Fuchu and Chofu: Take a Stroll Through Tokyo’s Lush Green Cities!
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Chofu and Fuchu in West Tokyo is a completely different part of the capital despite being 30 minutes by train from Shinjuku Station. There’s Jindaiji Temple, Kitaro Chaya, and the Tokyo Racecourse! Let’s dive into an extraordinary part of Tokyo together!
Latest update : 2024.02.26

Tama, located in the western side of Tokyo, is an area rich with nature and its location makes it especially easy to access Chofu and Fuchu by train from the city center.

The city vibes and nostalgic nature-filled atmosphere coexist in these cities to truly encapsulate the image of being a rural city. You can enjoy being surrounded by the lush greenery and seasonal landscapes.

In this article, we introduce the perfect spots for enjoying a stroll in Chofu and Fuchu.

Jindai Botanical Gardens has the largest rose garden in Tokyo and is where you can admire plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, and a variety of other flowers. Flower-related festivals and events are also held with the change of the seasons.

You can see rare tropical plants, an orchid and begonia flower garden, and tropical water lilies in the large greenhouse next to the rose garden and gain new knowledge while taking in the beautiful scenery. Moreover, the gardens are open at night during the summer for visitors to enjoy the flowering flora in the evening!

Jindaiji Temple has 1,300 years of history and is a very famous sightseeing destination in Japan.

Sanmon Gate in particular is an existing architecture from the Edo period and one of the few structures that escaped being lost in a large fire that hit Jindaiji Temple in the past. It is designated a tangible cultural property of Chofu together with the temple’s main hall which houses a statue of the Crown Amitabha Buddha.

The architecture on the Jindaiji Temple grounds are also worth appreciating in detail. The Shakyamuni Buddha, the oldest national treasure in East Japan, is enshrined at the temple along with other gorgeous Buddha statues and paintings.

Stroll through the temple grounds as ancient scents waft in the air. By doing so, you will experience the world of Japanese Buddhism and feel purified in both mind and body.

Jindaiji Yaoki, a popular soba noodle shop, is located along the approach to Jindaiji Temple. Kusa manju, sweet red bean paste wrapped in a crispy steamed bun, has an irresistible taste and fluffy texture when eaten warm.

On the other hand, their mitarashi dango, delicious sweet dumplings grilled on charcoal fire and generously basted in a salty-sweet sauce, are completely different from premade dango!

You can eat it as you walk or enjoy it together with some warm tea inside the shop. Either way, it is incredibly Japanese.

The Jindaiji area possesses clean water which makes it suitable for cultivating soba (buckwheat) and has prospered in soba cultivation for hundreds of years. Although the production volume of soba in the region has gradually decreased with time, there are still around 20 traditional soba shops in the Jindaiji area.

The Tokyo Racecourse, otherwise known as Fuchu Racecourse, opened in 1933 and has a history of 90 years. It has undergone multiple renovations and has now become a modern place that can be enjoyed by the entire family while relaxing.

It not only functions as a racecourse, but also houses many restaurants and playgrounds for children within the facility. You can sometimes even see Mt. Fuji from the stands on days with great weather. Various events to interact with the horses are held at the racecourse and is the best place for residents to relax on the weekends.

Multilingual information pamphlets are available inside the facility and lectures on horse racing are also taught at the racecourse. Both non-Japanese speakers and horse racing novices can enjoy horse racing too!

There are many opportunities to interact with horses at Tokyo Racecourse. However, one of the most popular options is the horse carriage ride.

Download the racecourse’s mobile app and registered users can enter the lottery to win a limited ticket to the horse carriage ride during the racecourse’s operating hours. Ride a horse carriage through the tree-shaded road and you can experience indulgence like an ancient European noble.

The JRA Racing Museum is a museum inside Tokyo Racecourse that is themed around horse racing. Here, you can see the history of horse racing in Japan and around the world, exhibits on memorial races, and horse racing videos in the audiovisual hall to experience the fun and depth in horse racing.

Ookunitama-jinja Shrine has a history of more than 1,900 years and is the soja (a shrine where several deities are enshrined) of the Musashi Province (the area that encompasses present-day Tokyo, Saitama Prefecture, and a part of Kanagawa Prefecture) in ancient Japan. Currently, it is one of the five major shrines of Tokyo alongside Hie Shrine, Meiji Jingu, Yasukuni Shrine, and Tokyo Daijingu.

As a shrine established more than 1,000 years ago dedicated to the god of fortune, it hosts various festivals every month and is where you can experience the lively atmosphere of a Japanese shrine. Kurayami Festival, one of the most unusual festivals in the Kanto region taking place from April 30 - May 6, is a designated intangible folk cultural property of Tokyo and an event you can’t miss.

The Tama area in the outskirts of Tokyo is home to lush nature, beautiful scenery, elegant historical structures, anime locations unique to Japan, racecourses, and much more. How about getting away from the hustle and bustle of the capital and visiting to experience the rich ambience of Japan in depth?

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