Asian Games @ Equestrian Park: Sept 22, 2026

 

 

I visited the Equestrian Park in Setagaya City to watch the equestrian events of the Asian Games.

The 2026 Asian Games (Aichi-Nagoya 2026, the 20th games) are being held primarily in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City from September 19 to October 4. However, some events are taking place in other places. The equestrian competitions are held at the Equestrian Park in Tokyo.

The weather was clear and sunny today, following the passing of a typhoon. Japan had been struck by a typhoon on September 20 and 21, causing widespread flooding and fatalities in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.

Originally, the cross-country phase of the eventing competition was scheduled for September 22. However, the plan was changed due to the typhoon's impact. Dressage and show jumping events were held instead.

Athletes—both human and horse—from about ten Asian countries and regions (including China, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, Qatar, Jordan, and Japan) participated in the competition. The national flags of the participating countries were displayed in the arena. (See also the top and 2nd photos)

 

More than 1,000 people, selected via a ticket lottery, visited the venue to cheer on the athletes.

Visitors also enjoyed walking around the venue grounds.

 

I also found an exhibition area for international exchange in the venue.

 

Naturally, security checks were conducted at the entrance.

However, the security presence felt less imposing compared to the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, and the atmosphere at the venue was relaxed.

This year's Asian Games hold 43 sports competitions and over 10,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions across Asia are expected to participate in.

 

Horse Show @ Baji Park: May 3, 2026

Japan is celebrating the “Golden Week” holidays from the end of April to the beginning of May.

A horse show was held at the Baji Park (Equestrian Park) in Setagaya City, Tokyo. Various events were planned.

Many families gathered at the venue, enjoying a relaxed time.

Various competitions, including show jumping and dressage, were held.

Numerous visitors watched the competitions.

I enjoyed the show jumping competition. The performance of horse and rider working together was magnificent.

The Japanese eventing team won a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, which has made the sport more popular than before.

The Baji Koen hosted the equestrian competitions for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. In September 2026, the equestrian events for the Asian Games will be held here.

Horse Show @ Equestrian Park: May 3-5, 2025

 

Japan had a Golden Week holiday season from the end of April to the beginning of May. I stayed in Tokyo and went to see the horse show at Baji (Equestrian) Park in Setagaya, western Tokyo.

 

The park was where the equestrian competitions for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games were held. Show jumping competitions, dressage competitions, dressage demonstrations, reprises, horse riding experiences for children, and other events were held over the three days from Many 3^rd to May 5^th.

 

Equestrianism has become more popular since Japan's eventing team won a bronze medal at last year's Paris Olympics. Many people visited the site to see the event, and on the final day, several thousand spectators gathered.

 

Top Japanese athletes, including an Olympic bronze medalist, participated in the jumping competitions. The audience cheered loudly at the impressive jumps.

 

The photo shows a rehearsal of the reprise by the Metropolitan Police Department's cavalry. It's surprising that some of them have been doing horse riding for only three years.

 

There were many stalls and kitchen cars at the venue. There were also many visitors with children. I enjoyed many aspects of the event.

Special horse event @Equestrian Park: Dec. 21, 2024

 

In the eventing (horse trials) competition of equestrian sports in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Japanese team acquired a bronze medal. It was the first Olympic medal for the country in the equestrian sports in 92 years.

The team was called “shoro Japan” or Japanese team with elder members. The team became popular in the country after the Olympic Games, partially helped by the friendliness of the nickname.

 

There was a special event with the team members held in the Equestrian Park in Tokyo. The weather was good and the autumn color was beautiful today.

They played model performances in the three events -- dressage, cross-country and jumping.

 

Hundreds of audiences welcomed four members of the team.

 

Mr. Kazuma Tomoto performed dressage. It was so elegant. (See also the 2nd photo)

 

Mr. Yoshiaki Oiwa performed jumping. He rode the horse for the first time today, but he easily crossed the bars. (See also the 3rd photo)

 

Mr. Ryuzo Kitajima and Mr. Toshiyuki Tanaka played cross-country riding. They ran fast, jumped over various objects including a automobile, and jumped into the water. (See also the top photo)

I enjoyed the event very much.

 

 

Paris: May 25, 2024

 

I made a quick visit to Paris. It was my first visit there in about five years.

I found that the city was in the Olympic boom.

The opening ceremony will be held at Palais de Chaillot near the Eiffel Tower. Temporary audience seats were built there.

 

Sene River will be used for the opening ceremony and other occasions. People will see the athletes from the world from the river banks.

Temporary seats were also built in Place de la Concorde. The competitions of breaking dance will be held there. (See the 3rd photo)

 

Pare of Parc de Champ de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower was closed to the public for the works. Beach volleyball games will be held here. (See the 2nd photo)

 

The building of Paris City was covered with posters of Olympic Games.

 

Temporary seats were also set in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral in the Cite Island. It is under reconstruction from the fire disaster in 2019. (See also the top photo)

 

Panels were displayed on the walls around the working site.

 

I found more people were using bicycles than they had been five years ago. The bicycle zones increased in the roads.

Many people were riding bicycles on Avenue de la Champs-Elyses.

The number of electric vehicles increased dramatically.

 

This is a photo of wind generators taken in the northern France from the Eurostar train. I saw various eco-friendly actions in many places.

 

The city was crowded with tourist from the world as five years ago. I saw many people enjoying boat tour in the Seine.

The city is continuously renovated and the Olympic Games accelerate such developments -- I got such impression.

The news stories report difficult issues such as immigration and the rise of extreme right. I did not find scenes related to such issues on the street corners today. The number of homeless people seemed fewer that it had been five years ago. It may just be temporary controlled.

 

Dressage competitions in Equestrian Park: March 17, 2024

 

 

The season is turning to spring. It is getting brighter and warmer in Tokyo,

I visited Equestrian Park in Setagaya City.

The weather was fine.

I found many families enjoying their times in the park.

 

There were dressage competitions held in the park.

Young riders from universities and horse-riding clubs participated in the event.

The facilities in the park were renovated after the Tokyo Olympic games in 2021.

The left is the main arena, where the competitions were held.

 

There were many horses in the waiting arena.

Many people were watching the horses and riders. (See also the top and 2nd photos) 

 

 

 

 

Tokyo Equestrian Park reopens: Nov. 5, 2023

 

We cannot talk about Japan’s equestrian sports without referring to The Tokyo Equestrian Park, or Baji Park in Japanese, in Setagaya City in Tokyo. The park hosted equestrian competitions in the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 and 2021.

It is also used for various equestrian events. The site is also used as a public park.

 

The park has been closed since 2017 for renovation (only parts of the site were open during the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021).

On Nov. 3, 2023, the park reopened.

I enter the park from the main gate and found a wide lawn fields. Kids were running around.

 

Facilities, such as a competition arena, office buildings, have been renovated.

There is a walking bridge in a preserved natural forest.

The drinking fountain is horse shape. (See the 2nd photo)

 

It is good to have a comfortable green-rich park in Setagaya City.