Botanical collections sit alongside themes such as Jindaiji’s history, local culture, and environmental education. For planning your trip, these attractions can be distinguished as follows: Jindai Botanical Garden organizes its collection by plant groups, while Jindaiji Nature Plaza combines wild plants with a woodland. Museums offer further perspectives on history, nature, and art.
Botanical Collections and Nature
Jindai Botanical Garden was renamed from Jindai Green Space in 1961, after its opening, and opened as Tokyo’s only botanical garden. Its collection comprises around 4,800 plant species and 100,000 plants or individual plant specimens. The grounds are divided into 30 areas organized by plant group. These include rose, azalea, plum, and cleyera gardens.
The large greenhouse reopened in May 2016 after renovations; it displays rare tropical plants and colorful blossoms. The wild plant garden at Jindaiji Nature Plaza features around 300 species and more than 10,000 wild plants, including rare Murasaki plants. The plaza also includes a woodland suitable for walking and the Kani-yama Campground. The area serves as a recreational space for residents. The focus therefore differs: Jindai Botanical Garden centers on a collection organized by plant groups, while the plaza combines a wild plant garden with a woodland.
Jindaiji: History and Soba
According to tradition, Jindaiji was founded in 733 (Tenpyō 5) by Mankō Shōnin. The temple is also known as a matchmaking spot because of the romantic love story in the Jindaiji-Engi. Shops selling Jindaiji soba, a local specialty, line the approach to Jindaiji. Individual businesses may change what they offer, so don’t plan on visiting a particular shop without checking its current information.
Museums and Local Topics
Exhibitions at the Saneatsu Memorial Museum change every four to five weeks. The museum has more than 20,000 books and magazines, which can generally be consulted in the reading room. If you are planning to visit for a particular exhibition, check the current exhibition schedule in advance, as dates may change.
The Chōfu Local History Museum presents exhibitions on local history, culture, nature, and art. Its program also includes lectures, courses, and hands-on learning activities. The museum’s old photographs, paired with landscape paintings by local artist Nakagawa Heiichi, offer a perspective on how the city has changed. He created the works over 60 years; they were donated to the museum in fiscal year 2022.
The Tamagawa Nature Information Center introduces the natural environment of Chōfu-shi, with a focus on the Tama River, and serves as an environmental education facility for children and adults. An exhibition room displays real fish, plants, and insects from the Tama River area. A learning room with books on the natural environment complements this focus.
Getting There and Planning Your Stay
If Jindaiji is part of your travel plans, Chōfu Station is a useful reference point for getting there: bus route 調34 takes around 15 minutes from the north exit to the Jindaiji terminus. From there, it is a one-minute walk. Bus routes and stops may change, so check the operator’s information before you travel.
For a museum visit, it’s worth checking the relevant program; for Jindaiji, the bus connection listed here can help with planning. You can then tailor your accommodation search to the topics that interest you most during your trip.
Discover more destinations: Shinagawa, Machida, Taitō, Itabashi, Hachiōji, Inagi, Kōtō, Tachikawa.
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