Inokashira Park

Inokashira Park (Inokashira Onshi Koen) is a large park around Inokashira Pond in western Tokyo, on the border of Musashino and Mitaka cities. It is a 5-minute walk from Kichijoji Station, and entry is free. People come for the rental boats on the pond, the cherry trees around its edge, a small zoo and the Ghibli Museum on the park's west side.

The park opened in 1917 on former imperial land and marked its 100th anniversary in 2017. It is divided into four areas. The pond and the Gotenyama woods on higher ground are the main draws, while Nishi-en holds sports grounds and the second park lies apart from the rest.

Things to do at Inokashira Park

Boats on Inokashira Pond

The boathouse on the pond rents three kinds of boats, charged per 30 minutes:

• Rowboat: 800 yen, up to three adults

• Pedal boat: 1,000 yen, two adults and one child

• Swan boat: 1,000 yen, two adults and one child

The boathouse closes on Wednesdays from December to February, and lines form on spring weekends. The park's boat rental details list seasonal hours and any changes.

Inokashira Benzaiten

Inokashira Benzaiten, a shrine to the goddess Benzaiten, stands at the west end of the pond. It is a short walk from Inokashira-koen Station and worth a stop on a loop of the water.

Inokashira Park Zoo

The zoo, officially the Inokashira Natural Cultural Park, has two parts: the main zoo in the Gotenyama woods and an aquatic section beside the pond. One ticket covers both. Admission is 400 yen for adults, 150 yen for junior high school students and 200 yen for visitors 65 and over. Children of elementary school age and younger enter free.

Ghibli Museum

The Ghibli Museum stands on the southwest side of the park, in the Nishi-en area. Tickets are sold in advance only, through Lawson Ticket from the 10th of each month for the following month, and cost 1,000 yen for adults. Read more about the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka before you book.

See also the other places that inspired Ghibli films across Japan.

How to get to Inokashira Park

• Kichijoji Station (JR Chuo Line and Keio Inokashira Line): about 5 minutes on foot.

• Inokashira-koen Station (Keio Inokashira Line): about 1 minute on foot, right at the southwest end of the pond.

From Shinjuku, take the JR Chuo Line to Kichijoji. From Shibuya, the Keio Inokashira Line runs to both stations.

Best time to visit Inokashira Park

Cherry blossom season in late March and early April is the busiest time, when the trees around the pond hang over the water and the boats fill up. The Tokyo cherry blossom viewing guide covers the other viewing spots in the city. Fall color in late November is the second peak. Weekday mornings are the quietest time to walk the pond, and weekend afternoons bring street musicians and performers.

Couples come for the swan boats in particular, and the park is one of the classic date spots in Tokyo.