CONTRIBUTED BY KARA PIERACCINI
Whenever I see an Okinawan park that is called an Athletic Park, I know it’s going to be a good one. The Nishizaki Athletic Park in Itoman was no different!
The park has a baseball field, gymnasium, multipurpose areas, a track, tennis courts, a pool, and a playground.
The pool has an indoor area for lap swimming and an outdoor waterpark. There is a lifeguard on duty and showers and locker rooms are available.
We checked out the pool in passing, but we didn’t stop since we hadn’t planned on swimming. We did make a stop at the playground though! The main focus of the playground is large, three story, rock structure. There is a tunnel through the bottom of the structure, a cave on the second level, and the top leads you to the rollerslide. The rollerslide takes you over water to the other side, leaving you to take a small bridge back to the playground. No worries on the water, it’s maybe a foot deep. There is other playground equipment in front of the big structure with netting to climb on, tires to climb through, and another slide.
The playground has a parking lot, plenty of seating, and a bathroom inside a large boat.
From the expressway: take the expressway like you are going to the airport, all the way to the very end. When you get off, stay straight on that road. You’ll come to the 331 split (straight for the airport or left towards Itoman). Take the left to Itoman. You’ll go over a few bridges and overpasses. You’ll pass the Ashibina Outlet Mall on the left and see a playground there. After the next bridge, the Nishizaki Athletic Park will be on the left. Turn left at the Family Mart and you’ll see the playground. Parking for the playground is a little down after your turn.
Pool hours: 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (closes at 7:00 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays.) Closed on Mondays.
Pool price: ¥750 for adults
Pool phone number: 098-992-4527