On a hot Tokyo summer day, Numakage Park is a refreshing oasis. Its huge complex of public pools, indoors and outdoors, make it easy to spend an entire day hopping from one pool to the other with only brief snack breaks. In winter, rent skates and head out onto the ice or have a swim as well in the indoor pool. Locals visit Numakage Park regularly, so join them, no matter the weather outside.
Pass through the outer gate and pay the fee to use the public facilities. Rent a locker or follow the locals’ lead and mark out some territory on the ground and set up a tent to protect yourself and your belongings from the sun. The area can get especially crowded in peak summer months.
Make a decision of which pool to start with, whether it’s the wave pool, diving pool or a classic lane pool suitable for swimming laps. Let young kids play with no fear in the smaller, child-sized pools.
Stop at the snack shack for a quick meal. Take advantage of the break to lie in the sun or get a bit of refuge from its rays. Watch kids careen down slides, their splashes rippling out across the light blue water.
Numakage Park is south of downtown Saitama, a 25-minute subway ride or drive from Saitama Shintonshin Station. Walk to the closest subway stop in about 15 minutes. Drive from Haneda Airport in just under 1 hour. The on-site parking lot fills up quickly during the summer. Metered parking on the nearby streets is limited.
The outdoor pools are generally open during regular business hours from July to September, with variable dates. The indoor pool opens year-round from morning to late afternoon and is closed on Mondays. Ice-skating runs daily from December to February, depending on seasonal weather conditions. On weekdays, the rink is open from morning to early evening, but it stays open late on Saturdays and Sundays. There is a small admission fee for all activities. Note that children still in diapers are not allowed to use the pools.
