New barrier-free playground equipment! The newly renovated "Otani Square in Higashihirao Park" also features a "new grass ski slope"

Hello. I'm Ucchi, who loves delicious food and going out.

This time, we will introduce Otani Square in Higashi Hirao Park, which is attracting attention as it reopens on April 1, 2025.

New barrier-free playground equipment will be available on April 1, 2025! The grass ski slope will also be renovated at "Otani Square in Higashihirao Park" (Higashihirao Park, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City)

Higashi Hirao Park, which opened in 1976, is about a five-minute drive from the domestic passenger terminal building at Fukuoka Airport. It is a comprehensive park that includes Hakata no Mori Athletic Stadium, Accion Fukuoka, and Best Denki Stadium.

The "Otani Square" located within is a great playground for children, with athletic play equipment, a grass ski slope, a roller slide, a water play area, and more!

Image: Ucchi

Part of Otani Square will be renovated and reopened on April 1, 2025! A play area for everyone, a lawn area, and a café have been created, and the grass ski area has also been beautifully maintained.

There is also an air-conditioned diaper changing corner, as well as a nursing room equipped with a sofa and water heater, making it easy for families with small children to use.

Image: Ucchi

Everyone can have fun together! "Everyone's Play Area"

The "Everyone's Play Area" is equipped with inclusive play equipment that has been designed with various considerations in mind so that everyone can enjoy it together, regardless of age, gender, or whether they have a disability.

Image: Ucchi

The first thing that caught my eye was the jump trampoline, one of the largest in Kyushu.

Image: Ucchi

This giant trampoline can accommodate up to 16 children between the ages of 6 and 12 at a time!

Image: Ucchi

Everyone was playing there with smiles on their faces, jumping around and chasing each other around♪

This playground equipment is very popular with small children.

Image: Ucchi

The sliding surfaces were bumpy and looked like fun!

Image: Ucchi

Swings are a popular playground equipment in parks.

Image: Ucchi

There was also a safety type swing with a backrest and fall prevention support.

Even small children and those who have difficulty maintaining balance can enjoy this swing more safely.

Image: Ucchi

In the center of the square, there is a yellow-green container-like object. What is it?

Image: Ucchi

It's actually a rotating playground equipment! Not only is it designed to be difficult to tip over, but you can also lean your body against the backrest or lie down to play. If you sit facing inwards, you can see the other person's face!

Both the spinner and the one being spun can have fun.

This is a dome-shaped playground equipment with an entrance and exit as well as several holes.

Image: Ucchi

Try climbing up the steps,

Image: Ucchi

You can also crawl inside the dome. It's the perfect hiding place for a game of tag!

Another noteworthy point about this playground equipment is that it can be used as a space for "solo play." The fact that the park has "places where you can play at your own pace" and "places where you can spend time quietly" seems like it will be an important option for children of all kinds to have fun playing.

Image: Ucchi

The net playground equipment has different mesh sizes, so children can climb on the net, hang from it,

Image: Ucchi

There were some kids lying down like they were in a hammock, swaying back and forth. It looks so comfortable!

Image: Ucchi

A play panel where children around 1 or 2 years old were playing.

Image: Ucchi

You can play with it in a variety of ways, such as touching it, looking at it, and playing pretend games.

The ground in the "Everyone's Play Area" is paved with skin-colored and blue rubber chips to reduce the risk of injury.

It's also great that it's wheelchair and walker friendly!

Image: Ucchi

The ever-popular "grass skiing" has also been revamped!

Grass skiing has been very popular since before the renovation. It's in the same place as before, but the artificial turf has been replaced and it looks great!

Image: Ucchi

There are two sides, large and small.

Image: Ucchi

Children up to elementary school age are eligible to use this service (young children must be accompanied by a guardian aged 18 or over).

You can play for 15 minutes at a time. You can use a rental sled (free of charge) (you cannot bring your own sled). The available hours are 9:30-18:30 from April to September, and 10:00-16:30 from October to March. The slopes are closed on rainy days and during the New Year holidays.

