Welcome to Keyaki Hiroba

Hello, travelers! It’s Suno, your friendly writer from Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Oguni Town in Aso District,
Keyaki Hiroba (Keyaki Plaza).You’ll find this charming spot about 15 km north of the famous Daikanbo viewpoint, right along National Routes 387 and 442.Come spring, Keyaki Hiroba bursts into bloom with absolutely stunning cherry blossoms (sakura)!

The day I visited was a bit cloudy, but whenever the breeze picked up, the falling petals created a magical sakura snowstorm — pure Japanese cherry blossom magic.
Just across the road to your right, you’ll spot the striking mirror-glass facade of Michi-no-Eki Oguni (Oguni Roadside Station) — Japan’s first wooden three-dimensional truss-construction building, completely wrapped in mirrored glass.
Inside the park itself, there’s space for about 8 cars in the parking area.

And how cute is this little sparrow sculpture? ♪Heads-up for road-trippers: overnight stays and parking for campervans are not permitted here.
Cross the well-paved road and you’ll find restrooms and vending machines.

(There’s also additional parking here for around 30 vehicles!)
The central multi-purpose restroom even has a diaper-changing station, so traveling families with babies can relax. ♪
Back near Yu Station, you’ll find a drinking fountain and hand-washing area close to the parking lot.
Right next to it, there’s a small sandbox for the kids.
There’s a covered rest area too — perfect for keeping watch over the little ones playing on the equipment during hot summer days. ♪
Inside the rest area, you’ll see a poster outlining park rules — worth a quick read before heading out to play.

It’s all written in hiragana, so even young Japanese kids can read along easily!
And from this little gazebo, you can take in those gorgeous cherry blossoms too! ♪

There’s also low, toddler-friendly play equipment, so even the smallest visitors can join in safely. ♪Signs remind visitors: “Children aged 3 to 6 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.”

Emergency contact numbers are posted in case of injury too — a thoughtful touch that’s reassuring for both kids and parents.

Just having that information visible makes it so much easier to stay calm if anything unexpected happens!
Toward the back, there’s a wide grassy lawn area too.

I spotted local elementary school kids enjoying hanami (cherry blossom viewing) and jumping rope — such a lovely slice of small-town Japanese life.

Why You’ll Love Keyaki Hiroba

The star attraction is a combination playset featuring slides and obstacle-course-style climbing structures.
A bright blue triple-lane slide lets three kids race down side by side.
Heads up — the climbing bars are spaced fairly wide apart, and at one point my 2-year-old nearly slipped through, so keep a close eye on toddlers!
There’s a small bouldering wall too.
My 5-year-old could leap across these stones easily, but younger children should definitely have an adult close by to help with footing.
There’s even a tunnel slide!
With so many different slides woven into one big play structure, kids can easily spend hours here without getting bored!
I climbed up to the highest point myself, and the cherry blossoms were practically at eye level — a luxurious hanami experience! ♪
One thing I really appreciated: the safety railings around the play equipment are set nice and high, so kids are unlikely to fall over the edge.

And yet there are just enough gaps to enjoy the view from up top — a brilliant balance of safety and scenery!
The swings come in two styles: standard ones and a basket-type that toddlers can use safely.

One important note: as you can see in the photo, there’s no fence between the playground and the road, so please keep a close watch on children to make sure they don’t run into traffic.

Here’s a perfect plan for your Aso road trip: grab a bento (lunch box) or fresh-baked bread from Michi-no-Eki Oguni Yu Station, then head over to Keyaki Hiroba for some playtime and a relaxing break. ♪

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Frequently Asked Questions

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