Popular Tokyo Parks Are a Treasure Trove of Anime Locations With Plenty of Other Must-See Spots Nearby!

Popular Tokyo Park Brimming with Natural Beauty, Where You Can Also Enjoy Boat Rides and Animals

One of the most well-known parks in Tokyo, Inokashira Park boasts a lush natural landscape. It is also a famous tourist destination. Offering easy access to downtown Tokyo thanks to multiple rail lines connecting to nearby Kichijoji Station, the area is frequently voted among the top places in Japan people most want to live. The park is conveniently situated about 10 minutes away on foot from the train station, with plenty of great places to stop along the way like vintage clothing stores and trendy cafes. Inokashira Park is also an iconic location of Shirobako, the hit series by P.A. WORKS about Aoi Miyamori and four other young women chasing their dream of making anime. Tokyo’s Musashino City, where the park is located, is home to the fictional animation studio Musashino Animation, which is a central part of the story. Many locations that appear in the background of Shirobako were modeled after places in Musashino, and the park the five friends visit in episode 4 was modeled after Inokashira Park. It’s clear to see why it is so popular—you can easily spend the whole day there. Besides touring anime locations, you can take a romantic boat ride on Inokashira Pond or see and pet guinea pigs and other cute critters at Inokashira Park Zoo. The park is an urban oasis with something to enjoy no matter when you come, from cherry blossoms in the spring to colorful leaves in the autumn.

Inokashira Park

Address	1-18-31 Gotenyama, Musashino-shi, Tokyo
Nearest train station	Inokashira-koen Station (Keio Inokashira Line) or Kichijoji Station (JR Chuo Line and Keio Inokashira Line)
Phone	0422-47-6900
Business hours	Open 24 hours/day (specific facilities may differ)
Regular holidays	Open every day, year-round (the information center and other facilities are closed at year-end and New Year’s holidays)
Website	https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jimusho/seibuk/inokashira/en_index.html

There’s More to Kichijoji Than Just Inokashira Park!
Here’s Some Other Great Places for Anime Fans!

One must-visit spot for Shirobako fans is the izakaya (Japanese-style pub) where Aoi’s best friend, aspiring voice actress Shizuka Sakaki, works part time. The scenes of the five friends talking about recent happenings in their lives over drinks at the old-fashioned Japanese pub are hidden gems. The izakaya that served as the model for the one that Aoi and her friends often gathered at is called Matsutei. Actually, it is known to be frequented by people in the anime industry. The inside is decorated with posters of anime like Shirobako and signatures of industry professionals that you’ll definitely want to check out! And the food is delicious. Matsutei serves home-style Japanese dishes that will keep you coming back for more. Smack your lips on some amazing, old-fashioned Japanese home-cooking!

Animate is an anime specialty retailer that is all the buzz in Japan, and its Kichijoji store is located in the Kichijoji PARCO shopping center. The popular store carries a wide range of anime merchandise such as manga, light novels, goods and character figurines of popular works, video games, CDs, Blu-ray discs, and DVDs. It also features a cafe called Gratte (take out only) that is famous for its collaborations with popular anime and video games, so you can take a fun break with anime-themed drinks while chatting about your favorite works. It is a must-see for any anime fan visiting Kichijoji.

Giant Urban Resort and Tourist Attraction Right Outside Akishima Station

Akishima MoriPark is located right outside Akishima Station, about 40 minutes by train from Shinjuku on the JR train line. It is a huge resort area that combines a full range of commercial facilities with lush natural surroundings. With so much to offer across its vast grounds that it is impossible to see it all in one day, it’s an ideal spot for tourists. The Akishima area around MoriPark appears in the hit anime series Laid-Back Camp, the outdoor activity-themed story of which unfolds when two high school girls, Nadeshiko Kagamihara and Rin Shima, meet. In the Laid-Back Camp Movie, which takes place after the two friends become adults, Nadeshiko lives in the Akishima area and works at an outdoor goods store modeled after those at MoriPark Outdoor Village. Akishima MoriPark is also famous for its special fan offerings in the past like exclusive Laid-Back Camp collaborative merchandise at MoriPark Cafe.

Akishima MoriPark

Address	Tanakacho, Akishima-shi, Tokyo
Nearest train station	JR Akishima Station
Phone	042-541-2115
Business hours	Varies depending on facility
Website	https://www-moripark-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja

Tama Monorail

Tama Monorail is an indispensable mode of transportation for wandering around Tachikawa. It is an ideal way to get to Showa Kinen Park and other tourist attractions like Tama Zoological Park and Takahata-Fudoson Kongoji Temple. Tama Monorail offers set tickets that include an all-day pass on the monorail and tickets to facilities along the monorail line. A set ticket for Showa Kinen Park is only 920 yen for adults (high school and older). The monorail appears in and is used as a motif in many other anime besides Laid-Back Camp, and rolls out anime tie-in projects and events from time to time. If you’re a core fan, you can enjoy the scenery along the monorail line that is similar to what appears in the series, so be sure to take a ride if you visit Akishima.

