Hello, travelers!
I’m Rikotama, a writer for Sarukuma!

Today I’m excited to introduce you to a wonderful seaside park located in Shiomi-cho, Minamata City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, called 【Eco Park Minamata】.

Coming from Kumamoto City, take the ≪Minami-Kyushu Expressway≫ and exit at the Minamata IC.

One of the most beloved features of Eco Park Minamata?
Its stunning rose garden! ♡

Peak bloom seasons are early to late May (spring) and late October to late November (autumn).

I’d love to come back during rose season next time! (*^-^*)

This park is enormous, with 10 different parking lots available!

Inside the park, you’ll also find 【Michi-no-Eki Minamata】 (a roadside station)!

Our family loves collecting roadside station stamps, so we were thrilled to find one here ☆
The soft-serve ice cream and Dekopon (Japanese citrus) cream puffs looked absolutely delicious! (≧▽≦)

There are also 15 restrooms spread throughout the park!

Diaper-changing stations are available too — perfect for traveling families!

Sports lovers can enjoy ground golf, tennis courts, a baseball field, and a track and field stadium — all at the same park!

On the day we visited, local seniors were out enjoying their games with such enthusiasm!

Plenty of covered benches and shaded seating under trees can be found throughout the park!

Top Highlights

There are two playground areas to explore!

This is the Sato (Village) Zone! Quite a large play structure!
The fish theme is just adorable ☆

There’s even a Tarzan rope (zipline)!

You’ll also find play equipment for younger children,

and a charming open space with cute animal sculptures ♪

The sandbox is huuuuge!!!

The white sand is so silky smooth — it really feels like being at a beautiful beach! (*^▽^*)

And underneath the white layer, you’ll find proper black sand too ☆

And here’s a fun bonus!
During summer only, there’s a splash pool (jabu-jabu pond) where kids can play in the water ♪

Now for the second playground area: the Sea Zone!!

This area features bouldering walls, roller slides, and other combination play structures ☆

Look at this incredible rope jungle!

Climbing all the way to the top is quite the challenge! (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

And here’s a rope hammock swing! It was my first time ever seeing one!!

The kids absolutely loved lying back on it (*^▽^*)

Right next to the playground is a special spot called the Sea Plaza — a miniature ocean!

Real seawater is pumped in to create this tiny tide pool, and you can spot sea creatures like sea hares, shore crabs, and moon jellyfish living there! (=ﾟωﾟ)ﾉ

Since this park sits right by the sea, there’s a truly special spot here ♡

It’s been officially designated as a 【Lovers’ Sanctuary】 — a perfect place for proposals (*´▽｀*)

How wonderfully romantic ♬

A boardwalk wraps around this area, allowing you to take a leisurely stroll while enjoying breathtaking views of the sea!

If you’re traveling to Minamata, please make sure to add Eco Park Minamata to your itinerary!

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Park Information

Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is current as of the time of reporting. Prices and operating hours are subject to change. Please verify before your visit.