SAITAMA Tokorozawa Tokorozawa—the home of Japanese aviation

Tokorozawa is best known as the birthplace of Japanese aviation. It is a bustling commuter town close to Tokyo full of shopping, restaurants, and excellent museums and parks. The Sayama Hills in Tokorozawa are said to be one of the locations that inspired the scenery in My Neighbor Totoro.

Tokorozawa is just 30 minutes by train from Tokyo's major Ikebukuro Station.

The best way to get to Tokorozawa is by train. The Seibu Ikebukuro Line goes directly from Tokyo's Ikebukuro Station to Tokorozawa Station. You can also take the Seibu-Shinjuku Line, which starts at Seibu-Shinjuku Station in Kabukicho.

One of the key main attractions in Tokorozawa is the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum. The museum is in Tokorozawa Koku Memorial Park, a large park in central Tokorozawa that was once the country's first airfield.

The Tokorozawa Aviation Museum is all about the history of Japanese aviation. The main entrance hall is a vast open space with early Japanese airplanes hanging above. The museum displays actual planes and helicopters, some of which you can even climb inside.

One of the museum's most popular attractions is its flight simulator. Exhibits and video displays on the museum's second floor explain the history of the airfield and include the flight simulator.

Seibuen Amusement Park is a great place to take kids when in Tokorozawa. It has attractions for kids of all ages, including a merry-go-round and areas for the younger ones. One of its most popular attractions is Godzila The Ride, a thrilling attraction of impressive scale.

The park is spacious and filled with trees. It is especially popular in the springtime during the cherry blossom season, when the cherry trees are in bloom. In summer there is a pool and fireworks.

Just outside Tokorozawa Station is the Prope shopping street, which was named by shortening the word “propel.” This stretch of the city, which is always full of people, is lined with shops, restaurants, and drinking establishments.

For a more unique eating and drinking experience, try Sakazuki Yokocho. This small shopping street is lined with izakayas and bars. This narrow alley offers a wide variety of unique options.