- I took my 3 and 0 year old to the Nature Education Garden in Meguro in May 2022
- What are the 5 reasons why you recommend the Nature Garden Educational Park for early childhood education that you have found?
- Reason 1: It’s just so spacious! Children can observe nature freely, so they can hone their imagination and powers of deduction.
- Reason 2: You can learn about plants and animals with your children.
- Reason 3: Lots of benches for a quick break for the kids.
- Reason 4: Excellent children’s learning program.
- Reason 5: Goshawks in Tokyo! Children can experience nature without going to the suburbs
- I checked out what people who have actually used the service have to say about it.
- National Museum of Nature and Science Museum
- Questions
- Introducing spots to play with children near the Nature Education Park.
- List of articles introducing places to go with children who love nature
- In the end
I took my 3 and 0 year old to the Nature Education Garden in Meguro in May 2022
I want to go to the park!
Parks are great, but when we go to parks, all we do is play on slides, swings, and other predetermined playground equipment.
I would like to provide children with more opportunities to play in rich nature and on playground equipment that is not prescribed, and I would like to nurture their imagination and powers of reasoning as well.
I wonder if there is any place where children can be more exposed to nature.
With this in mind, I decided to visit the National Museum of Nature and Science’s Garden and Educational Park, which I had previously visited with adults only.
Nine minutes from JR Meguro Station, there is a large, large forest in a place that you would not expect to find in the city.
It was a good opportunity to let my child experience nature and to learn various things from nature.
This video introduces a lot of the natural riches of the Nature Education Park.
For those who want their children to be in contact with nature and want to educate them through nature, I felt that the “Nature Park Education Garden attached to the National Museum of Nature and Science” is the perfect place for them.
What are the 5 reasons why you recommend the Nature Garden Educational Park for early childhood education that you have found?
Enjoying nature with my child at the Nature Education Park.
My 3-year-old son seemed to be interested in the world of the forest, which he does not usually visit.
Here are five reasons why I thought a nature park was a good place for children to enjoy nature and learn about intellectual education* during their early childhood.
*Intellectual education is education that aims to nurture intellectual abilities such as judgment, creativity, and reasoning through play and other fun learning opportunities.
Reason 1: It’s just so spacious! Children can freely observe nature and sharpen their imagination and powers of deduction.
Reason 2: Children can deepen their learning by going back and forth between knowledge and hands-on experience by looking at illustrated books as they go around.
Reason 3: Even if your child gets tired from playing around, don’t worry! There are plenty of benches where children can take a break.
Reason 4: A full range of fun learning programs for children.
Reason 5: Goshawks in Tokyo! Children can get in touch with nature without going to the suburbs.
Reason 1: It’s just so spacious! Children can observe nature freely, so they can hone their imagination and powers of deduction.
The Nature Education Park covers an area equivalent to 4.2 Tokyo Domes (about 20 hectares).
It has a long history, and part of the earthen mounds of a powerful family from the Muromachi period can still be seen.
During the Edo period (1603-1867), the garden became the residence of Takamatsu feudal lord Matsudaira Yorishige, and the pine trees in the garden are said to be remnants of the garden of that time.
In 1949, it was designated as a “Natural Monument and Historic Site” and opened to the public.
Although the park is spacious, only about 15% of the grounds are actually open to the public, while the remaining 85% is closed to the public and the forest is protected from human intervention in order to preserve nature.
The aerial view on Google map shows how large the forest is.
After passing through the entrance gate next to the Education and Administration Building, you will see a forest.
It is so rich in nature that one cannot help but think, “Is this really Tokyo ⁉︎?
It is a perfect place for children to learn freely and happily, and for intellectual development to nurture their powers of judgment, creativity, and reasoning.
It takes about 30 minutes to go around the park in a circle. If you take your time with your child, it will take about one to two hours.
If you eat lunch in the park, you can spend half a day.
