Wander off the main road in any Japanese city and into the residential areas and you're bound to find a small, somewhat sad, sandy lot with a few bits of playground equipment, often a couple of animal-shaped rocking horses and a swing set. Look a little harder and you might come across a concrete fantasy land full of whimsical sculptures to excite a child's imagination and stir an adult's sense of nostalgia.
There is perhaps no other country that has such an incredible variety and number of such playground equipment as Japan. Thanks to people like b-spot enthusiast あさみん (Asamin) and photographer Kito Fujio, many of these incredible playgrounds have been thoroughly documented. Here are some of the most interesting.
OCTOPUS MOUNTAIN （タコの山）
The most ubiquitous is the "Octopus Mountain" which combines tunnels, steps, slide all in one. The first concrete octopus appeared in 1965 and by 2005 there were 189 in playgrounds across the country. The website "Museum of Park Slide" has detailed information on and a gallery of 108 of them.
【公園遊具】街の公園でよく見かけるたこの形のタコ遊具。遊具はひとつひとつ手作りのようですが、そんな中でも最も高額なのが、北九州市和布刈公園にいる4000万円のタコ遊具。ぬるりと伸びたタコの足は、メルヘンすら感じます。 pic.twitter.com/6PxYK99q60— あさみん (@papicocafe) March 24, 2015
FRUIT
As with the above tentacle drinking fountain, many playgrounds carry their theme throughout, transforming benches, toilet blocks, and other facilities to blend in with the play equipment. This fruit-themed playground has left nothing unfruited:
A carrot slide; leek bars; melon and eggplant rocking horses; persimmon and grape stools.
これこれ～！こうゆうの欲しかったんだよ～！公園遊具パラダイス☆ pic.twitter.com/G8T0ZhglI5— あさみん (@papicocafe) February 15, 2016
Jack-o'-lantern and sliced pumpkin slide; sweet potato tunnel.
@scorpion_ookami 遊具にくっついてるものより、果物や野菜のかたちをいかして遊具になってるものの方がいいですよね☆ pic.twitter.com/geNYJLiryM— あさみん (@papicocafe) February 15, 2016
From a different playground, and not quite concrete, is this peeled banana slide.
【公園遊具】こんなキテレツな遊具、だれが思い付いたのでしょう！？公園遊具のグッドデザイン賞あげたい！！バナナの滑り台です🍌 http://t.co/3G5OmsIBlL pic.twitter.com/zRFoVRxwnd— あさみん (@papicocafe) March 24, 2015
MYTHOLOGY AND FOLKLORE
Several traditional Japanese mythological creatures and folk stories have been transformed into playground equipment.
An oni playground.
それぞれ遠く離れた場所にある鬼の公園遊具。めちゃくちゃよく似てるけどなんか違う…どこに発注してるんでしょうか？？ pic.twitter.com/Ac2Ul2an6Y— あさみん (@papicocafe) February 10, 2016
The mythological Okinawan Shisa.
Fukushima's famous Akabeko (red cow) bobble-head folk toy is the theme of Akabeko Park in Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima.
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| Source: ワンダーJAPAN vol. 16 / 304 |
FANTASY
Western fiction and fantasy also makes splendid playground equipment.
Gulliver's Travels
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| Source: Sapporo Park Guide |
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| Source: Sapporo Park Guide |
Pirate Swings
【公園遊具】労働者。 pic.twitter.com/9ARAIraINE— あさみん (@papicocafe) April 5, 2015
DINOSAURS
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| Source: warudutoya |
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| Source: warudutoya |
ANIMALS
Pufferfish
Monkey toilet block
サルのトイレ pic.twitter.com/m0Jg45CF0J— あさみん (@papicocafe) January 14, 2016
Frog
Chicken slide and egg seats
【公園遊具】珍しい上にとってもかわいいにわとりの遊具。周りにはたまごをあしらったイスまであるこだわり。統一感のあるコーデで◎。 pic.twitter.com/F8wfn0E26U— あさみん (@papicocafe) March 23, 2015
Stag beetle
【公園遊具】大きな団地の真ん中に大きなカブトムシがいました！ pic.twitter.com/VoI7Y0cjSM— あさみん (@papicocafe) May 10, 2015
TRAINS, PLANES, AND ROBOTS
公園遊具好き垂涎！ネットにも本にも載らない載せない大凡お蔵入り秘蔵公園遊具写真を一挙公開！まじここでしか見られないし二度と見れないよ！／ 街の怪物件ナイト！２～珍スポ二大女神降臨伝説～http://t.co/iyl9AsARuR pic.twitter.com/CDJEeZYbzu— あさみん (@papicocafe) June 22, 2015
TELEPHONES
【公園遊具】初めて見たとき驚愕しました。ダイヤル式電話機の滑り台です。家電で遊具を作ろうなんて一体誰が考えたのでしょう。最近のお子さまは「ダイヤル」がなにかわからないのだそう。未来に伝えたいかわいすぎるデザインです。 pic.twitter.com/68UO3q1OpX— あさみん (@papicocafe) April 7, 2015
PUBLICATIONS
Kito Fujio / Fujio Panda
Official Website
Blog
Tumblr
Kito Fujio aka Fujio Panda is a photographer whose interested is in nostalgia, photographing playgrounds, rooftop theme parks, and bath houses. Fujio has published three photographic volumes of playground equipment which can be purchased directly from his official website here which also has a list of online stores which stock them. You may need to make use of a shipping forward service such as Tenso if you're purchasing from outside Japan.
公園遊具 (Playground Equipment)
32 pages
800JPY
公園遊具 vol.2 (Playground Equipment vol.2)
32 pages
800JPY
公園遊具 vol.3 (Playground Equipment vol.3)
32 pages
800JPY
あさみん (Asamin) / Papicocafe
Blog
Asamin is a dedicated B-spot enthusiast who seeks out the kitsch, retro, and run-down with a vast collection of photographs of playground equipment. Asamin's other commonly covered spots include run-down theme parks, odd museums, strange architecture, and retro shopping arcades. One of the best Twitter accounts to follow if you're interested in more obscure and unusual tourist spots.
Asamin's book, "100 Famous Views of Concrete Animal Playground Equipment," is available for purchase from the Hakkaku Culture Union Store. Again, you may need to use a shipping forwarding service, or you can try you luck at Mandarake which has a website in English and ships internationally.
Wonder Japan (ワンダーJAPAN)
Official Website
Wonder Japan is a magazine for b-spot, haikyo, and factory enthusiasts. Volume 16, available here on kindle from Amazon Japan [How to Download Japanese Books for Kindle], has a feature on playground equipment, although playground equipment is often featured in smaller articles in other issues.
Hard copies are available new and used from the Amazon Japan Marketplace however most sellers won't ship internationally so you'll either have to use a shipping forwarding service or try Mandarake.
Other Sources:
滑り台保存館 Museum of Park Slide
Information on Octopus Mountain playground equipment and a gallery of 108 different installations.
札幌公園ガイド （Sapporo Park Guide)
Photos and information of parks in Sapporo sorted by area.
恐るべき児童公園 (Awesome Children's Parks)
Children's playgrounds、 mostly around Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture.
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