2026 Midai Minami Park (御勅使南公園) Wanpaku Wading Pond / Spring Pond: A Full Day of Fun

A full day of local fun built around the Wanpaku wading pond and spring pond at Midai Minami Park (御勅使南公園) in Minami-Alps City. They sit in the Central Plaza Zone of a vast park covering an area equal to about 7 Tokyo Domes, and the Wanpaku pond is only about 10 cm deep, so even small children can wade in safely. In 2026 it is open from April 30 to September 30, and the wading pond fountains run 10:00-15:00 on weekdays, 9:30-15:30 on Saturdays and Sundays, and 10:00-15:00 on public holidays. The stream flowing from the spring pond runs only on weekends and holidays, so a weekend visit greatly expands the waterside play area. Use is free, and the park also has a large playground with one of the biggest collections of play equipment in the prefecture, lawn areas and various sports facilities. Since the water play ends around 3 p.m., this course is built to start early, cover the highlights in the morning, and reach the water-play climax just after midday. In the morning, meet Jomon pottery at the Minami-Alps City Furusato Folk Culture Museum, then have lunch and shop at Michi-no-Eki Shirane roadside station. The distances around the city are easy and unhurried.