, it is a classic urban park of lawns, tree-lined paths and seasonal flower beds. Every spring roughly 120 cherry trees turn the grounds pink, while in autumn the ginkgo and maple leaves colour the avenues. With no admission fee and 24-hour access, it is a calm retreat for locals, families and visitors exploring the museums that flank it.
Shirakawa Park is a metropolitan park managed under the City of Nagoya's parks system, located in Naka Ward at the heart of the Sakae district. Together with the Nagoya City Science Museum and the Nagoya City Art Museum, which sit within its grounds, it forms a major cultural and green space for the city. Maintained as a public, free-access park, it serves residents and visitors alike as a place for relaxation, seasonal flower viewing and community events.
Shirakawa Park opened in 1931 (Showa 6), during a period when Nagoya was modernising its urban centre. It was laid out as a Western-style public park of open lawns and tree-lined promenades, reflecting the city's ambition to create green, recreational spaces for its citizens. The park takes its name from the Shirakawa (White River), a small stream that once flowed through this part of Nagoya before being culverted underground as the city expanded.
The site was chosen in the Sakae district because it sat between the city's growing cultural institutions and its commercial heart. Over time the park became the green front garden of two landmark museums: the Nagoya City Science Museum to the north and the Nagoya City Art Museum to the south. Its central, flat location made it an ideal gathering place and a calm counterpoint to the busy Sakae shopping district nearby.
Today the park is best known for its roughly 120 cherry trees, which draw crowds for hanami (blossom viewing) each spring. Beyond cherry season, the lawns, ginkgo avenues and water features make it a year-round retreat. The open, level grounds also host community events and markets, keeping the park woven into the daily life of Nagoya.
Shirakawa Park remains one of central Nagoya's most accessible green spaces, free and open around the clock. Together with the museums on its grounds it forms a compact cultural quarter — a place where science, art and nature meet just steps from the Sakae skyline.
Shirakawa Park suffered heavy air-raid damage during World War II. In the post-war years it was designated one of the two core green spaces of Nagoya's war-damage reconstruction plan (the other being Hisaya-odori Park). More than a place to relax, it became a green symbol of the city's rebirth from the ruins — entrusted with regulating the urban microclimate and healing citizens' spirits.
The park takes its name from the Shirakawa (White River) that once flowed here. To make room for the modern city, the stream was converted into a complex underground culvert. As you stroll the lawns, the clear water of old still flows quietly beneath your feet — a wonderful urban-geography teaching point.
Floating on the park's north side is the giant sphere of the Nagoya City Science Museum — the 'Brother Earth' planetarium. With a 35-metre inner diameter, it is certified by Guinness World Records as the 'world's largest planetarium', its shell of titanium panels radiating a futuristic, sci-fi feel.
The giant metal sphere suspended between the museum buildings is Guinness-certified as the 'world's largest planetarium' (35 m inner diameter). Without leaving the park, you can frame a photo with a world-class scientific landmark.
From a burnt-out district to the "Forest of Art and Science" — how this park grew in the heart of Nagoya.
Shirakawa Park is an urban park of roughly 8.9 hectares in Sakae 2-chome, Naka Ward, Nagoya. It holds two cultural institutions on its grounds — the Nagoya City Science Museum and the Nagoya City Art Museum — and in 2013 was given the nickname "Forest of Art and Science".
Its story is essentially a chapter of modern Nagoya. In 1942, as part of the celebrations for the 2,600th anniversary of the legendary founding of Japan, a park was planned for this district and, as the war deepened, designated an "air-defence park". On 12 March 1945 the Nagoya air raid reduced the Shirakawa district to ashes.
After the war the land was requisitioned and became "Castle Heights", a housing area for occupation forces' families. Returned in 1958, it was redeveloped by the city as a park and opened in 1967 to a design by the landscape architect Kimio Kondo.
1942
Park plan begins
Planned as part of the 2,600th anniversary project and designated an air-defence park in wartime.
