“Where did the army weather department go?” This is a question I often hear about Mabashi Park. Let’s uncover the story of this green space in Suginami. Mabashi Park wasn’t always a park. It has a past life.
Before 1985 this land belonged to the army. Specifically it housed the Meteorological Research Institute. The institute moved to Tsukuba City in 1980. After the army left the area transformed. It became the Mabashi Park we see today.
The name “Mabashi” almost vanished from the local vocabulary. In 1962 residential changes removed it from street names. But the name lives on. You can find it in the Mabashi Inari Shrine and Mabashi Elementary School. Mabashi Park keeps the name alive too.
Mabashi Park opened in 1985. It offers a green retreat for locals. The park is near Koenji and Asagaya. It provides a place to relax and enjoy nature.
The park boasts many features. There is a stream running through the park’s northwest. The upper stream offers a gentle water experience. Children love playing in the stream. The lower stream widens into a plaza. A pond sits beyond the stream. It is home to koi carp turtles and ducks.
Mabashi Park has more than just water features. There are playgrounds for children. You will also find open spaces for various activities. People play baseball and soccer here. A gateball court is available too.
In March 2024 Mabashi Park expanded. A lawn area was added. This space is called Aozora Hiroba or Blue Sky Plaza. Children from Mabashi Elementary School named it. The park also added disaster storage facilities and a management office.
Aozora Hiroba is a large grassy space. People can walk and relax on the lawn. It is perfect for picnics. A flower bed sits southwest of the plaza. Local residents tend to it. A small path winds through the greenery.
Mabashi Park also functions as a disaster prevention park. It has water discharge outlets and a disaster storage warehouse. Fire-resistant trees surround the park. This helps protect against fires.
The park’s east side connects to Mabashi Street. This street was planned for a Mabashi Station on the Chuo Line. The station was never built.
About a 15-minute walk from Mabashi Park is Koenji Hikawa Shrine. This shrine houses the only weather shrine in Japan. It was moved from the army’s weather department.
Mabashi Park is a place with layers of history. It has evolved from farmland to army grounds to a public park. It offers green space recreation and disaster preparedness. The park provides a valuable space for the community.