Saigōyama Park

Nice place perhaps to grab a quick bite on one of the seats but not much to do or see (view is limited). For those with kids in tow, there are two see-saw like things but plenty of space to run around. Rubbish bins around the park, and a public toilet near the entrance.

SAIGOYAMA Park. Just a hill with trees and grass and beautiful sunrise and sunset. Opposite the entrance to the park is Daikanyama Street, and below the hill is the MEGURO riverside. Why do people just go to a common hill? Silence, cleanliness, the homes of people who live modestly. Each will feel pleasure or boredom comparing to where they live. What is travel? Isn't it about dreaming of changing one's location through reality checks?

A small park with a commanding view taken after the name of a famous samurai and renowned statesman in the early Meiji era, Marshal Admiral Saigo Judo (Tsugumichi). Judo bought a vast land including the park about 150 years ago for building a residence of his elder brother, Saigo Takamori. Takamori is also well known as one of the biggest figures in the Meiji Restoration as well as the “Last Samurai” later died in the largest rebellion against his own new government. So, Takamori never made to this place and his younger brother eventually built his secondary mansion and guest house with various types of gardens and ponds that even had the Imperial visits. Now, the glory is told only by the park’s name, remained garden rocks from Saigo’s homeland Kagoshima, the commemorative resource centre nearby and Saigo Judo’s Meiji-era style mansion building moved and rebuilt in Museum Meiji-Mura in Aichi. You can see Mt. Fuji, especially beautifully with the snow on top, on a clear winter day beyond Tokyo buildings. The adjacent café restaurant is cool, too.

The terrain is shaped like a small hill. A single blossoming sakura tree stands in the otherwise barren park. There were two small patches of flowers near the benches. Good to take a few pictures. A nice natural touch to the increasingly commercial area. But not much else.

Beautiful small park, must visit after you went to Starbucks reserve nearby.