A Green Retreat Along the Tone River
Shikishima Park lies on the left bank of the mighty Tone River, one of Japan’s major rivers and traditionally known as “Bando Taro.” The surrounding river environment and extensive pine forest create a peaceful natural setting despite the park’s location within Maebashi.
Walking paths wind through the pine grove, providing an enjoyable way to experience the scenery in every season. Cherry blossoms appear in spring, fresh green foliage brightens the park in early summer, and colorful leaves arrive in autumn.
The park also contains waterside areas including a boating pond and a fishing pond. Together with the pine trees and open green spaces, these areas create a relaxing landscape popular with families, walkers, and people looking for a quiet outdoor escape.
One of Northern Kanto’s Largest Rose Gardens
One of the highlights of Shikishima Park is the Shikishima Park Kadokura Techno Rose Garden, one of the largest rose gardens in the northern Kanto region.
The garden contains approximately 7,000 rose plants representing around 600 varieties. The colorful flowers create an impressive display, particularly during the main spring blooming season.
The rose garden opened in 1971 and underwent a major renovation in 2008. Set beyond the pine forest, the spacious garden contains a wide range of rose varieties, allowing visitors to enjoy both the flowers and their fragrance.
The main spring rose season generally falls between May and June, when the garden becomes especially colorful and attracts many visitors. Roses also bloom in autumn, providing another opportunity to enjoy the garden later in the year.
The garden is also a popular photography spot and is particularly appealing to visitors who enjoy flowers and Japanese-style seasonal scenery.
The Silk Heritage of Maebashi
Another important cultural attraction within Shikishima Park is the Maebashi City Silk Industry Memorial Museum.
The historic building was originally constructed in 1912 as an office building for the Maebashi branch of the National Sericulture Seed Production Institute. It retains many features of early modern Western-style architecture in Japan.
Visitors can see features such as a brick foundation, entasis-style columns, and vertically sliding windows. Inside, exhibits introduce the tools, materials, and history of sericulture and silk production, industries that played a major role in Maebashi’s development.
From the Meiji era through the early Showa era, Maebashi became one of Japan’s major silk-producing centers. The memorial museum provides an opportunity to learn how the silk industry contributed to the growth of the city and the surrounding region.
A Major Sports Complex
The southern section of Shikishima Park contains a large sports complex managed by Gunma Prefecture. Facilities include an athletics stadium, soccer grounds, baseball stadium, tennis courts, swimming facilities, and other venues.
Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma
Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma is a fully equipped athletics stadium meeting Japan’s Class 1 certification standards. It was used as the main venue for the Akagi National Sports Festival in 1983 and remains one of the major athletics venues in Gunma.
The stadium is also used as the home ground of Thespakusatsu Gunma, a professional soccer club competing in Japan’s J.League system. Matches, athletics competitions, and other sporting events bring large numbers of spectators to the venue.
Jomo Shimbun Shikishima Baseball Stadium
Jomo Shimbun Shikishima Baseball Stadium is a historic baseball ground that was developed in the early Showa period. It is well known as a venue for high-school baseball tournaments, including Gunma’s regional tournament for the National High School Baseball Championship.
Professional baseball games have also been held here in recent years, making the stadium an important baseball venue in Gunma.
Shikishima Park Swimming Pool
The Gunma Prefectural Shikishima Park Swimming Pool includes an indoor 50-meter competition pool that can be used throughout the year for competitions and general swimming.
An outdoor diving pool, the only facility of its kind in Gunma Prefecture, is also available for competitive diving events. During summer, a children’s pool is opened for families, while a training room provides additional opportunities for exercise and fitness.
Family-Friendly Recreation Areas
The northern section of the park is the recreational area managed by Maebashi City. Facilities include a children’s playground and a field athletics course, providing opportunities for active recreation for both children and adults.
Visitors can relax beside the boating pond, enjoy the waterside scenery, or try fishing at the fishing pond. The lawns and pine forest are also popular places for family picnics, particularly on weekends and holidays.
Cafés and rest facilities are available within the park, making it easy to take a break during a walk. Restaurants and shops can also be found in the surrounding area, allowing visitors to combine a park visit with a stroll through the city.
A Park with More Than a Century of History
The history of Shikishima Park dates back to the Taisho era. Around 1921, the area began to be used for outdoor schools that took advantage of its natural environment, giving the site an educational role even before it became a formal park.
In 1922, national forest land was transferred to Maebashi City, and development as a public park began. An athletic field was completed in 1925, and the name Shikishima Park was formally adopted.
The famous Japanese landscape architect and forester Seiroku Honda was later involved in improving the park’s design. Planting projects, including azaleas and other ornamental vegetation, helped shape the landscape visitors see today.
A baseball stadium was completed in 1932, followed by an athletics stadium in 1951. Over time, Shikishima Park developed into a comprehensive public park where nature and sports could be enjoyed together.
Access
Shikishima Park can be reached by public transportation or car. From JR Maebashi Station, take a Kan-Etsu Kotsu bus and get off at Shikishima Park Bus Terminal or Kyogijo Iriguchi, both of which provide convenient access to the park on foot.
By car, the park is approximately 4 kilometers from JR Maebashi Station and about 4.4 kilometers from Shin-Maebashi Station. It is also approximately a 15-minute drive from Maebashi Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
Several parking areas are available within and around the park, accommodating the large number of visitors who come throughout the year.
A Park Where Nature, Culture, and Sports Come Together
Shikishima Park brings together a remarkable variety of attractions, from peaceful pine forests and seasonal flowers to historic buildings and major sporting facilities.
Visitors can stroll through the extensive greenery, admire thousands of roses, learn about Maebashi’s silk-producing heritage, watch a sporting event, or simply relax beside the ponds and lawns.
For travelers exploring Maebashi, Shikishima Park offers a chance to experience a different side of the city—one where nature, local history, recreation, and everyday life come together in a spacious and welcoming setting.