What other travelers are saying about Machida Squirrel Garden
Wow, we loved this place. There are so many squirrels in America that we miss so it was nice to come feed the squirrels. You were a and they jump on your head and this giant turtle was just the best.
So this was the next highlight that we wanted to engulf ourselves with. After doing research, we found out that this was run by loving adults and the community was helping support them in many ways. We were both so happy to visit this place that we wanted to take our time and purchase as many things as we could to help support the squirrel garden. I hoped it helped because we really enjoyed the mini zoo.
Came 45min before they closed and it was quiet, but still plenty of time to see this small park, only ¥500 entry cost.
You can get a small feed bag to feed the squirrels for ¥100 it is worth it, (tip: if you rustle the bag of food near one of the more energetic squirrels you can coax them onto your shoulder or chest.
Otherwise it is kinda fun watching all the squirrels skitter around.
Most the animals here seem really well cared for, however the turle's tank was kind of dirty when I came but I'm not sure what kind of environment that kind of turtle prefers.
Machida Squirrel Garden is home to many Asian squirrels. Hundreds of adventurous squirrels live in colorfully decorated houses. Super friendly, you can feed them if you want. Interestingly, each squirrel has its own name and own house *with its name on the side.
Yes, feeding the squirrels is encouraged and is the main attraction. Visitors receive protective gloves upon entering the enclosed area and can purchase sunflower seeds for 100 yen per pack to feed the approximately 200 Taiwan squirrels that roam freely throughout the park. While the squirrels may climb on you during feeding, direct handling should be gentle as these are still wild animals.
Admission costs 400 yen for adults, 300 yen for senior citizens and people with disabilities, and 200 yen for children. The entry fee includes access to the entire 2,500-square-meter enclosed area and protective gloves for squirrel interaction. Animal feed is sold separately at 100 yen per packet for squirrel food and 100 yen per bowl for rabbit vegetables.
From Shinjuku, take the Odakyu Line to Machida Station (approximately 30 minutes). Exit from the North Exit and go to bus stop #21 in front of the POP building. Take the bus to Yakushi-ike stop (15-20 minutes), then it's a short walk to the garden at 733-1 Kanaimachi, Machida, Tokyo. The total journey takes about 1 hour from central Tokyo.
In addition to the Taiwan squirrels, the park houses chipmunks, guinea pigs, rabbits of various breeds, and giant tortoises. The rabbits are kept in separate hutches where you can feed them vegetables, and the friendly tortoises share the main enclosure with the squirrels. The park focuses on small, interactive animals that are safe for close human contact.
Yes, the park is family-friendly and particularly popular with children. The enclosed design ensures safety while allowing close animal encounters. Children pay a reduced admission of 200 yen and receive the same protective gloves as adults. The gentle nature of the animals and supervised environment make it an ideal educational experience for kids to learn about wildlife conservation.
