---
title: Asakusa Hanayashiki
url: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/notes/asakusa-hanayashiki-asakusa-1/
lang: en
journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/asakusa-1/
---

# Asakusa Hanayashiki

A little of each town’s story　/　Taito, Tokyo

Opened in 1853, at the end of the Edo period, as a garden of peonies and chrysanthemums, it still operates as Japan's oldest amusement park. Its roller coaster, built in 1953, is the oldest existing coaster in Japan. Banners for the park's 170th anniversary stood in the garden. This time I rode a gondola hanging from an overhead rail and won a yellow duck at the shooting gallery.

2-28-1 Asakusa, Taito, Tokyo

## This moment in the journey: Japan's oldest amusement park

Next I headed to Asakusa Hanayashiki, opened in 1853 and the oldest amusement park in Japan. It began as a garden of peonies and chrysanthemums. The lights of the merry-go-round sparkled, and in the garden with its red bridge stood a banner celebrating the park's 170th anniversary.

From a raised walkway, the Skytree and the five-story pagoda of Senso-ji stand side by side. In front of them runs the oldest existing roller coaster in Japan, built in 1953, a popular ride that dashes thrillingly through the old town. I'll try riding something too.

![The Skytree, the pagoda and the park's tracks](https://karigurashijourney.com/img/asakusa-1/s101-1200.jpg)
- Sources: https://www.gotokyo.org/jp/spot/245/index.html
- Sources: https://www.enjoytokyo.jp/spot/l_00002550/

Read this scene in the full journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/asakusa-1/