2026 Sazanami Children's Park (さざなみ児童公園) Fountain Full-Day Course

This is a full-day course centered on the Sazanami Children's Park Fountain (さざなみ児童公園 噴水施設), just a 7-minute walk from the East Exit of JR Utsunomiya Station, so it's reachable entirely by train. According to the City of Utsunomiya, in the 2026 season the water runs from July 18 (Sat) through August 30 (Sun), from 10:00 to 16:00. Admission is free, and besides the fountain there are restrooms and a pergola, which is a nice feature for a park this close to the station, letting you play while resting in the shade. It is scheduled to close for regular cleaning from August 6 to August 7 and from August 24 to August 25, so plan around those days. Bare feet are not allowed in the water, so be sure to bring sandals or other footwear. In the morning, visit the former Shinohara family residence (旧篠原家住宅) on the opposite side of the station. Built of Oya stone and black plaster in the Meiji era, this merchant house preserves the memory of the town of Utsunomiya just as it was. For lunch, take your time eating at Bell Mall (ベルモール), the large shopping mall on the east side of the station, and pick up anything you still need. In the afternoon, return to Sazanami Children's Park and spend time until evening in the spray of the fountain. It's a light summer outing you can put together entirely without a car.