Hinodemachi Park — Attraction in Tokyo

I've sat there many, many times over the last three years with a coffee after shopping at the adjacent Seiyu. I appreciate the shade if you can score one of the rare benches (nearby Sun Park is far bigger but has almost zero shade in summer), and I actually like the pigeons.

Negatives: There are trashcans - so rare in Japanese parks - but they are ALWAYS jammed and overflowing onto the ground. Doesn't anybody empty them? Entering through that ugly maze of metal barriers - do urban planners take courses in aesthetics? - is always annoying.

I long ago nicknamed it Shitbird Park because the "quality" of some of its human visitors is rock-bottom. I'm not talking about the homeless, it's the neanderthals responsible for all the empty cans, cigarette butts and bento packages dumped all over the place the night before. These people need some good healthy public shaming. Also, as others have noted, why the hell are we still catering to drug addicts - er, I mean cigarette smokers - so generously in the 21st century? These sad, selfish nitwits have no concern for the kids or other visitors who come there - there's usually the stench of smoke in the air there. Wake up, Japan.

All in all, the trees and the birds and an occasional bench are not quite compensation enough...but I'll still drop by because it's a respite from the the noise and crowds of...

Wonderful little Ikebukoro Tokyo public playground in the summertime for little kids! (Especially compared to how surprisingly old, spartan, and worn down many of the Tokyo public playgrounds are).

Water feature for kids to wade in (about 1" water height) and smells lightly chlorinated, so play water is pretty clean.

Swingset, Toddler gym climb slide, toddler rocking horse.

Small wash fountain to clean up. Drinking fountains. Garbage...

Such a Love Place For A Little Refreshment. Culm Place For Have A...