There are many stairs and steps, so it is best to visit with children who are old enough to walk without a stroller. Unfortunately, the park is not barrier-free.
We had a 0 year old with us, so we had to lift the stroller, which was difficult.
There are two places in the Educational Nature Park that I recommend for children to observe nature.
Children can learn about nature through observation and conversation with their parents.
Recommendation 1: Observe plants carefully in the roadside botanical garden, which is like Totoro’s forest.
Recommendation 2: Get excited about living creatures in the Aquatic Botanical Garden, where there are many waterfront creatures.
Recommendation 1: Roadside Botanical Garden like Totoro’s Forest
The first recommendation among the Nature Education Gardens is the “Roadside Botanical Garden.
Located just inside the entrance, you will be amazed by the grandeur of nature.
It looks like Totoro’s forest!
It’s true, there is a lot of green.
My son seemed to associate it with the forest in Ghibli’s “My Neighbor Totoro”.
We visited in May, so the paths were lush with greenery and looked like tunnels.
Adults could also enjoy the scenery of the forest spreading out.
The roadside botanical garden is located just inside the entrance, so children are very excited, and asking them questions here is a great way for them to learn.
There were many lush maple trees, which will turn beautiful colors in the fall.
Do you know this leaf? It’s called “Momiji” (red) leaf. They turn red in autumn.
Why do the leaves change color?
It’s strange, isn’t it? Leaves have a green source, but when it gets cold, the green source decreases and the red source increases, which is why they turn red.
Oh.
I believe that helping children think about their questions together will develop their ability to think.
There are times when you may not understand something, but when that happens, instead of dismissively saying, “Don’t ask me that,” you can look it up together or teach it to them afterwards.
They may not understand at the moment, but there may come a day when they suddenly understand that “this is what I meant at that time.
Nature is a place where many children’s questions come to life.
It is a good idea to use a nature education garden as a great learning material for intellectual education.
Recommendation 2: Aquatic Botanical Garden
My second recommendation is the Aquatic Botanical Garden.
It is located at the end of the roadside botanical garden.
It may sound exaggerated to call it a wooden path in Oze, but you can observe nature while crossing wooden planks.
Is this a characteristic of children? Whenever there is a body of water, they want to take a peek.
There’s something in there!
I wonder what it is? I wonder if it’s a water strider.
Why are you floating on the water?
They say that water striders have very light bodies. Also, their feet don’t get wet, so they don’t sink.
The leaves are floating too, maybe because they are light!
A little conversation and questioning leads to learning.
The Aquatic Botanical Garden, with its many living creatures, is a great place to educate yourself.
In the water, we could hear water striders, small fish (not sure what kind), and birds.
There were also iris and other flowers blooming along the water’s edge.
To draw children’s interest, we recommend taking a walk along the water’s edge, where there are many water creatures and various flowers in bloom.
Reason 2: You can learn about plants and animals with your children.
At the Nature Education Park, about 1,500 plant species and 2,800 animal species have been observed in the park’s surveys so far.
That is an impressive number!
What is this!
Looks like acorns. What is this?
While walking in the forest, a child found some nuts.
A passerby told me it was a mukuroji.
Looking closely, I saw even smaller black berries emerging from the brown ones.
Mukuroji berries are said to be used for feathers of Hagoita (Japanese shuttlecock).
When I looked at them, I found that they do indeed resemble the feathers of a hakoita (Japanese shuttlecock).
There is a tree nearby with the word “mukuroji” written on it.
So the fruit fell from this tree.
Observing the plants in front of you will expand your conversations with children and help them develop their observational and imaginative skills.
Thanks to this, my son learned the word “mukuroji.
I think the experience of actually finding, touching, and examining things leads to children’s learning.
We recommend taking a “pocket illustrated book” with you to places rich in nature.
Although we live in an age where we can look up anything on our smartphones, it is a good idea to investigate what is in front of you with your child to help him or her learn.
