Forming part of Saitama Prefecture, Yashio is a lively city north of Tokyo. It was originally settled in the ancient Kofun period and became an important agricultural area as part of the historic Shimōsa Province. Yashio was officially established as a village in 1956 and gained city status by 1972.
Things to do in Yashio
On the banks of the Naka River is Nakagawa Yashio Flower Park, which is particularly beautiful in spring when its peach trees and yellow rape flowers are in bloom. In autumn, the park transforms with red spider lilies and cosmos flowers. Coincide your visit with the annual Hanamomo Festival to experience the park at its liveliest.
Adjacent to the city’s railway station is Yashio Ekimae Park, which features a wooden-built children’s playground with rope climbs and tunnels. The park is just a stone’s throw from Frespo Yashio, a three-storey shopping centre where you’ll find ramen eateries and hand-made soba stores. You can pick up the latest fashions at Uniqlo or grab a bargain at the Daiso discount store.
Yashio makes an excellent base for visiting Mizumoto Park, which is one of the biggest public green spaces in Tokyo. It hugs the banks of the Shogotamari River and features a 1.2-kilometre-long boardwalk trail lined with poplar trees. Admire the towering redwoods of the Metasequoia Forest and the floral displays in the Hanashobu Japanese Iris Garden before spotting native birdlife in the wetlands.
Getting around Yashio
Yashio is around 40 minutes’ drive from the centre of Tokyo and just over an hour from Narita International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Yashio railway station while buses travel throughout the city, connecting most of its attractions.