Sunpu Castle Park, Shizuoka City

Take the air in this pleasant, spacious public park

Oleh Peter Sidell

Community writer

The entrance to the park on the west side

Some remains of the castle that used to stand here

There are plenty of paths to stroll around slowly

And there are plenty of flowerbeds to admire

The turrets and gates are illuminated after dusk

There are fun statues hanging out around the walls

One of the turrets that used to protect the castle from invaders

There are a handful of other statues in the park

And there are lawns and places for kids to play

Once the site of Tokugawa Ieyasu's castle, Sunpu Park in the heart of Shizuoka City is now a pleasant, expansive green space for residents and visitors to relax in. There are still some signs of its past - intact turrets and sections of the walls and moat, other remains, a statue of Ieyasu looking stern - and for we modern-day folk there are lawns to stroll around and walk your dogs on, slides and swings for kids to play on, a separate traditional garden to enjoy, and an odd colourful clock that chimes with the "Old Grandfather Clock" song. It's also the main venue for the annual Street Performance World Cup, a four-day festival of international performance. Open from very early to well after dark, it's a good place to walk around slowly, taking the air and getting a break from the downtown bustle.