If you can’t find a plant in a picture book, or if you want to look it up more conveniently, you can look up the name of a plant using Google Lens in the Google Apps.
Let us explain how to look up plants with Google Lens.
(1) Install the Google application.
(2) Start the Google App and press the lens (the part marked with a red circle).
(3) Once Google Lens is activated, place the object you wish to examine within the frame and tap the “shutter button.
(4) Search results are displayed below the Google Lens. If you want to know more details, press the corresponding image (in this case, carnations in the blue frame) to proceed to the details screen.
Musashino Botanical Garden” and “Aquatic Botanical Garden” are also located in the Educational Nature Park.
The plants have name plates with the name of the plant on them for easy identification.
There were also pigeons that might be wild, different from those we usually see in the park.
When a child asks you the name of a plant and you don’t know it, don’t just say, “I don’t know it,” but look it up together to deepen both the child’s and adult’s learning.
Reason 3: Lots of benches for a quick break for the kids.
The hardest thing about going out with children is that they a this call.
I’m so tired!
There are seven rest areas in the park, so if your child gets tired or doesn’t want to walk anymore, he or she can take a quick break.
Children will learn less than half as much if they are tired.
Children often recover quickly, so it is a good idea to prepare a drink or a small snack for them to take a break.
If the weather is nice, bringing your own lunch can be a bit of a picnic.
The good thing about nature is that adults can refresh their minds and bodies.
I went in May, so it was a beautiful time of year with fresh greenery.
Flowers such as kakitsubata were also blooming beautifully.
It would be interesting to visit in different seasons, as you can see a variety of flowers from season to season.
I like to see seasonal flowers. I like that not only children but also adults can enjoy them.
Reason 4: Excellent children’s learning program.
The Nature Education Park regularly holds events such as Sunday Observations and Natural History Seminars.
If you wish to participate, reservations can be made through the Nature Education Park’s website, and all seminars are free of charge.
It is a good idea to extend your child’s interest when it deepens.
Observation meetings and seminars are a great opportunity for such occasions.
Let’s encourage your child’s intellectual curiosity and nurture his or her powers of observation, imagination, and thinking.
Sunday Observation
During the Sunday Observation, Nature Education Park staff will give you a guided tour of the park.
Participation is open to children!
There are morning and afternoon sessions, lasting one hour.
Unfortunately, I have never participated in this event, but it is a great opportunity for children to talk to someone who is familiar with nature and can answer their questions and broaden their interests. and it seems like a fun way to broaden my child’s interest.
Morning session 10:30 – 11:30
Afternoon session 13:30-13:30
If you wish to participate, reservations can be made through the website of the Nature Education Park.
Reservations are accepted on the web starting at 10:00 a.m. 10 days prior to the date of the event.
Click website to see the schedule.
Reviews from participants indicate that they are highly satisfied with the opportunity to observe plants and insects.
今日は白金の自然教育園の日曜観察会に参加し、藁巻きの中で越冬している虫たちを観察するツアーでした。蜘蛛だけで6種類くらい見つかり大満足。 @ 国立科学博物館附属自然教育園 https://t.co/nOBR3LXRZT
— Mitsui Yusuke (@mmitsuii) February 26, 2017
附属自然教育園に行ってきた！幼児でも参加できる日曜観察会なるものに初参加🌿内容的に幼児には少し難しかったかもしれないけど、植物に興味強めの👧🏻なので、少しでも種まきになるといいな〜
— ミッツ@小受24 (@mittsu_oju) April 16, 2023
1枚目: アヤメの仲間のシャガ
2枚目: 今年度の講座の一覧 pic.twitter.com/fruDS63LNG
It was a little early for my age, so I would like to go there when I am in elementary school.
Natural History Seminar
Other “Natural History Seminars” are also being held.
For example, on June 17, 2023, “Natural History Seminar: Butterflies and Moths in the Nature Education Park” will be held.
