Originally Posted by
BalbC
E2A
The gate staff had no idea, but spoke to a visitor manager who said it hadn't been decided yet, and they might not open early if the equipment needed repairs. However, we had a wander through and the animals in the pool have been repainted and they were working on cleaning the small pool out. So it looks like they were getting it ready for an early opening.
I did try asking a few people myself, but didn't get very far. Didn't seem to be common knowledge and with my miming and very, VERY limited Japanese I was just making everyone feel awkward. Thanks for confirming the reason behind my lack of progress, and please know that I really appreciate you pursuing this enquiry. Showa Kinen Koen really is special, isn't it?
Am up in the chilly North right now, up at the snow line where the sakura is still encased in tight little buds. Plenty of fuki no tou (butterbur sprouts) on the hiking trails, alas no kitchen to cook them in but I did have access to as many of them in tempura as I could possibly ever wish to eat last night.