About the Park

Hello, travelers!
This is Sunny 🐩, a writer for SaruKuma.

Today I’m introducing a hidden local gem in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture:
Iidakayama Park (飯高山公園).

As the name suggests (“iidaka-yama” means “Iidaka Mountain”), this is a park nestled on a small mountain!Here’s the parking lot.
A quick count suggests space for around 60 vehicles.You’ll find it along Route 316, which connects the Koshi City Hall area with the Hikari-no-Mori area.The parking lot has a wheelchair-accessible restroom,
and a vending machine right next to it — handy for grabbing a drink before heading in.A friendly sign with park etiquette greets you at the entrance.The park doubles as a walking course.
It’s not particularly long, but the rolling terrain gives you
a surprisingly solid workout.
From the parking area, the trail leads you up into the woods.A short walk in, you reach a charming
entrance gate. A cute little squirrel is perched there with an acorn and tiny cap (^^)
Adorable, right? ♪

Every summer, parents and kids show up at the crack of dawn to catch rhinoceros beetles and stag beetles!

Even at midday in summer, the forest stays cool and pleasant.
Mosquitoes are around, though, so insect repellent is a must!
In autumn, you can pick up loads of acorns and pinecones.
Little ones love crunching through piles of fallen leaves ♪

It’s also a perfect spot for walking your dog!Inside, you’ll find a circular grass field called “Tenku Hiroba” (Sky Plaza).

Kids were running around playing ball games and tag —
although you can’t actually see anyone in this photo, ha!Next to the plaza there’s a restroom and a handwashing station.
It’s an outdoor restroom, but it’s beautifully maintained and clean.

Beyond the plaza, you’ll spot the park map.

What Makes It Special

Now, time to climb the stone steps!

But first, a quiz!

Let’s explore nature’s secrets:
“Why does the wind blow?”

All over Iidakayama, you’ll find stone pillars inscribed with
nature-themed questions like this one.
“Why is the sky blue?”
It’s a fun way for parents and kids to wonder together as you walk through the park ♪

By the way, the answers aren’t posted —
so get ready for the classic kid
“why? but why?” barrage! Ha! Honestly, kids have unbelievable stamina —
I was left in the dust (-“-)
“Why do pillbugs curl into a ball?”“What is soil made of, and how is it formed?”
Trickier than they sound, right?At the summit, you’ll reach an observation deck.

Just below the deck, there’s a stone table with stone seats.

There’s something written here too.

Hunt for the forest’s treasures.

— Treasure List —
· Something fragrant · A flower seed
· Something fluffy · A jagged leaf
· Something prickly · A round leaf
· A flower or bud · A thin leaf
· A four-leaf clover · A dewdrop on a leaf
…and more.

Everything on the list can be found while strolling through the park,
so it makes for a wonderful treasure hunt with the kids ♪
The stairs up to the observation deck. The view from the top.
Pretty stunning, honestly (^^)
There are also some steeper stone-step paths.Listening to the sounds of nature with your kids is its own kind of magic ♪
Total “Stand By Me” vibes!

Going down can be risky for little ones,
so we took the gentler sloped path with fewer stairs on the way back.

Play in the open plaza,
bring a picnic,
hunt for bugs or pick up acorns,
ponder the nature quizzes,
or go on a treasure hunt —
that’s the magic of Iidakayama: there’s a way to enjoy it at every age ♪

It’s also a wonderful way to spark conversations between parents and kids (^^)

Highly recommended for kids with energy to burn!
Be sure to swing by!

Information

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before visiting.