This one-and-a-half-hour seminar introduces the butterflies and moths found in the Nature Education Park and how to find them.
It is targeted at upper elementary school students, so it is a little too early for our family, but we think children with an interest in insects will enjoy it.
The schedule for 2023 is website.
There is no cost.
According to the reviews of those who have attended, it is interesting to hear stories that you would not normally hear.
日曜日（2020.1.19）に科博の付属自然教育園での自然史セミナー「都市部で見られる地衣類」（大村先生）に参加しました pic.twitter.com/LPARJe7hRB
— kykyky12345 (@kykyky1234567) January 22, 2020
上野公園で12月の自然史セミナーのおさらいをしてきました〜
— どんぐり料理研究家／どんぐりキノコ研究所 (@kurousaleon) March 19, 2017
あの時工事中だったロウソクゴケの木も近くで観察出来たよ〜
テキストと同じ場所（p18）も行ってきました〜#地衣類GO pic.twitter.com/udT2JiqXIR
I would like to visit this one when I am about elementary school age.
Extensive downloadable content for children
The website of the Nature Education Park has various contents for children, including a leaflet on the park for children.
Here is one that I thought looked interesting.
The idea is to complete 5 missions as Spy THE Nature.
It was a little too early for my 3-year-old son, but I think he will enjoy it when he reaches elementary school age.
If you print out the leaflet in advance and talk with your children about what kind of places they can expect to see, they will have a lot to look forward to.
Reason 5: Goshawks in Tokyo! Children can experience nature without going to the suburbs
At the entrance of the Nature Education Park, there is an education management area, which includes an exhibition of birds found in the park.
This is also a good place for children to learn about birds and special exhibitions.
Among them, my son was interested in the goshawk.
There was a live camera at the nest and we were able to see the baby goshawk.
Something is moving!
I heard that it is a baby goshawk. I wonder if they are waiting for their parents to bring them food.
Parents cannot decide where and what their children will be interested in.
The only thing parents can do is to create various opportunities for their children and observe them.
My son was not interested in insects, but he was interested in baby Steller’s sea eagles.
He has never seen a baby bird, including a baby chick, because he grew up in the city.
I thought the nature education garden would be a very good place for children to learn because they can discover their interests.
A goshawk becomes a bird like this when it grows up.
The above is the situation at the time of the visit, but the Nature Education Park’s website also introduced that a goshawk chick was born in May 2023.
They will be sending out information on goshawk rearing again this year.
I checked out what people who have actually used the service have to say about it.
We looked into the impressions of people who actually visited the National Museum of Nature and Science’s Nature Education Garden.
They wrote that the park is surprisingly rich in nature and enjoyable for both children and adults.
It is also used for school field trips, so you can see that it is a place full of learning.
国立博物館付属 自然教育園
— ひろあめ@とんかつパロディＸ (@hiroame_12) May 2, 2023
写真では都会のど真ん中の森ですね。妻と年長次女の二人で蝶探し🦋
40種類ぐらい？生息してるらしくてウキウキしてましたね。ただ、まー、🦋以外の生き物の匂いがすごくて園内をぐるぐる廻ったそうです。楽しそうで何より🤩
■参考 港区探訪よりhttps://t.co/mAdn3lCMQh pic.twitter.com/VjCU0TErQt
40 kinds of butterflies! I can see children enjoying finding butterflies.
今日は暖かくお散歩日和ですね😊🍀
— ばばみど❤︎徳育ママ@kozure-odekake (@kozure) March 25, 2020
いつもの公園とは嗜好を変えて
自然緑地で森林浴
水面に映る桜が綺麗でした🌸#自然教育園
本物の自然は気持ちがいいですね〜✨
子どもにもいい刺激だった様子😆♬
今日こそ頑張って寝落ちせずに
ブログ更新できたらいいな💪 pic.twitter.com/ySliBblCXQ
It would be nice to go there during the cherry blossom season. This place is not known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, so it may be a hole in the ground.
