Horse Riding Poppy Fields – The icelandic poppies are currently blooming in Shinrin Park at the moment. Each year Shinrin Park have a horse trekking event during the period that the poppies are in bloom. They also have horse trekking events at other times of the year.
This year the poppy field horse riding experience is on both Saturday April 20th and Sunday April 21st. During this time you can also experience feeding a horse for just 100 yen.
These type of horse riding events are popular as there are only a handful of places in Saitama that you can casually experience riding a horse for a short period of time. Zoos such as Saitama Children’s Zoo and Chikozan Park zoo have a daily horse riding event and Midori no Mura in Ogano has a monthly event.
Children over four can ride by themselves, children under four need to ride with an adult. It costs 600 yen per ride. The event takes place 20 minute walk from both the SOUTH and the CENTRAL gate.
You can not book in advance so it is advised you arrive early.
The nearest train station is Shinrin Koen Station on the Tobu Tojo line. You can get a bus to the park from the station. You can also get a bus from Kumagaya Station on the Takasaki line.
On foot the nearest entrance to Shinrin Koen station is the South exit which is about 3 kilometres from the station.
Parking is available at each of the five entrances to Shinrin Park. It is charged by the day: 600 yen.