Heiwa Kōen, Nagoya
last update: September 29, 2026
Heiwa Kōen (平和公園, literally "Peace Park") is a vast green area on the eastern hills of Nagoya, just north of Higashiyama Park. Created after the war as a large cemetery park where numerous burial grounds previously scattered across the city were brought together, today it combines cemetery areas with woodland, lawns, walking trails and open spaces where local residents come to stroll and relax. For tourists it is not one of Nagoya's must-see attractions, but it is a pleasant and little-visited place, especially interesting in spring, when it becomes popular for cherry blossom viewing. The same area is also home to a few lesser-known attractions, including an observation tower that is part of the city's water system and a large spa complex.
Things to see and do around Heiwa Kōen
The visit mainly revolves around the park, which occupies much of the area, but there are also a couple of nearby places that can make the walk more interesting. In particular, the Heiwa Kōen Aqua Tower offers a free panoramic viewpoint over the city on opening days, while Raku Spa Garden Nagoya is a good option for ending the day with baths, sauna, relaxation areas and manga.
Heiwa Kōen
Heiwa Kōen is much larger than it may appear on the map: the postwar project covered around 147 hectares of the city's eastern hills and involved relocating here the cemeteries belonging to 279 temples in Nagoya. Even today a substantial part of the park is occupied by rows of graves and memorials, but the most pleasant areas for a walk are mainly among the woods and green spaces in the southern section. There are no real "attractions" to visit one after another: the best way to enjoy Heiwa Kōen is simply to walk at an unhurried pace among trails, lawns and wooded areas.
the cemetery area of Heiwa Koen, seen from the Aqua Tower
The most beautiful period is undoubtedly cherry blossom season, usually between late March and early April. Around 1,200 cherry trees grow in the park, concentrated especially in the area known as Sakura no En, and during those days Heiwa Kōen becomes one of Nagoya's most popular places for hanami. Outside sakura season the atmosphere is much quieter: among the most pleasant spots are the large Metasequoia Hiroba, a lawn surrounded by greenery, and Kurashi no Mori, a wooded area crossed by trails that partly preserves the original natural environment of the hills.
cherry blossoms are the main reason to visit Heiwa Kōen in spring
One of the park's most recognizable monuments is the Niji no Tō ("Rainbow Tower"), a slender monumental tower rising above a large square which, surrounded by cherry trees in spring, has become one of the most characteristic images of Heiwa Kōen. The park is also home to Heiwa-dō, a memorial completed in 1964 to commemorate the relocation of cemeteries damaged during the war as Nagoya was rebuilt. These features help explain the unusual origins of the site: not a conventional urban park created purely for leisure, but a space born from postwar reconstruction and gradually transformed into a major natural and recreational area as well.
the "Rainbow Tower"
Heiwa-dō
Near Heiwa Kōen
Heiwa Kōen Aqua Tower
(free, open Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 10:00-16:00)
In the northern part of Heiwa Kōen stands the curious Heiwa Kōen Aqua Tower. At first glance it may look like a normal observation tower, but it actually has a much more practical function: it is a water tower built to ensure a stable water supply to the surrounding hilly areas. Inside the structure is a tank holding around 600 cubic metres of water, supplied by a large underground reservoir. This system allows water distribution to continue for a certain period even during power outages, and the facility also serves as an emergency water supply centre in the event of earthquakes or other disasters. On weekends and public holidays, visitors can go up free of charge to the observation deck 40 metres above ground, at around 120 metres above sea level. From here the view is surprisingly wide: to the south you can spot the Higashiyama Sky Tower, to the west the skyscrapers around Nagoya Station and, on clear days, the Suzuka, Sanage and Dando mountains on the horizon. It is a small and little-known attraction that is especially worthwhile if you happen to be at Heiwa Kōen on a weekend.
panoramic observation deck at the top of the Aqua Tower
Raku Spa Garden Nagoya
(adults 1,980¥ on weekdays and 2,730¥ on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays; generally open 9:00-2:00, until 8:00 on Fridays, Saturdays and days before public holidays)
Just a short walk from the northern edge of Heiwa Kōen is Raku Spa Garden Nagoya, a huge modern bathing complex (super sento) combining the experience of a traditional Japanese sento with that of a wellness centre and a place where you can easily spend several hours. The facility includes baths supplied with natural hot spring water, outdoor baths, carbonated baths, saunas and five different ganbanyoku areas, the so-called hot stone baths. Standard admission also includes towels, indoor clothing and access to the ganbanyoku areas. The concept goes far beyond that of a simple public bath: inside there are large relaxation areas, Wi-Fi, free coffee, a restaurant and, above all, a library with more than 40,000 manga and comics available to read freely, with sofas, alcoves and spaces where you can lie down. It is the kind of place where many Japanese visitors arrive in the afternoon and stay until evening, alternating between baths, sauna, reading and dinner. It can be an excellent way to end a long walk around Heiwa Kōen, especially on cold or rainy days. Bear in mind that, as in many Japanese bathing facilities, people with tattoos are not allowed to enter.
How to get to Heiwa Kōen, Nagoya
Heiwa Kōen does not have a subway station immediately next to it. The easiest way to get there by public transport is to reach Hoshigaoka on the Higashiyama Line and from there take city bus route Hoshigaoka 11, getting off at Heiwa Koen or Heiwa Koen Minami. The same route can also be used from Jiyugaoka Station on the Meijo Line. If you are already in the Higashiyama area and do not mind walking, the park can also be reached on foot from Higashiyama Koen Station, but allow around 30 minutes.
If you also want to visit the Heiwa Kōen Aqua Tower or continue on to Raku Spa Garden Nagoya, keep in mind that both are in the northern part of the area. For Raku Spa, the most convenient stop is Hikarigaoka, about a three-minute walk from the facility and served by several city buses, including services from Hoshigaoka and Jiyugaoka. Raku Spa SPA also provides a free shuttle bus with several daily departures from Hoshigaoka and, less frequently, from Sakae and Chikusa; the journey from Hoshigaoka takes around 15 minutes.
Map of Heiwa Koen, Nagoya
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the cemetery area of Heiwa Koen, seen from the Aqua Tower
cherry blossoms are the main reason to visit Heiwa Kōen in spring
the "Rainbow Tower"
Heiwa-dō
panoramic observation deck at the top of the Aqua Tower