1945
The Nagoya air raid
The raid of 12 March leaves the Shirakawa district burnt out.
1945–1958
Castle Heights
The land is requisitioned and becomes housing for occupation forces' families.
1958
Return and redevelopment
The site is returned and work begins to create an urban park.
1962
Science museum opens
The municipal Nagoya Science Museum, with astronomy and science buildings, opens.
1967
Shirakawa Park opens
The park opens as an urban park to a design by the landscape architect Kimio Kondo.
1988
Art museum opens
The Nagoya City Art Museum, designed by architect Kisho Kurokawa, opens on the south side.
1989
Life Science building added
The museum is renamed Nagoya City Science Museum and its life science building opens.
1991
Fountain unveiled
The fountain "Niji no Mai Shirakawa" is donated to mark a local broadcaster's 40th anniversary.
1995–2001
Sculpture Promenade
The Shirakawa Park Sculpture Promenade is developed, placing artworks throughout the grounds.
2011
World's largest planetarium
The science museum's new planetarium, 35 m in diameter, opens and is certified by Guinness World Records.
2013
A new nickname
The park is officially nicknamed the "Forest of Art and Science".
Where the name "Shirakawa" comes from
The park takes its name from Shirakawa-cho, the old district name. A waterway is said to have once run through the area, and its name survives in the place name — the park thus keeps alive the memory of a stream that has vanished.
Recovery that began in ashes
Immediately after the war, Shirakawa-cho was a burnt plain. That this land ended up preserved as a single large park site is the foundation of the greenery you see today.
From military housing to a civic square
During the occupation it was "Castle Heights", housing for American forces' families. Its conversion into lawns and tree-lined paths after the land was returned is a story emblematic of Nagoya's post-war recovery.
An open-air gallery
The Sculpture Promenade, developed from 1995, scattered sculptures across the grounds. The park became an "open exhibition room" where art appears mid-walk, not only inside the museum.
A green corridor born of city planning
Post-war reconstruction plans included 100-metre-wide boulevards, creating Wakamiya-odori and Hisaya-odori. Shirakawa Park sits beside this green axis and acts as a buffer within the built-up city.
A fountain the city took to heart
The fountain named "Niji no Mai Shirakawa" was donated by a local broadcaster for its 40th anniversary. Its sound and coolness make it a resting point on summer walks.
📌 A few things worth knowing
Restrooms, parking, dining, lodging, shopping and charging — the practical details worth knowing before you visit.
Public restrooms are located at several points in the park.
The park has no dedicated visitor car park; nearby hourly lots are the usual choice.
In-park dining is limited, but a wide range of options lies within walking distance.
The Sakae and Fushimi area is a lodging hub for sightseeing.
Convenience stores, pharmacies and large commercial complexes are within walking distance.
If you drive, check nearby petrol stations and charging points in advance.
The paths are largely flat and comfortable with a stroller.
Connectivity, cash machines and lockers are available nearby.
ℹ️ About our neutrality
This is a non-profit educational guide. We do not recommend individual businesses; we only describe the types of facilities and how they are distributed. Prices, opening hours and availability change, so please check on-site signage when you visit.
Shirakawa Park is more than greenery — it is a cultural and intellectual hub of Nagoya. Two internationally renowned museums sit on its flanks, blending with the natural setting.
Comprehensive modern science centre & interactive education
The giant sphere suspended between its buildings — the 'Brother Earth' planetarium — has a 35 m inner diameter and is Guinness-certified as the 'world's largest planetarium'; its titanium-panel shell radiates a futuristic, sci-fi feel.
Modern-art showcase & architectural landmark
The building was designed by Kisho Kurokawa, a grand master of Japanese contemporary architecture and a leading figure of the Metabolist movement, blending Western geometric aesthetics with traditional Edo imagery.
Walking the lawns and tree-lined paths, you'll find giant machines and sculptures — national treasures of Japan's industry, space, polar and marine exploration.
