This was a parkrun I didn’t think I’d get to. It was also a last minute change of plans from my pencilled in plan of going to Urayasushi sogo koen parkrun (I even rewatched Nicola Runs video of this on the plane to prepare!)- our hotel at the end of our Japan trip was closer to Urayasushi park so Andy convinced me to go to a different one and save that one for the final Saturday.
Anyway, we stayed in the Ginza area of Tokyo this time, but after leaving home at lunch time on Thursday, having a 14 hour (delayed) flight to Hong Kong, a very panicked transfer and then over 4 hours flying to Tokyo, arriving late on the Friday night, I wasn’t sure I would make parkrun. After waking up at 3am and finally admitting defeat and getting up at 5, I decided to go for it. As this was our second trip to Japan, I felt more confident in using the train network and using google maps to help. Last time we arrived mid week and so I had a few days to get used to the system before heading off on my own (transport and directions are not my strong point). I had my Suica card on my phone already (you use it to pay for the journeys) and Andy helped me get the directions onto google maps so I was all set.
Shibamata koen kadan parkrun is a fairly new one in Tokyo (I was at event 62), and actually was super easy to get to from where we were staying. There are a few train stations in Ginza and one across the street from our hotel had a direct line to Keisei Takasago station, and it was then a 1.2 mile walk in along a straight (and very peaceful and pretty road) to where the parkrun started. (The road ends and you walk up some steps and then look down to the park alongside the river- the parkrun was visible from the top of the steps so it was very easy to find- the photo above top left shows the view from the parkrun start back up to the end of the road)
I arrived at around 7:30 (they start at 8) and could see the collection of high viz jackets from the end of the road as I looked down the steps. The name translates as Shibamata Park flowerbed parkrun which is just a gorgeous name- they are very proud that they have a photo in the regional parkrun calendar, and it seems that the flower beds along the route are often really colourful and well taken care of. As it was by the river it had some lovely views across the river, and plenty of greenery surrounding you as there was a wide strip with things like baseball parks there, plus a path for running and cycling, the big grass mound that went up to the road, and all the flower beds.
As I approached the start, one of the volunteers introduced himself- he was an English ex pat who had lived in Japan for 35 years. The other volunteers were very extremely friendly and straight away it felt like a community event (and not just one visited by tourists). The RD was doing her first stint in this role and was a bit nervous, but she was fabulous. They took loads of photos- of the volunteers, then of the first timers, then of everyone, and lots of people en route were taking photos too. There are no purple pop ups in Japan but they have these super banners with the event name on them, and here it was set up by the finish area and they were very keen for tourists to have their photos taken there, offering to take them for us. There were a few other British tourists and one guy from France (who spoke some Japanese which was super impressive). They also had little cards with QR codes on them linking to their facebook and instagram accounts as well as where the photos would be- they were very keen for everyone attending to have access to the photos. I think the banner I am holding says that we are the first timers? I was very worried about holding it upside-down but apparently it was correct.
They did their first timers welcome at 7:45, showing the route (it was a very simple out and back in two directions, basically like Hove Prom), and then the run brief was in Japanese and then English. They had some lovely touches like some little laminated milestone t-shirts for people to hold if they were doing a milestone. One person was doing his 25th milestone (see the photo above in the bottom right), and he looked very shy as he was gently encouraged to hold the card and have his photo taken. When I had finished he was given the card again to hold and everyone gave him a round of applause, and we were encouraged to pose for aa photo with him, and he seemed so genuinely happy.
After, they posted this on their facebook page (with facebook translating it from Japanese)- it’s a lovely sentiment and just shows how the community aspect of parkrun is as important as the running, and that this parkrun has really created a community:
A man in his 80’s who completed 25 runs ๐๐
I learned about parkrun while attending a ground golf event near the parkrun venue
Since I first participated in the Kasumata Park Parkrun in March this year, I’ve participated almost every week without fail.
“”So much fun running with everyone””””
“”I’m not good at talking, and I’m often alone,
“I started participating in parkrun, and I’m slowly enjoying conversations with different people.” It was very impressive to see how he spoke those words with a smileโบ๏ธ
Shai You Park flower bed parkrun ใ,
that it’s not just about running, it’s about connecting with people and finding new fun.
It’s a wonderful episode to feel again ๐ฟ
Let’s keep enjoying our Saturday morning together!
That little paragraph sums up parkrun so perfectly- connecting with people, finding new fun and enjoying parkrun together. The whole experience made me feel so happy and while I was running I was having almost those “pinch me” moments where I just felt so lucky- to be running somewhere so pretty and so friendly, and having the whole of our trip stretched out in front of me.
I ended up running with another tourist who had been in Tokyo since the Tuesday, and on our way around we had so many cheers and smiles from the other runners and volunteers. As it was an out and back course, you passed lots of runners out on the course so it had such a friendly feel. At one point a runner heading in the other direction took a selfie with us in the background, smiling and laughing and cheering us on, as we did to her. It would be a super fast one but after not having much to drink the day before on the flights, and not much sleep, I was sensible and ran gently, taking loads of photos and enjoying the experience.
When we finished, a few of the volunteers told the runner that I was with that her husband had gone to get some breakfast, but as they were going to the cafe after and the team wanted to walk them there, they said they would wait which was so kind of them (he did get back as they finished packing away anyway but I am sure they would have happily waited as they were all so welcoming).
I took a few more photos with the banner after (as you do) and then some of the finish area, before I needed to start heading back.
I wasn’t going to the cafe as I was keen to get back so we could do some sightseeing together, but the cafe was on the way back to the station so I walked there with the team. I finished in around 32 mins and the final person finished in 42 mins so after I had had some water, taken a few photos and chatted a bit more (and applauded the guy for his 25 milestone) they were already packing the event away. I could have quite happily joined in with the parkfaff too.
So that was my 426th parkrun, my second in Japan (I went to Futakotamagawa in August 2024) and my 144th different location overall. It was also number 28 in my current tourist streak.
Anyway, I totally loved the event, it was so friendly, as well as being simple to navigate to. I would definitely recommend a visit there if you are in Tokyo as it had a local feel as well as being inviting for tourists.