Institute for Nature Study

A primeval forest in central Tokyo? Yes, it’s a remnant of the ancient Musashino plain. Established as a scientific study area in 1949, the park contains myriad plants, birds and insects. Admission is limited to a few hundred people at a time, so that visitors can enjoy the turtle-filled ponds and forested hills in peace. The one-room museum at the entrance is hardly a destination in itself, but it has a couple of interesting points, such as a map showing how the greenery in Tokyo has decreased since 1677, largely as a result of dwindling temple grounds.