Machida’s Leading Park Where You Can Enjoy Food, Nature, and Shopping

With a cast of characters led by Shido Itsuka, Date A Live is a next-generation boy-meets-girl anime. The setting of the series is modeled after Machida, Tokyo. Located about 30 minutes by train from Shinjuku in central Tokyo, Machida is a popular area that ranks among the top places people most want to live in Japan. One place you must visit if you are in Machida is Yakushi Pond in Yakushiike Park, also known as Shikisai no Mori. It is a picturesque place centered around the 7,700-square-meter Yakushi Pond featuring a wide range of flowers such as Oga lotus, Japanese iris, and cherry blossoms. With beautiful scenery that changes from season to season, it has made many lists of the top scenic spots: it has been selected as a designated place of scenic beauty of Tokyo, and as one of the 100 views of new Tokyo and 100 best historical parks in Japan. There are many other great places nearby such as Machida Squirrel Garden and Machida Peony Garden—one of the largest peony gardens in the Kanto region. Another highlight of Yakushi Pond is the otherworldly night view that reflects on the surface of the water. When the fifth season of Date A Live was announced, a digital stamp rally was held at the Squirrel Garden and West Garden. In the past the park featured anime tie-in posters and we expect to see more anime tie-ins in the future.

Historic Shopping Street and Anime Location Machida Tenmangu
Are Just a Walk from Machida Station!

There are many places in Machida that appear in Date A Live. The local government has collaborated with the series to set up digital stamp rally stations at not only Machida Station and other locations that appeared in the anime, but also other tourist spots you can visit when you are touring real-life anime locations. One of those is Machida Nakamise Shopping Street, an over 50-year-old shopping street that is only two minutes on foot from Machida Station. It is a 300-meter-long, old-fashioned arcade with restaurants, variety stores, clothing stores, and other shops lining the street. There are many uniquely local shops too, including a curry restaurant that has appeared on TV and a ramen shop that uses rare ingredients. Long lines form for favorites like Chinese soup dumplings and obanyaki stuffed pancakes. And it’s only a six-minute walk from here to Machida Tenmangu, a well-known shrine among Date A Live fans, so you can have a fun-packed trip visiting both anime locations and tourist spots.

Hotels Perfect for Those Visiting Anime Locations and Tourist Attractions!
Immerse Yourself in the World of Anime on Your Trip!

So far, we’ve introduced anime locations and tourist spots, but in this article we’ll recommend some accommodations, which are an important element of your trip. Conveniently located for visiting the anime locations we’ve introduced, these hotels offer anime tie-in projects and many other services that any anime fan would love. Enjoy a jam-packed anime trip by immersing yourself in the world of anime before and after you visit real-life anime locations.

Popular Anime-Themed Floor and an
Official Hotel Character Awaits

For a worthwhile anime-themed trip, we recommend staying at Prince Hotel Sunshine City, located next to the commercial complex Sunshine City. The hotel offers a variety of collaborative projects with a focus on anime. One example is Concept Floor IKEPRI25, a floor that is unlike the normal guest room floors. Consisting of 20 guest rooms and four common spaces, the entire floor is anime-themed and features a wide range of anime tie-in projects.

In addition to this floor, there will also be concept rooms and special rooms in collaboration with anime works, raising expectations for future lineups. And the restaurants at the hotel regularly offer tie-in menus you can enjoy even if you are not staying at the hotel.

Prince Hotel Sunshine City

Address	3-1-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Nearest train station	Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Tokyo Metro or Ikebukuro Station on the JR, Tokyo Metro, Tobu-Tojo, and Seibu Ikebukuro lines
Phone	03-3988-1111
Website	https://www.princehotels.com/sunshine/

Hotel with Must-Visit Tie-In Buffets and
Great Access to Anime Locations!

If you are thinking about visiting Shirobako’s location, Inokashira Park, or Laid-Back Camp’s location, Akishima MoriPark, we recommend staying at Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji in Hachioji. The closest station to the hotel is JR Hachioji Station, and you can take the Chuo Line to both parks from there. The conveniently located hotel has a total of 200 rooms of a wide range of sizes. It also features a variety of Japanese, Western, and Chinese restaurants, so you can choose from a wide range of flavors to suit your mood. Anime fans should also pay attention to the collaboration buffet events. In July 2023, the hotel opened four Sanrio character rooms, two based on Hello Kitty and the other two on My Melody and Kuromi. Stay here if you’re a Sanrio fan for memories that will last a lifetime.

Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji

Address	14-1 Asahicho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo
Nearest train station	Hachioji Station on the JR and Keio lines
Phone	042-656-3111
Website	https://www.keioplaza.com/hachioji/