30 min from Tokyo.
Discover the Japan
you haven’t met yet.
A National Treasure temple, 100,000 blooming irises, and chewy Musashino udon.
Walk the everyday Tokyo hiding between guidebook pages.
what's on nowLIVE
Happening now in Higashimurayama.
Higashimurayama Iris FestivalHigashimurayama Iris Festival
Higashimurayama's signature festival, when about 100,000 irises of roughly 600 varieties bloom in this “New Tokyo 100 Views” garden. On selected days there are evening illuminations and events such as koto performances and matcha tasting (in 2026, illuminations are on Jun 6 and Jun 13, 19:00–21:00). Dates, illumination days and food stalls vary with the weather and by year.
Furusato History Museum summer festival & seasonal exhibitionsFurusato History Museum summer festival & seasonal exhibitions
A museum introducing the city's history, folklore and nature. It holds seasonal exhibitions several times a year, plus events such as a summer festival for children. Content and dates change by season, so check the official site.
Higashimurayama Greenery Festival
A city event for enjoying greenery and nature, fitting for verdant Higashimurayama. It is held twice a year, in spring and autumn. Check the official site for the venue and dates.
about the town
What kind of town
is Higashimurayama?
Right next to central Tokyo, yet full of nature, culture and warm everyday connections. Slow down and feel the Japan of daily moments.
30min
from Shinjuku
100K
irises in bloom
1
National Treasure in Tokyo

must see spots
Start with these three.
TreasureShofukuji Jizodo
Shofukuji Jizodo Hall (National Treasure)
The only National Treasure building in all of Tokyo.
IconicKen Shimura statue & tree
Ken Shimura statue & zelkova tree
A place of pilgrimage known nationwide — the starting point of the story that made Higashimurayama famous.
ScenicKitayama Park (Iris Garden)
Kitayama Park (Iris Garden) & Iris Festival
One of the New Tokyo 100 Views — about 100,000 irises of 600 varieties.
POPULAR — across several sites
Most popular spots right now
An original ranking that combines how these spots are listed and ranked across several travel sites. Every position cites its source (where, and at what rank, each spot appears).
Kitayama Park (Iris Garden)北山公園(菖蒲苑)Basis for the ranking:Top-ranked across several sites. No. 1 overall on tabikan, and featured highly in newt's roundup.
Shofukuji Jizodo Hall (National Treasure)正福寺 地蔵堂(国宝)Basis for the ranking:Top of newt's roundup, No. 3 overall on tabikan, and listed as a popular spot on Yahoo! Travel.
Hachikokuyama Woods八国山緑地Basis for the ranking:Featured high in newt's roundup, No. 6 overall on tabikan (said to be the model for Shichikokuyama in My Neighbor Totoro).
Ken Shimura statue & zelkova tree志村けんの銅像 / 志村けんの木Basis for the ranking:Featured in newt's roundup, and listed as a popular spot on Yahoo! Travel (a nationally known place of pilgrimage).- Higashimurayama Central Park (Metropolitan)都立 東村山中央公園Basis for the ranking:No. 2 overall on tabikan, and featured in newt's roundup (a metropolitan park of about 12 hectares).
Tokuzoji Temple & Itabi Stone Tablet Museum徳蔵寺・板碑保存館Basis for the ranking:Featured in newt's roundup (a history facility displaying about 170 itabi stone tablets).- Sayama Park (Metropolitan)都立 狭山公園Basis for the ranking:No. 4 overall on tabikan, and featured in newt's roundup (views of Lake Tama and Okutama).
- National Hansen's Disease Museum国立ハンセン病資料館Basis for the ranking:No. 5 overall on tabikan, and featured in newt's roundup (a facility for learning about history and human rights).
Positions are our own tally, combining how each spot is listed and ranked across several travel sites — tabikan (overall attractions ranking), newt (feature article) and Yahoo! Travel, among others. Each site uses different criteria, scope and timing, so rankings change. For accurate, up-to-date assessments please check the sites below (we never invent positions ourselves — this is our anti-fabrication policy).
Sites used for this tally (data sources)
four seasons
Scenery through four seasons
Hover a panel to open up the season.

SPRING
Spring
Cherry-lined paths and the soft new green of the Sayama Hills.

SUMMER
Summer
The Iris Festival and the lush green of Hachikokuyama.

AUTUMN
Autumn
A leisurely stroll through golden woodlands.

WINTER
Winter
Crisp air and the quiet dusk over Lake Tama.
local gourmet
Savor the local flavors

Musashino Udon (niku-jiru udon) food culture
The heart of this town's food: a firm, chewy regional udon eaten with a hot pork dipping broth.

Higashimurayama kuro-yakisoba — jet-black yet addictive local comfort food
Its appearance is startlingly jet-black. But one bite and the deep richness hooks you. Higashimurayama-born “kuro-yakisoba” (black fried noodles) is a local specialty in the know that even evokes the town's history.

Touring the best Musashino udon shops — eating your way through Higashimurayama's udon culture
Thick, firm noodles dipped in a hot pork broth. When you come to Higashimurayama, the thing to taste is “Musashino udon.” Here we guide you through the town's deep-rooted udon culture from a food-crawl point of view.

Grilled dango and Higashimurayama wagashi — the town's soy-scented snack
Grilled over charcoal, with the fragrant scent of soy in the air — grilled dango. Higashimurayama has shops that keep this old-time flavor alive. We introduce the town's snack that even Ken Shimura is said to have loved.

Higashimurayama tonkatsu — a long-loved local favorite, one cutlet at a time
A crisply fried coating around juicy pork. Tonkatsu is a “go-to treat” for the people of Higashimurayama. After the sights, why not fill both stomach and heart with a cutlet from a long-loved local institution?
Higashimurayama Iris Festival
One of the Kanto region’s largest iris gardens, with about 100,000 blooms — a dreamlike carpet of purple.
Early–mid June / Kitayama Park
Learn more →know the town
Get to know the town.
Routes from Taipei, Ghibli’s primal landscapes, the battle that toppled a shogunate — reads that make Higashimurayama more interesting.
one day course
Recommended model courses
Find the trip that fits you.
History & Shimura Ken (half-day)
From the Shimura Ken statue to the National Treasure Shofukuji Jizo-do and Musashino udon. A half-day savoring history.
→Full-day02Nature to the fullest (1 day)
From Hachikokuyama (the Totoro 'Nanakuniyama' model theory) to Lake Tama. A day of green and water.
→Seasonal03Iris-season special
About 100,000 irises at Kitayama Park, timed to the late-May to mid-June peak.
→Family04Higashimurayama with kids
Parks, indoor spots, nature and history hands-on. A play guide just right for a day with little ones.
→getting here
Getting to Higashimurayama
Easy access from major stations and airports.
* Travel times vary by transfers and timetables. Nearest station: Higashimurayama (Seibu Shinjuku / Kokubunji lines).
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