Tokyo’s Shibaura Minami Futo Park

Backyard Tourism Vol. 7

Oh man… It feels like I haven’t penned a piece since Nam or something. The past few weeks are the first time since I started producing content that I’ve allowed myself to fall off the wagon. Lately, my mind has been mired in a maze of conflicting priorities and opinion such that it’s been nigh impossible to discern what it is actually believe. Of course, any confidence in a conclusion has been utterly undermined by the fact that we live now in “interesting times” as per this traditional Chinese curse. Behind me is a pack of hungry wolves and before me is the unknowability of this unprecedented age.

Anyway, while I am not yet up to doing a lengthy exposé on some unknown part of Japan, I do want to take a swing at getting back to weekly writing. Though we may never actually be able to go back to a pre-coronavirus world where people can regularly travel as they did, producing content is rather therapeutic. So, on that note, I’d like to share a spot that I recently stumbled upon during a particularly long walk across Tokyo. Since then, it has become my go-to spot when brooding on solutions to the conundrums of meaning, purpose and life in Japan.

So, without any further ado, allow me to introduce Shibaura Minami Futo Park. Located on the mainland side of Rainbow Bridge, this little slice of heaven is a much welcomed escape from the madness that is life during one of the worst pandemics to ever plague humanity. Protruding right up to the very edge of Tokyo Bay, Shibaura Minami Futo Park is also a welcomed reprieve from the smothering heat of summer. What’s more, Tokyo’s iconic archway passes directly offer the park, thereby affording it one of the best views around.

While Shibaura Minami Futo Park is indeed home to a small field for sporting endeavors, I don’t recall actually seeing anyone ever using it. In fact, the seaside getaway is far more popular with fisherman who flock there to get away from the stress of city life. I think I’ve been to Shibaura Minami Futo Park a total of five or six times now in the past few weeks and every time, there’s always a host of fisherman without fail. Given the view though, it’s easy to see why anyone would want to make Shibaura Minami Futo Park their favorite spot for fishing.