📍 Outdoor plaza north of the Science Museum
A 1:1 replica of Japan's H-II large launch vehicle (nearly 50 m tall). The H-II, developed in the 1990s, was Japan's core liquid-fuel rocket and marked its full mastery of independent launch capability.
📍 Outdoor science display area
This orange tracked vehicle is the actual 'SM50S' Antarctic overwintering vehicle used by the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition (JARE) on the polar plateau in extreme cold, low pressure and blizzards.
📍 Tree-lined path on the park's east side
The park preserves and displays classic trains marking Nagoya's industrial beginnings: a B6 steam locomotive and a retired Nagoya City Tram Type 1400.
📍 Around the central fountain & water features
A sculpture group distilled or adapted from retired core components (metal propellers, anchor chains, deep-sea robot arms) of large deep-sea vessels and research ships such as the 'Chikyu' and 'Shinkai 6500'.
We'll breeze through long-distance travel and focus on the 'last mile': the park is an easy walk from the nearest subway stations.
Nagoya is reached by the Tokaido Shinkansen, by air via Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO), or by highway bus. Once in the city, Shirakawa Park lies in Naka Ward near Sakae; the nearest subway stations are Fushimi and Sakae, each only a 5–10 minute walk away.
Subway (recommended)
The most convenient way to the park.
Subway (via Sakae)
A good choice if you want to shop too.
Car / Taxi
Handy with luggage or in bad weather.
There is no visitor car park inside the park; use the time-based car parks nearby.
📍 Nearest station: about a 5-minute walk from Exit 5 of Fushimi Station (Higashiyama & Tsurumai subway lines).
Visitor Quotes
“Beyond the bustle of Sakae, this is a patch of green where time slows down.”
“Kids chase the rocket while adults gaze at the planetarium — science has never felt so close.”
“Cherry blossoms, a titanium sphere and Kisho Kurokawa's geometry — all in one park.”
Practical Planning
As a public park open 24 hours, Shirakawa Park can be visited at any time; early morning and weekday afternoons are the quietest.
Explore Shirakawa Park through its lawns, cherry blossoms, museums and seasonal scenery.
Visitor feedback is available on Google Maps (external link).
A calm green escape right in Sakae. Perfect for a walk between the Science Museum and the Art Museum, especially during cherry blossom season. Free and open all hours.
We visited in the evening after the museums closed. Quiet, safe and beautifully lit — a lovely spot to unwind in the city centre.
A handy, flat park to rest between sights. Not huge, but the museums on either side make it worth the stop. Bring a hat in summer as shade is limited.
Great location next to Fushimi and Sakae. Easy to reach by subway and pleasant for a morning stroll before the crowds arrive.
2 Chome-17 Sakae, Naka Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 460-0008, Japan
Shirakawa Park is no ordinary green space — it is Nagoya's ultimate laboratory for 'urban revival' and 'public education'.
Museums often feel exclusive, yet Shirakawa Park places national engineering relics like the H-II rocket and Antarctic vehicle right out on the lawns. Children touch rocket shells as they run; citizens gaze at the world's largest planetarium on a stroll — knowledge leaves the textbook and enters daily life.
From a Meiji steam locomotive to a late-20th-century launch vehicle, from the vanished Shirakawa culvert to Kurokawa's Metabolism architecture, every exhibit is a coordinate of an era — showcasing Nagoya's modern story as Japan's 'manufacturing capital' (Monozukuri).
The Science Museum to the north stands for reason, exploration and the future; the Art Museum to the south for feeling, reflection and humanity. Shirakawa Park is the ecological buffer between them, seeding a cross-disciplinary idea — that science ends in art, and art begins in science.
Every visitor can find the way in that suits them best.
共鸣点：Immersive outdoor 'big toys' they can see and even touch, sparking curiosity about space and nature.
建议：Start on the lawn with the H-II rocket and Antarctic vehicle, then go inside the Science Museum for the 'Tornado' and 'Deep Freeze' labs.
