Negishi Forest Park — Attraction in Yokohama

★★ Check out the Pix4Japan YouTube channel for a virtual visit to this park at night! ★★ The park was originally Japan’s first European style racecourse and was in operation from 1866 to 1942. Originally set up to entertain the expat community living in Yokohama, the racecourse proved to be a big hit among the local Japanese, including Emperor Meiji who visited the track 14 times. After the Great Kanto Earthquake, American architect, J.H. Morgan designed the grandstand that we see standing today.

In 1942, the Japanese military used the facilities as a printing house, and the nearby stables were used to house foreign POWs. After the war, General MacArthur took over and used the printing equipment turning the grandstands into a communications headquarters.

Soon after, the U.S. Navy took control of the entire bluff area near the trace track and built a housing facility for the influx of GIs and their families. The Negishi Heights housing base had pools, cafeterias, bars, houses with expansive yards, schools, gas station, and a golf course.

In 1977, the stands and the golf course were returned to Japan and the city of Yokohama created a huge park for the citizens to enjoy.

The park is a wonderful place to enjoy nature, plum tree blossoms, cherry tree blossoms, enjoy picnics, dog walks, and...

For English speakers, it is a great place to see cherry blossoms! Definitely come during springtime but it's a nice nature park during other seasons. Great walking/jogging loops and have an area separate for kids playground and play area. You can bring your own mat and tent to set up to look at the Sakura trees.

During peak season it can get crowded but there is plenty of space to find a spot to lay down your stuff.

Plenty of public bathrooms and vending machines too.

Parking may be a bit tough so try to avoid driving if possible but there is a good rotation of cars and you may find a space.

All in all, worth checking out to get...

Fantastic place to hang out with your family and friends. It has a lot of Sakura trees, with very big park where you can lie down and relax. I love to prepare some snack or lunch box, go there by bikes with my wife, enjoy the fresh air, beautiful view and sunshine, eat lunch and take a nap. It has a small restaurant over there, but limit of food and drink. I think if you you prepare your lunch box, it might be better. It also have an old building over there, and belonging to American people, what you cannot get inside. If having a chance to come back Japan, I think this is one of the places I want to see again. Remember that...