# Park24's Innovative Move Towards Safer Streets
In a bid to promote awareness around parking-related issues,
Park24 Co., Ltd. (based in Shinagawa, Tokyo) has announced its inaugural
Haiku Contest as part of its annual
Parking Day initiative. The contest aims to engage the public in reflecting on the social problems caused by street parking.
Scheduled to run from
April 22 to June 21, 2026, participants are invited to express their experiences and anecdotes related to
street parking,
parking lots, and
safe driving through haiku poetry. The winners will be announced in early August, alongside an exhibition of the winning poems in various locations.
Background of Parking Day
Since 1998,
August 9 has been recognized as
Parking Day, a day dedicated to highlighting the consequences of street parking. Park24's goal is to encourage people to consider the myriad of social issues that arise even from a single day of street parking.
Through this initiative, Park24 aims to create a safer environment for everyone, free from the dangers and inconveniences posed by street parking. The desire is for individuals to realize that
reducing street parking incidents could lead to fewer traffic accidents, decreased congestion, and improved access for emergency vehicles. The Haiku Contest serves as a creative outlet for individuals to share their sentiments on these pressing topics.
Contest Structure and Guidelines
Three themes will guide submissions for the Haiku Contest:
1.
Street Parking
2.
Parking Lots
3.
Safe Driving
Anyone can take part in the contest, with the chance to submit up to
10 haikus per person. Participants can contribute multiple times throughout the submission period. The rewards for the winners are substantial: each winner will receive a
banner featuring their haiku displayed at Park24’s
Times Parking locations throughout Japan, ensuring their creative work reaches a broad audience.
Additional prizes include
drip bags of original coffee crafted from beans served at the in-house
Times Cafe, along with a
3,000 yen worth parking e-ticket.
Such prizes are not merely tokens but are intended to encourage continued engagement with the themes at hand — bridges between enjoyable experiences and critical social issues.
Future Vision and Ongoing Activities
The Park24 Group continues to develop
Times Parking facilities that will allow individuals to park their vehicles whenever and wherever they need. Their commitment doesn’t end with the Haiku Contest; it includes ongoing educational programs addressing the dangers of street parking and implementing various social campaigns designed to raise awareness about parking-related issues. Their long-term vision is clear: to eliminate street parking and create a safer driving environment for everyone.
As we approach
Parking Day this year, Park24’s efforts remind us of the responsibility we all share in making our streets safer. So, grab your pens and start crafting your haikus. It’s time to raise your voice about the issues that matter on the roads we share!
For further details about the contest, visit:
Park24 Haiku Contest