The city of Nagoya, home to some two million residents, enjoys a status as the metropolitan core of Central Japan. The municipality is highly urbanized, but it also offers a number of rather large and easily accessible parks and green areas for citizens to enjoy. One such place is Meijo Park.

Meijo Park is easy to get to by subway. Just take the Meijo Line three stops north of Sakae to Meijo Koen ("koen" means "park"), go out exit 2...and you're there!

Green and peaceful, the park borders on the Nagoya Castle grounds.

Covering an extensive area that includes ponds, a variety of flowers, statues and other art, playgrounds for families with kids, tennis courts and other sports facilities, and even some restaurants, Meijo Park attracts visitors of all ages and walks of life who come to take advantage of its features.

There are even bike paths and a jogging track – features that are sure to be appreciated by visitors from overseas who are looking for ways to keep physically fit during their travels in Japan.

In springtime, the park comes alive with vibrant color as flowers of many different kinds burst into bloom.

Large numbers of cherry trees planted in the park also make it a popular destination for hanami – cherry-blossom viewing.

The trees were just starting to bloom on the day of my visit, but already a number of groups had made the trek to the park enjoy this traditional annual diversion, many of them throwing down blankets and making a picnic of it.

One enterprising man had set up a table near the park entrance and was selling hanami visitors tasty-looking sandwiches of miso-katsu – deep-fried breaded pork cutlets seasoned with a sauce made from the rich red miso that this region is known for.

Armed with some sandwiches, I joined the group under the trees to munch on them while enjoying the blossoms.

Weekend and nighttime blossom-viewing is often lively and sometimes even a bit raucous, depending on the location. Beer and other alcohol flow freely, and some groups even bring their own karaoke machines! On weekdays, though, especially early in the day, the park's visitors tend to be retirees, and stay-at-home parents with small children, and during these times it's possible to enjoy hanami in surroundings that are quiet and serene.

After a spell under the cherry trees, my thirst and appetite whetted by the sandwiches, I went looking for more substantial fare.

My explorations took me to "tonarino," a two-story commercial complex with dining establishments as well other businesses and services, including shower rooms, coin lockers, a sports-massage service, and other facilities geared to the runners who use Meijo Park.

The complex’s exterior of unfinished wood provides a restful understated ambience that goes well with the greenery of the park.

The facility includes a plaza with food trucks offering a variety of food selections to enjoy while ambling through the park.

I decided to start by quenching my thirst at the Dean & Deluca café on the second floor, which advertised a new-to-me frozen smoothie made with fresh strawberries and fruit tomatoes.

Hitting just the right balance of sweetness and acidity, the drink proved to be delicious and refreshing!

For more substantial fare, I wandered back downstairs. A peek through the windows of Italian restaurant Garb Castello showed the place to be a popular draw, and the variety of pizza on the signboard by the entrance certainly looked tasty!

The basic margherita was my selection. The meal started with a salad, followed by the pizza itself, hot from the oven, and it didn’t disappoint!

Spacious and inviting, Meijo Park is an ideal destination to unwind a bit from the bustle of traveling. It’s also great for resting up a bit and getting a bite to eat after touring the nearby castle. I know I’ll be back again!