共鸣点：Genuine hardcore machinery — a time-spanning dialogue between cutting-edge spacecraft and old steam locomotives.
建议：Focus on the H-II's LE-7 engine nozzle and the B6 locomotive's linkage aesthetics; allow plenty of time for close-up photos.
共鸣点：The geometric tension of Kurokawa's Metabolism architecture, the sci-fi floating sphere, and modernist sculptures scattered on the lawn.
建议：From 3 p.m. to dusk is best: sunlight through the trees hits the sunken courtyard and titanium sphere with striking lines.
共鸣点：Exploring the vanished Shirakawa culvert and Nagoya's post-war reconstruction planning.
建议：Avoid weekends; on a weekday morning walk the central axis south to north to read the spatial shift from classic Western garden to modern cultural quarter.
Practical information on facilities, the park's history and planning your visit to Shirakawa Park.
Shirakawa Park itself has no dedicated parking lot. Several paid municipal and private parking lots are within a 3–5 minute walk, mainly around the Sakae and Fushimi districts. Rates are typically charged by the hour; early arrival on weekends and during cherry season is recommended as they fill quickly.
From Nagoya Station take the Higashiyama subway line about 3 minutes (one stop) to Fushimi Station, then walk about 5 minutes from Exit 5. You can also arrive via the Sakuradori line (Fushimi Station) or the Meijo line (Sakae Station). A taxi takes roughly 10 minutes.
Yes. The park is completely flat with paved, step-free paths, making it easy to navigate with wheelchairs, strollers and mobility aids. The adjacent museum entrances are also accessible.
Public restrooms are available within the park. For food and drinks, the surrounding Sakae district is full of cafés, restaurants and convenience stores a few minutes' walk away; the museums also have cafés.
Shirakawa Park opened in 1931 as a Western-style public park, named after the Shirakawa river that once flowed nearby. It is special because it cradles two major museums — the Nagoya City Science Museum and the Nagoya City Art Museum — and is famous for about 120 cherry trees that turn the grounds pink each spring.
The park is named after the Shirakawa (White River), a small stream that originally ran through this area of Nagoya. As the city modernised, the river was culverted underground, but its name lives on in the park that became the neighbourhood's green heart.
You may see it written as 白河公園, but the official name is 白川公園 (Shirakawa Park). 川 and 河 share the same reading, so they are easily confused — both refer to the same park in Sakae, Nagoya.
No. Shirakawa Park is a public park with free, 24-hour access — no ticket office or gate. (The museums on the grounds charge separate admission.)
A relaxed visit lasts about 30 minutes to an hour: a stroll around the lawns, photos of the cherry blossoms or autumn leaves, and perhaps a rest on a bench. Allow extra time if you also enter the Science Museum or Art Museum.
Yes — the park is open 24 hours and is outdoor, so it can be visited in any weather. In summer the sun is strong and shade is limited, so bring water and sun protection; after rain the paths may be damp but remain walkable.
Right beside the park are the Nagoya City Science Museum (north) and the Nagoya City Art Museum (south). A short walk reaches Sakae's shopping and nightlife, Nagoya TV Tower and Hisaya-odori Park, while Nagoya Castle and the Osu shopping arcade are a little further by subway.
This independent guide is compiled from the following official and authoritative sources. Always check the official pages for the latest opening hours and event information.
Official site
Exhibitions, planetarium schedule and admission for the museum on the north side of the park.
Official site
Collection highlights, temporary exhibitions and access information.
Official municipal website
Parks administration, city services and public notices.
Official tourism organisation
Official Nagoya travel and sightseeing information.
Official tourism portal
Official travel guide for Aichi Prefecture.
Official national tourism organisation
Official travel information for Japan.
Google Maps
Location, photos, opening status and visitor reviews used to verify the place data.
Image rights: all photographs displayed on this website remain the property and copyright of their original photographers.