Previously, there were long queues and it could feel dangerous with a large number of people sliding at once, but since the renovation, various operating methods and usage rules have been introduced on a trial basis.

Please check the official website or Instagram for the latest information on changes to the rules and dates when grass skiing is suspended.

Image: Ucchi

The sliding experience seemed to have improved as well, and it was heartwarming to see the children sliding down the slide with smiles on their faces and screaming "Eeek!" and "This is fun!"

It seemed like even small children could ski more safely.

Image: Ucchi

Newly constructed "Lawn Square"

This time, a new "Lawn Square" has been created in front of the "Everyone's Play Area."

The park is currently closed as the grass is being maintained, but it is spacious and open (scheduled to open on June 1, 2025).

Image: Ucchi

"Tully's Coffee Fukuoka Higashihirao Park Store" opens in the plaza!

Tully's Coffee Fukuoka Higashihirao Park store has also opened in a corner of Otani Square.

What's more, this is the first Tully's Coffee store in Kyushu to have a drive-through located within a park.

Image: Ucchi

From the spacious, open-air restaurant, which is completely made of glass, you can get a panoramic view of Otani Square. Another notable feature is that it is barrier-free.

There is a kids' space, semi-private rooms that can be partitioned, and a kids' menu is also available, so it's easy to bring children along.

Additionally, the Fukuoka Higashihirao Park store is the only one where you can purchase the "Tully's Coffee x Avispa Fukuoka collaboration tenugui" (2,200 yen)!

Image: Tully's Coffee

The design features Avispa Fukuoka's official mascots, "Abby-kun" and "Bibby-chan," enjoying coffee time, combined with a Japanese-style emblem and a soccer ball. It's a great souvenir, as it can only be bought here, and is a great keepsake for those who have been to a match.

Parking has also changed!

Due to this renovation, Otani Hiroba Parking has become a paid parking lot. The first 20 minutes are free, and after that it is 100 yen per 60 minutes, with a maximum of 500 yen on the day. However, please note that on event days such as J League games, there is a special fee (2,500 yen per time for 3 hours or more after entering the parking lot).

Image: Ucchi

By the way, a portion of the profits from Tully's Coffee and the parking lot will be used to help with the maintenance costs of the Everyone's Play Area.

It's evolving even further! Service is scheduled to open in all areas in spring 2026

The renovation of "Otani Square" is actually still in progress. It is expected to evolve even more from here!

The "roller slide" and "adventure fortress (athletics)", which were very popular with children even before the renovation, will soon be replaced and renovated.

Image: Ucchi

According to someone at Fukuoka City Hall, the splash pool where you can splash around in the water will be expanded in size and renovated so that people in wheelchairs can use it.

Image: Ucchi

Other attractions scheduled to open in spring 2026 include an observation deck, grassy hill, summit plaza, forest plaza, and mountain climbing path.

Higashihirao Park Otani Square is full of ideas that everyone can enjoy. Please come and visit. (Text by Ucchi)

＜Click on the store name for more details about the store ↓＞
■ Higashihirao Park Otani Square
Address: 2-1-2 Higashihirao Park, Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City
Business hours: [Management Office] (April to September) 9:00 to 19:00​, (​October to March) 9:00 to 17:00 [Grass skiing hours] (April to September) 9:30 to 18:30, (October to March) 10:00 to 16:30​
Closed: None
*This article is current as of the time of publication. *Prices in the text include tax.
* Any secondary use of the content of this site (images, text, etc.) such as duplication, reproduction, diversion, modification, etc. without permission is strictly prohibited. If found to be in violation, legal action may be taken.

#go out Check them all out!
　#Fukuoka Airport area　#Fukuoka spot for families　#family
⇒【NEW】Click here for the latest information on Fukuoka

＜Other articles you may like＞
◆[Fukuoka, Hirao] A hidden restaurant run by a talented chef
◆[One Building] Premium Western-style lunch
◆[Daimyo Lunch] Great value for money Popular Chinese food