Hattori Ryokuchi Park

Hattori Ryokuchi Park is a large green space located in Toyonaka City, Osaka Prefecture, and is one of Osaka’s representative parks. Admission is free, and the park has been selected for both the “100 Best Urban Parks in Japan” and the “100 Best Historical Parks in Japan.” Covering an area about 33 times the size of Koshien Stadium, the park features lush nature and more than ten ponds, including Yamagake Pond, Uzuwa Pond, Shingū Pond, and Komoga Pond, where anglers can often be seen. In spring it draws cherry-blossom viewers, and in autumn it becomes lively with visitors enjoying the fall foliage. A roughly 4 km route from Ryokuchi-Kōen Station (Kita-Osaka Kyuko Namboku Line) runs through the park; with many grassy areas and dirt paths, it is also popular with runners. Highlights include the Japan Open-Air Folk House Museum (paid admission), the Urban Greenery Botanical Garden where visitors can enjoy an herb garden and seasonal gardens, and the distinctive circular flowerbed and kofun tumulus at the center of the park. The park was also once mentioned as a potential candidate site should the 2025 World Expo be held in Osaka.