今年度最初の校外学習は3組で国立科学博物館附属自然教育園へでかけました。今年度3組で新たなビオトープを作成します。その為の事前学習も含めてみんなで自然園に出かけました。都会の真ん中にこんな自然があることにみんな驚いていました。暖かな差日差しの中、緑と鳥の声を聞きながら散策しました。 pic.twitter.com/daVQbn5czT
— 青山中学校 (@aoyamajh) May 11, 2023
They are also used for school field trips. It means there is a lot to learn.
National Museum of Nature and Science Museum
| Location | 5-21-5 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
| Access | 9 min. walk from East Exit of Meguro Station on JR Yamanote Line Tokyu Meguro Line: 9 min. walk on Meguro St. from the main (central) exit of Meguro St. 7-minute walk from Shirokanedai Station (Exit 1) on Tokyo Metro Namboku Line/Toei Mita Line |
| Opening Hours | September 1 – April 30 9:00 – 16:30 May 1 – August 31 9:00 – 17:00 (Admission until 16:00) |
| Admission fee | Adults and college students 320 yen High school students and younger: Free |
*As of May 2022
Questions
Q: Are there any free admission days?
A: Admission was waived on May 4 (Greenery Day), May 18 (International Museum Day) and November 3 (Culture Day).
More details can be found on the website of the Nature Education Park.
Q: Can I re-enter the park?
A: Re-admission was possible. Those who wished to do so had to make an offer at the counter.
Q: Can I eat and drink?
A: Eating and drinking were allowed, except for alcohol. Rest areas and other facilities were available. There were plenty of benches in the park.
Q: Can I dispose of trash?
A: Garbage cannot be thrown away, so you should bring a plastic bag to take it home.
We should follow the rules in order to protect the nature.
Q: Are there diaper changing and nursing rooms available?
A: Diaper changing space was located in the restrooms for everyone in the Education and Administration Building. There was no nursing room.
Q: Is there anything I can’t bring in?
A: The following items could not be brought in.
Plants and animals
Playground equipment such as balls, jump ropes, etc.
Insect traps or insect cages
Alcohol
Radios
Musical instruments
Please note that you are not allowed to take nuts, etc. home with you.
Q: Is there parking available?
A: No parking was available. Please click here for information on parking in the area.
Introducing spots to play with children near the Nature Education Park.
It takes about 1-2 hours to visit the Nature Education Park, even if you take your time.
We will introduce two spots that we recommend you to visit in addition to the park.
If you want to have more fun, we recommend the park, and if you want to relax, we recommend the café.
After playing in the park for a while, we went to a café to relax.
If you want to run around, Shirokanedai Acorn Park
If you want to take a rest, CACAOCAT Shirokanedai
If you want to run around, Shirokanedai Acorn Park
The Nature Education Park is not a good place to run around, as there are differences in elevation and the pathways are not wide enough.
If you want to run around, we recommend the nearby Shirokanedai Donguri Park.
The park is owned by Minato Ward and has an open plaza and a hill where, as the name suggests, acorns fall in abundance in the fall.
In summer, they have a “jabu-jabu pond” where you can enjoy playing with water.
It was hot that day so my 3 year old son decided to play a little.
You can also have a picnic if you buy food nearby and bring leisure sheets.
According to reviews on SNS, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in spring, Bon Odori dance in summer, and autumn leaves in fall, according to each season.
It would be nice to visit in the season of acorns with children.
