Welcome to Himawari Park

Hello travelers! It’s Kurubushi 🧦, your Sarukuma writer.

Today I’m introducing a charming little gem in Kumamoto Prefecture —
Himawari Park (Sunflower Park) 🌻✨ located in Miyoshi, Koshi City.

Tucked just one street back from the main road where Ruro Koshi stands, the park shares its grounds with the Koshi City Miyoshi Citizens’ Center, the Nishi-Koshi Library, and the famous Koshi Manga Museum.
This means you can easily combine a fun park visit with a stop at the library or museum — super convenient for families and curious travelers alike!
There’s a spacious parking lot on the park side, plus more parking on the library and Manga Museum side.

A fascinating old information board mentions that this site once had ancient pit dwellings and stone coffins…
A history buff’s dream! Sadly, that area is now a parking lot.
The former local history museum has since been transformed into the Manga Museum.

Why You’ll Love Himawari Park

The play equipment is delightfully simple: a slide, a seesaw, and swings.

Side note — the swings are nice and wide, so even adults can hop on without issue.
My daughter is still a little timid, so she only goes down the slide on my lap. I’ve developed a habit of sizing up every slide to see whether my hips will fit!
Getting stuck halfway down a slide and inching to the bottom is a uniquely embarrassing parenting experience (speaking from personal experience…).
Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow with a slimmer figure — a girl can dream!
The park boasts a wide, beautifully maintained lawn — perfect for kicking a ball, running around, or just relaxing.
On weekends, you’ll often spot kids practicing tag rugby on the grass 🏉
During spring, gorgeous moss phlox (shibazakura) blooms paint the borders of the park 🌸
It’s the perfect Instagram-worthy backdrop for photos with the kids.
There are two vending machines right next to the restrooms.
Whenever I find a vending machine, I always check for kid-friendly drinks like Irohasu mineral water and barley tea (mugicha).
Lifesavers when your water bottle runs dry!

Two more vending machines sit just across the street, on the property of a cram school — so the drink selection caters more to teens and older kids.
Heads up: there’s no pedestrian crossing here, so look both ways carefully before crossing!

The restrooms (Japanese-style squat toilets, separated by gender) are kept impeccably clean.
There’s a multipurpose restroom too, though it doesn’t have a diaper-changing station.

Don’t worry, though — the Miyoshi Branch Office on the same property has both a nursing room and a diaper-changing station you’re welcome to use.
If the branch office is closed, the Nishi-Koshi Library also has a nursing room available, so parents can rest easy.

There’s one rest area complete with a hand-washing station.

Benches are scattered around the perimeter of the park, but the trees here are tall and slim, so finding shade on hot sunny days can be tricky.
Still, I once spotted a young couple lounging on a bench enjoying a lap pillow — ah, springtime romance! Probably making memories before heading off to different schools (or maybe that’s just my imagination running wild).

And now — the part I personally have to share with you all…!!

Himawari Park is surrounded by some of the most delicious local food spots already featured on Sarukuma — all within walking distance!!!!

Crispy deep-fried pork knuckle at Age Taro

The legendary sweet potato tempura shop with long lines: Agetateya

A wide variety of dreamy cheesecakes at Kashi Koubou Blue Bee

The famous bean-paste bun shop that sells out within hours of opening: Koya Manju

All within walking distance (worth saying twice because it’s THAT important)!

Congratulations, foodies!
Play at the park, walk over to grab a treat, eat it, then walk back — it’s basically zero calories, right?! (Right…?)

Sadly, that means the dream of slimmer hips drifts ever further away… (what was I even talking about?)

[Age Taro] Friendly staff and signature deep-fried tonkotsu pork — a must-try in Miyoshi, Koshi City

[Agetateya] Kids will love it! The famous fried-food paradise in Miyoshi, Koshi City

[Kashi Koubou Blue Bee] Adorable bee logo and silky cheesecakes in Miyoshi, Koshi City

[Koya Manju] The famous bean buns are SO good they had me speechless — Miyoshi, Koshi City

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Himawari Park Quick Info

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information accurate as of the time of reporting. Prices and hours may change. Please confirm before your visit.