Ippongi Park is a beautiful public park in Nakano City, Nagano Prefecture, where visitors can enjoy seasonal flowers, greenery, cultural attractions, and local events throughout the year.
The park opened in 1984 and has since become a popular place for both local residents and visitors. It is especially famous for its impressive rose garden, which contains more than 850 varieties and 3,500 rose plants.
The foundation of the rose garden was created when the late Kikuo Kuroiwa donated the roses he had carefully cultivated at his home to the city. Because of this remarkable collection, Ippongi Park is also affectionately known as the “Rose Park.”
Roses are the park’s main attraction, but the grounds are also planted with cherry trees, perennial flowers, and many other seasonal plants. The changing landscape gives visitors something different to enjoy throughout the year.
The most spectacular season is generally May through June, when thousands of roses bloom at once. Their vivid colors and rich fragrances transform the park into a particularly beautiful floral landscape.
Ippongi Park is designed not only for flower lovers but also for families and people looking for a relaxing outdoor space. The grounds include large grassy areas, playground equipment, and open spaces where children can play freely.
An outdoor stage and multipurpose plaza are also used for local events and community activities, allowing visitors to experience the lively connection between the park and the people of Nakano.
One of the park’s distinctive features is the former Nakano Elementary School building, a Western-style structure from the middle of the Meiji period that was relocated to the park.
The historic building is now home to the Shinshu Nakano Copperplate Lithography Museum. Parts of the former school interior have been preserved, giving visitors a nostalgic glimpse into education in Japan during the Meiji era.
The Nakano Rose Festival is the park’s largest annual event. It is generally held from late May through mid-June, when the roses are at their most spectacular.
The first festival was held in 1994. Since then, it has attracted visitors from both within and outside Nagano Prefecture. The 16th festival in 2009 recorded more than 90,000 visitors, the highest attendance at the time.
During the festival, visitors can enjoy performances by local music groups as well as a variety of flower-related activities.
Rose seedlings, potted plants, and cut flowers are available for purchase, while local agricultural products such as fresh vegetables, fruit, and mushrooms from Nakano City are also sold.
Volunteer members of the Ippongi Park Rose Association also offer guided tours and rose-growing workshops, providing opportunities to learn more about the flowers and how they are cultivated.
During the Rose Festival, visitors are asked to pay a cooperation fee of 500 yen per adult, or 400 yen for groups. The funds are used to help maintain the park and support the operation of the festival.
Rose Garden: More than 850 varieties and 3,500 rose plants.
English Garden: A landscaped garden offering a Western-style garden atmosphere.
Trailer House Café: A convenient place for light meals and refreshments.
Multipurpose and Recreation Areas: Open spaces for events, relaxation, and free play.
Playground Equipment: A popular area for children.
Gazebos and Benches: Comfortable places to sit and take a break.
Outdoor Stage: Used for performances, concerts, and community events.
Former Nakano Elementary School: A historic building containing a cultural museum.
The Shinshu Nakano Copperplate Lithography Museum is a cultural facility located within Ippongi Park. It opened in 1997.
Its official name is Ippongi Park Former Nakano Elementary School Building and Shinshu Nakano Copperplate Lithography Museum. The museum is managed and operated by the Ippongi Park Rose Association.
The museum displays copperplate lithographs by well-known artists donated by Isao Akagawa, along with works by Kazuo Kikuchi, a sculptor who was born in Nakano City.
The museum provides an accessible setting where visitors can encounter art while also learning about the area’s history and cultural heritage.
The museum occupies the former west building of Nakano Jinjo Elementary School, constructed in 1896.
The building was relocated and restored within Ippongi Park in 1984, and in 1985 it was designated as a tangible cultural property by Nakano City.
Its wooden Western-style architecture retains the atmosphere of the Meiji era, while the interior has been adapted as an exhibition space. Walking through the building provides a sense of what a school in Japan might have looked like more than a century ago.
March–November: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
December–February: 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Closed: December 29–January 3.
Admission: Free for the permanent exhibition.
By car: Approximately 15 minutes from the Shinshu-Nakano Interchange on the Joshin-Etsu Expressway.
By public transportation: Approximately a 5-minute walk from Nakano-Matsukawa Station on the Nagano Electric Railway.
Parking: Space for approximately 50 standard vehicles and 3 large vehicles.
The Shinshu Nakano Copperplate Lithography Museum serves not only as an art museum but also as a place for local cultural activities and historical education.
The grounds in front of the building include a monument commemorating the Nakano Junior High School song, various memorial monuments, and bronze statues. These features add another layer of local history to a visit to the park.
Ippongi Park offers much more than a beautiful rose garden. Its seasonal flowers, open lawns, family-friendly facilities, historic school building, and cultural museum make it a varied destination for visitors exploring Nakano.
During the rose season, the park becomes especially colorful and fragrant, while the historic school building offers a completely different experience, allowing visitors to step back into the atmosphere of Meiji-era Japan.
For travelers interested in gardens, Japanese flowers, local history, traditional architecture, and regional culture, Ippongi Park is a rewarding place to visit in northern Nagano.