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3 Spots to Take Sweet Photos with Kids in Osaka’s Sakai City; Japan’s Oldest Park, a 150-year-old Wisteria Tree with Blossoms, and an Indoor Playground with Huge Playsets

大浜公園の藤(Wistaria of Ohama Park)

Interested in taking cute photos of your kids at photogenic spots during your trip? If so, the second largest city of Osaka, Sakai is your destination where you can find photogenic spots while your kids can play with playsets. Let’s take a look at the spots offering unusual or beautiful backdrops for photos of your kids the city has to offer: parks with long histories and an indoor playground with a 53-meter-tall jungle gym.

Japan’s oldest park, “Hamadera Park” where grown-ups can appreciate 6,000 roses in 500 kinds whereas kids enjoy riding the children’s steam train

“Hamadera Park” (浜寺公園) with beautiful pine forest founded in 1873 is said to be one of the oldest parks in Japan, where 500 roses in 6,000 kinds come to be in full bloom in spring and autumn. Countless roses in yellow, red, pink and white coloring the ground even make you forget that you are in Osaka. Besides, there are also retro look mushroom-shaped small houses and octopus-shaped slides for kids to have fun with and make visitors feel like being lost in the world of a picture book. When having done playing and taking photos, head to the Traffic Amusement Park by the ‘Children’s Steam Train’ (子供汽車) where you can have a short break onboard while kids can enjoy the comfortable breeze coming over the water nearby.

Opening Hours24/7
*Refer to its official site as opening hours and holidays may very depending on facility
AddressHamaderakoencho, Nishi-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
AccessIn front of Hamaderakōen Station (NK15) which is 5 stations away on Nankai Line (NK) Local or Semi-Express Services from Izumiōtsu Station (NK20)
URLhttps://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/hamadera-park/

Don’t miss the blooming blossoms of 150-year-old wisteria in late April at “Ohama Park”

大浜公園の藤(Wistaria of Ohama Park)
Photo by @masanobu01

As an urban park with attractions, “Ohama Park” (大浜公園) opened in 1879 and is the oldest among municipal parks in Sakai City. Though the building of the aquarium that had been known as the best in Asia is no longer there today, historically precious architectural remains such as the brick arched gates, turrets, and radio tower that’d been built to popularize radio broadcasting are scattered in the park. The highlight of the park is the wisteria trellis located in the east part, and one of which accommodates the wisteria planted when the park had been established over 150 years ago. If you have a chance to visit the park in late April when the wisterias come to be in full bloom in the usual year, take photos of your kid together with the blooming blossoms that are rich inability to survive. As there are playsets close to it, you can take in the exquisite beauty of the blossoms while having your kid play near you.

Opening Hours24/7
*Refer to its official site as opening hours and holidays may very depending on facility
Address4-3-50 Ohamakitamachi, Sakai-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
AccessA 10-minute walk from Sakai Station (NK11) which is 2 stations away on Nankai Line (NK) Sub-Express or Express services from Izumiōtsu Station (NK20)
URLhttps://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/ohama-park/

Get excited at the 53-meter-tall jungle-gym and crocodile-shapes adventure course at a spaceship-like indoor playground, “Children’s Museum Big Bang”

Stepping into the spaceship-like building of “Children’s Museum Big Bang” (ビッグバン), which is just in from of Izumigaoka Station, designed by Reiji Matsumoto, known as the author of Galaxy Express 999 and in Space Battleship Yamato, and you will feel like lost in the world of anime by witnessing surprising devices and tricks. For instance, the 53-meter-tall jungle gym occupying the 4th floor to the 8th of the building, and the huge model of an ancient crocodile said to have inhabited close Osaka. Inside the model, there are slides, a suspension bridge and even a trampoline. Get excited by playing with them and don’t forget to take insta-worthy photos as well.

Opening Hours10:00AM – 5:00PM (entrance closes at 4:30PM) / Closed on Mondays and New Year’s Holidays
*Open in case of Monday on a national holiday and closed on the immediate following weekday
*Refer to its official site for details as opening days may very depending on season
AdmissionAdult: 1,000 yen / Junior Highschool and Elementary School Student: 800 yen / Preschooler: 600 yen / Infant (under the age of 3): Free
Address1-9-1 Chayamadai, Minami-ku, Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
AccessA 6-minute walk from Izumigaoka Station (SB03) which is 3 stations away on Izumi-Chuo bound Sub-Express services from Tengachaya Station (NK05). Tengachaya Station (NK05) is 3 stations away on Nankai Line (NK) Sub-Express or Express services from Izumiōtsu Station (NK20).
URLhttps://osaka-info.jp/en/spot/big-bang-childrens-museum/

Base of this trip