白金台 どんぐり公園のしだれ桜🌸 pic.twitter.com/rmSjL98uBM
— かろちゃん(karoyaka) (@karoyakaniodor1) March 26, 2018
太鼓のお子さんが素晴らしい✨
— 純 (@JnkJnk38378768) September 4, 2022
白金台どんぐり公園 pic.twitter.com/inSwlcIeEK
白金のどんぐり公園の様子。ようやく紅葉の赤も出てきました。
— MOTCH (@kennkn) November 13, 2021
ホッコラとするひとときですねぇ pic.twitter.com/cWA1kXKvvy
Shirokanedai Acorn Children’s Park
Website
https://www.city.minato.tokyo.jp/shisetsu/jidoyuen/takanawa/20.html
| Location | 19-1, Shirokanedai 5-chome, Minato-ku |
| Accsess | 3 minutes walk from “Shirokanedai” station on Toei Mita Line and Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line |
| Phone | 03-5421-7615 |
If you want to take a rest, CACAOCAT Shirokanedai
If you are tired of walking and exploring the educational nature slowly, you will want to take a rest.
We recommend the stylish cafe CACAOCAT.
CACAOCAT also has terrace seating, so you can bring your children or stroller.
Cafe CACAOCAT’s chocolates are made in their own factory in Hokkaido.
You can feel their commitment to chocolate.
I love chocolate!
My son has loved chocolate since he turned 3 and lifted the ban on chocolate.
If I let him choose what he likes in ice cream or cake, it will be chocolate.
The chocolate was shared with my child so as not to overeat.
The rich chocolate cake is so delicious!
Products with cat motifs are cute and seem to be popular by word of mouth.
The official Instagram is also great, so be sure to check it out.
I am also interested in their gelato and parfait!
今日は目黒までお出かけでした🤗用事が終わり、ここまで来たからにはお隣白金台の、cacaocatさんに寄らない訳にはいきません😆
— ふくからに (@jstorm_3104) April 18, 2021
前から気になっていたジェラート、ティラミス、イチゴミルク、ヘーゼルナッツのトリプル。お天気が良いので近くの公園でいただきましたよー🍦😋💕幸せ〜✨💕#cacaocat pic.twitter.com/9D7FcrxIBm
おはにゃん🐈⬛🐾
— CACAOCAT🐈⬛こねこのこねこねクッキー🐾/made in HOKKAIDO/DADACA (@CACAOCAT_) June 27, 2023
6月28日、今日はパフェの日！！
CACAOCAT & Chocolate Origin
枚方店、小倉店、白金台店【限定】の
❤️🍨🍓🤎🍨🍌❤️🍨🍓🤎🍨🍌
イチゴパフェ & チョコレートパフェ
❤️🍨🍓🤎🍨🍌❤️🍨🍓🤎🍨🍌
食べたくなっちゃった方〜🖐️
他の店舗でもやってよ〜😿と思った方🖐️
いいね！してね〜 pic.twitter.com/B6fWQm3K0Z
本日22:00〜 日本テレビ様の
— Chocolate Origin (@ChcolateOrigin) June 24, 2023
土曜ドラマ #ドクターチョコレート
ついに最終話ですね✨
️ 第8話で登場した『Chocolate Origin』の
チョコレートケーキ✨🟤✨
今夜はこれを食べながらドキドキ
ハラハラの最終話を観ると決めました。
何か、何となく、優越感に浸りながら🤭 pic.twitter.com/WEuwghN656
CACAOCAT Shiroganedai
| Location | 5-18-8, Shirokanedai, Minato-ku La Residence de Shirokanedai 1F |
| Accsess | 3 minutes walk from “Shirokanedai” station on Toei Mita Line and Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line |
| Phone | 03-6456-3975 |
| Openig hour | Weekday 9:00〜19:30 Holiday 9:00〜20:00 |
| Holiday | No |
List of articles introducing places to go with children who love nature
In the end
We visited the Nature Education Park to bring our children more in touch with nature.
I was able to nurture my child’s interest in picking up fallen nuts in a large forest, looking up the names of flowers in front of us, and engaging with a baby goshawk.
I recommend it to anyone who wants their children to be more in touch with nature!
The plants and blooming flowers are different depending on the season. This time it was fresh green season, so next time I would like to visit during the season of autumn leaves.
