Welcome to Hamasen Health Park

Hello, travelers! I’m Kurubushi, a writer for SaruKuma.

Today I’m introducing a hidden gem in Yoshimachi, Minami-ku, Kumamoto City:
Hamasen Health Park
also officially known as the “Tamukae Park Sports Facility.”

To get here, head along the Hamasen Bypass from central Kumamoto City toward AEON Mall, turn right partway along, and you’ll find it tucked just inside a residential area.

I’ve been coming here since elementary school myself, and locals like me have always called it “Kenpa” as a fond nickname.

Why Visit Hamasen Health Park

The biggest draw of Hamasen Health Park is simple:

it has just about everything! (lol)

A heated indoor pool, a gymnasium, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a martial arts hall, gateball courts, a running track, plus an athletic playground and even a sandbox.

If you feel like moving your body, the local saying is basically: “Let’s just head to Kenpa, shall we?”

Let me start with today’s main attraction—the pool.

This is a heated pool open year-round, and depending on the weather, the ceiling actually opens up—great news if you love a bit of sunbathing!
If you’d rather avoid the sun, just come prepared with sunscreen.

The lanes are divided by activity:

From the back, there’s a walking lane, lap-swimming lanes, and half of the pool is set aside as free space.

There are two lap-swimming lanes, but during busy times these may be opened up as free space.

Round swim rings designed to support swimmers are allowed, but inflatable dolphins or bed-style floats are not permitted.

Swim diapers are also not allowed, and the water depth ranges from 1.1m to 1.3m at its deepest, so this facility may not be ideal for very young children still in diapers or smaller kids.

Children in 3rd grade or below must be accompanied by a parent.

Right after you enter, you’ll see the ticket machine—just pop in your coins.

Admission is ¥330 for adults and ¥170 for high school students and below from July to September.

The 11-ticket book offers a discount: ¥3,300 for adults and ¥1,700 for high school and under.

From October to June, it’s ¥450 for adults and ¥230 for high school students and below.

The 11-ticket book in this season is ¥4,500 for adults and ¥2,300 for high school and under.

Winter rates are slightly higher due to boiler heating costs.

Hold on to your ticket—you’ll need to hand it in on your way out!

Here’s the changing room.

It comes with washbasins.
Lockers cost ¥50.
A 50-yen coin is one of those denominations that’s never quite in your wallet when you need it—so come prepared! (lol)

Drop in your coin, lock up properly, and keep your belongings safe.

There are also private changing booths, so visitors who prefer privacy can feel completely at ease.

There’s also a spacious accessible changing booth where wheelchair users and their caregivers can comfortably get changed together.
Staff told me families with small children are also welcome to use it.

Once changed, take a thorough shower before heading to the pool.

Across from the showers, you’ll find the toilets.

Note that they’re mostly Japanese-style squat toilets.

Eye-rinse stations—what a nostalgic touch! (lol)
Don’t forget to do your warm-up stretches before jumping in! ♫

There’s also an accessible toilet inside the pool area.

Wheelchair-accessible showers are also fully equipped, so everyone can enjoy a relaxed visit.

By the way, the temperature-check room is currently closed.

There’s a rest area for cooling down after your swim.

It’s the resting space on the gymnasium side, with vending machines stocked with a wide variety of drinks.

The pool opens at 10:00, but the gym opens at 9:00, so when I visited, the entire space was already buzzing with people enjoying their workouts!

Badminton and volleyball games were in full swing—looked like such fun!
They also offer aqua aerobics classes, which is a great way for those who feel nervous about coming alone to the pool to ease in and shake off some of that exercise rust.

Continuing through the open square and deeper into the park,

you’ll come upon the baseball field.

Outdoor vending machines are available too.

Please take your trash home with you—there are no public bins.

There are outdoor restrooms as well.

This one is a multipurpose toilet. There’s an illustration of a baby and mother on the door, but

only a baby keeper is provided—there’s no diaper-changing table.

Right next door are the standard toilets.

These are also primarily Japanese-style squat toilets.

The jogging course is intentionally lined with trees, providing cool, shady spots that make running here pleasant even on warm days.

Depending on the season, you might even find acorns scattered along the path—so younger kids who aren’t yet ready for the pool might actually enjoy this area more.

Continue along the running course and you’ll arrive at the athletic playground zone.

There’s a swaying rope bridge and

a wooden jungle gym

—best suited for slightly older children.

A Tarzan rope too,

and though it’s hard to make out, there’s a large adventure structure too!

The day I visited, the sand was packed down from a recent rain, but there’s a large sandbox here—
this might be the perfect spot for younger kids to enjoy themselves.

My own little one is still small and a bit timid, so they were happily walking on top of the tree roots. (lol)
Kids really do find fun in absolutely everything!

The toilets near the playground are quite simple—just a heads-up.

There are also grassy lawns and cherry blossom trees, making this a wonderful spot for hanami flower viewing in spring or a casual picnic. ♫

With this many facilities tucked into a residential neighborhood, the parking situation is, as you might expect…

When I arrived just after 9 AM, the lot was already lined with cars.
It’s worth planning for the possibility that parking spots may be hard to find.

The bicycle parking was still relatively empty, but once the pool opens, it fills up quickly.

Overall, I’d say this facility leans more toward elementary-school-age children and adults rather than babies or preschoolers.

I’ve been visiting since I was in elementary school myself, so it’s been many decades. It’s certainly not a brand-new facility, but Hamasen Health Park continues to thrive!

Beyond the pool, there are so many other ways to enjoy this park. ♫
Why not stop by and discover your favorite spot?

Follow our Instagram—updated daily!
SaruKuma shares lunch spots, parks, and indoor play info for families in Kumamoto.
Thanks for following along(*´∀｀*)

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information accurate at the time of reporting. Prices and opening hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.