Hello, travelers!
It’s Maru, your Saru-Kuma writer 🙂🙃

Today I’m excited to introduce a hidden gem in Asashi-Fumoto, Kikuchi City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
“Shiki no Sato Asashi Lawn Park”

A perfect autumn day 🍂🍁
My real goal? That mountain you can see beyond the lawn!

A friend suddenly invited me — “the mountain spirit has descended!” — and before I had time to even think about it, we were off to climb Mt. Kuradake 😆

And then, lo and behold — what a gorgeous lawn park spread out before us!!

I knew right then I had to write about it 😁 So let’s dive in!

The park sits at the end of a winding mountain road off the Kikuchi Green Road.
Look out for the directional signs along the way — they’ll guide you up.

Plenty of parking — there are even first and second parking lots.

There’s playground equipment too — including a small slide for little ones.

A triple-lane slide that fits three kids at once 😍 Looks like a blast!

There’s also a drinking fountain right nearby.

A bouldering climbing structure too,

And even a rope-walking course!

And there’s a vending machine right next to it, so if you get thirsty you can grab a drink in seconds 😉

There’s a restroom right next to the play area, but it’s small and only has Japanese-style squat toilets.
My tip: head up to the main facility above the lawn — the restrooms there are much more comfortable!

Top Highlights

The first thing I’d recommend is…

This sprawling lawn — beautifully maintained and spotlessly clean 😆

The slope looks perfect for grass sledding, too.

There’s a stage as well, which seems to host events from time to time.

And because it sits high up on a mountain, the views are stunning. On the opposite side of the mountain, you can catch a glimpse of the town below.

Just being here is guaranteed to lift your spirits 🤩🤩

The second highlight:

Just above the lawn area, there’s a large facility called Shiki no Sato Asashi.

(Heads up — it’s sometimes closed on Thursdays, so be sure to check before you go. I went on a Thursday and missed out 💦)

The photo above is the entrance signboard.

This place has it all — a public bath, restaurant, rest area, restrooms, and even a baby room 👏👏

The garden bed in front of the facility.
(Off topic, but — there’s a crane sitting on top of a turtle 😁) I just had to snap a photo ✨

And up beyond this facility, you’ll find camping bungalows — making this the perfect basecamp for outdoor adventures.

There’s even a swimming pool open in summer!
Definitely worth knowing about! (o^o^)o

Sorry the illustration is a bit hard to make out 💦
The third highlight is below the lawn area this time —
there’s a Petting Animal Park where you can meet kangaroos and 9 other species of animals!

(Admission: Adults 300 yen, children 150 yen, infants free)

Sadly, this was also closed on Thursday, so I couldn’t go in 😢

You’ll just have to settle for the kangaroo-shaped playground equipment for now 🤣

My daughter is already a high schooler now. When I asked her, “Want to come see the kangaroos?” she shot back a quick “nope” (T_T)

Make a day of it — take a scenic drive up here with the kids and enjoy! 👦👧

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*Information is current as of the visit. Prices and opening hours are subject to change. Please confirm before your visit.