Top Things to do in Kokubunji
The 10 Best Things to Do in Kokubunji, Japan
Discover the best top things to do in Kokubunji, Japan including Tonogayato Garden, Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, Tokyo Horse Racetrack, Daigakudori Street, Tokyo Metropolitan Jindai Botanical Park, Showa Kinen Park, Ghibli Museum, Okunitama Shrine, Tokyo Metropolitan Koganei Park, Otaka no Michi Spring Park.
Restaurants in Kokubunji
1. Tonogayato Garden
Overall Ratings
4 based on 82 reviews
Reviewed By emilee l - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
The Tonogayato Gardens are beautiful; a welcome respite right near a train station in an urban area. Admission is less than $2 (less than $1 for seniors) and one can easily wile away an hour or more--even in February before the blossoms burst. A wonderful Japanese Garden experience on a fairly small scale; walkways lined with natural materials, the sound of water, the smells of different kinds of trees. Ah!
2. Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
Dedicated to the architecture of the late Edo period, this outdoor museum showcases historic buildings, including 200-year-old farmhouses and specialty shops filled with reproduction products, such as a soy sauce shop, Japanese umbrella shop, and stationary store.
Reviewed By Zaropans - Brussels, Belgium
Delightful for any visitor and highly recommended for those interested in architecture or everyday life. The Mitsui villa and the rebuilt shopping street are utter highlights, and so is the replica of the onsen bathing house. The Mitsui villa is both zen and fancy and has an exquisite garden.
Koganei park (free entry) is pretty cool too, and has a steam train locomotive on display.
Beware: Google Maps may make you get off the train at the Higashi-Koganei station but the Musashi-Koganei station (oen stop further) has better bus connections !
3. Tokyo Horse Racetrack
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 200 reviews
Reviewed By Chet D - Shanghai, China
Amazing track with something for everyone! A very family orientated place, with plenty to do for the kids, including pony rides and nice play area. Food for anyone and any budget, I believe over 100 choices of places to eat. It's worth the extra Yen to get the reserved seats on the 4th, 5th, or 6th floor. All these seats have great views and nice little table for two viewing the track and with plenty of room for writing down all the bets. There is free English horse information available at the information booth at far end of the track (toward the paddock and away from train station entrance). The betting machines can be a little confusing at first, but there is an English "how to guide" and there are plenty of helpful attendants, just don't wait until a minute before post to place your first bet! ;) Really a very nice day with easy access via the train and they even had a Beatles cover band after the races playing in the paddock. This is a must for any equine enthusiast or a different kind of family activity not found at Disney!
4. Daigakudori Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 43 reviews
5. Tokyo Metropolitan Jindai Botanical Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 165 reviews
Reviewed By Banda-in-Japan - Tokyo, Japan
This botanical garden is a wonderful green space in suburban Tokyo with ponds, paths, open spaces and woodlands. It also has various types of flowers in their season. The greenhouses are currently being rebuilt, but you can enjoy wandering through the rest of the garden, with a stop for ice cream or a drink when you feel like it. Easiest to access by car, but there is also good bus service from Mitaka and Chofu stations.
6. Showa Kinen Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 545 reviews
Reviewed By Australiafrancophile - Australia
I visited on Sunday 19th of November.I arrived via Tachikawa station but as has been said before NishiTachikawa station is more convenient.
There are very few leaves left on the gingko trees.I have learnt that autumnal gingko trees are stinky.
It was dogs day and there were many , many dogs with their devoted owners enjoying the garden.
The highlights for me were the Japanese garden with nice autumn colored maples and the bonsai garden.Dont miss the fingered citron bonsai.Like a big lemon with 6+ "fingers"
There is also a small dahlia garden with dahlias flowering now.
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We took the little train for 310 yen.It tends to go around the periphery for some of the route so not so scenic but saves the leg.As has been said this park is absolutely enormous but flat and no steps so wheelchair friendly.
Good play areas for children.
Bring food because, surprisingly, there isn't much available.
7. Ghibli Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
The brainchild of award-winning Japanese animation director Hayao Miyazaki, this museum includes a theater showing film excerpts, a whimsical children's play zone, a rooftop garden, and exhibits related to his movies, including Spirited Away.
Reviewed By stormborne - Sydney
This gorgeous museum is the embodiment oid Ghibli- no phones/ pictures, highly sensory, very earthly (wooden tones, nature details, roof top garden) and cosy throughout in its design.
It's a reasonably compact place with four main Exhibitions and the theatre. You're given a snippet of a film reel to show on your way in to watch the short film - great peice of memorabilia. We watched one about wrestling rats. No English subtitles but not really needed.
My favorite room was the three artist rooms that were laden with sketches from all movies and you could just imagine Hayao Miyazaki sitting there.
The rooftop Robot from Laputa was spectacular amongst the greenery an flowers.
My only complaint is that they need an adult cat bus so that we can play too.
Highly recommend for any Ghibli fan
As a side note: yes it gets crazily busy and yes buying the tickets is hard (in fact, we missed tickets for March and April and our only option was to visit as part of a full day tour). But its ski heartening to see so many people appreciating the artwork and philosophy of Studio Ghibli films. Go, relax and enjoy. Who knows if you'll get the chance again.
8. Okunitama Shrine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 175 reviews
Reviewed By yamanote - Tokyo, Japan
A bit out of the way in Fuchu, Okunitama Shrine is a nice distraction when visiting the area. It has a beautiful main shrine building and you can buy blessings at a small shrine shop. We always get blessings for auto safety.
There is a classic Noh stage, a sumo ring, and a display of portable shrines (omikoshi) that can be seen for a small fee.
There is a large parking lot, so easy to visit by car.
I love Okunitama Shrine for its peaceful elegance and the opportunity to get a few moments of reflection and get away for the busy city.
9. Tokyo Metropolitan Koganei Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By Pstrauss - Beecroft, Australia
A large parkland, which includes the Tokyo Outdoor Architectural Museum which appears on many tourist lists. I haven't visited the Museum, but enjoyed a day out in the park with my Japanese resident son and granddaughter aged 5.
Beautiful meadows of poppies at this time of year, and a lovely Koinobori, the carp flags for Children's day on May 5. Many local families were picnicking, riding bicycles and using the variety of giant slides, jumping devices, climbing walls and the like. Street performers too. I only touched the surface of the park on this visit of several hours. You can buy food and rent bikes by the hour. A green oasis in the city for an active day out or a snooze in the sun.
10. Otaka no Michi Spring Park
Overall Ratings
4 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By Kieran D - Kokubunji, Japan
A delightful walk along a stream passed delightful old farmhouses. There are magnificent trees,temples and history. Plus a tea shop or two. I take this walk frequently either citing across the park from Nishi Kokubunji or by walking down the hill opposite Kokubunji station.
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