# Asakusa Hanayashiki

> A tiny park a few minutes' walk from Sensoji that began as a flower garden in 1853. Its 1953 roller coaster, the oldest still running in Japan, threads between the rooftops of Asakusa at 42 km/h.

- Prefecture: Tokyo
- Type: Amusement park
- Address: Taito, Tokyo, Japan
- Hours note: Usually 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry 17:30), with extended evening hours on some summer days and occasional maintenance closures; check the official calendar.
- Admission: 1600 yen
- Official site: https://www.hanayashiki.net/

Hanayashiki opened in 1853 as a garden of peonies and chrysanthemums, added its first rides around 1872 and was rebuilt as an amusement park after the war. It sits in a single cramped block northwest of Sensoji, so everything is stacked tight: rides brush past the neighbours' walls and you can see the whole park in an hour.

The Roller Coaster dates from 1953 and is the oldest one still running in Japan. Top speed is only 42 km/h, but the track runs so close to the surrounding buildings that it feels much faster. The Bee Tower, put up in 1960 as a 50 m satellite tower, and the Bikkuri House, which took that name in 1950, keep the Showa feel. The rooftop reopened in March 2026 as a flower-themed area.

Admission and rides are paid separately: ride tickets cost ¥100 each, or there is an unlimited-ride pass. It is small and old-fashioned, which is the point. Thrill seekers will be done fast; families with small children and anyone curious about Tokyo's past tend to enjoy it more.

## FAQ

### How much does Hanayashiki cost?

Admission is ¥1,600 for adults (junior high age to 64) and ¥800 for children from age 5 through elementary school and for seniors 65 and over; under-5s are free. Rides are extra: ¥100 tickets (11 for ¥1,000), an unlimited-ride pass at ¥3,000 on top of admission, or a one-day pass including admission for ¥4,600. Prices can change, so check the official site.

### Is the Hanayashiki roller coaster scary?

Not by modern standards: the top speed is 42 km/h and there are no loops. The thrill comes from the age of the ride and from how close it runs to the houses and buildings next to the park. Riders must be at least 110 cm tall.

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Source: Asakusa Hanayashiki — Japan Voyage