Tokyo's Inagi City

Theme parks, public spaces and an eerie mountain

Yomiuri Land, Inagi City (Photo: くろふね / CC BY 3.0)

Sleiman Azizi Nov 07, 2019 - 4 min read

Overview

A bedroom community on the western edge of central Tokyo, Inagi City is most famous for its popular Yomiuri Land Amusement Park. The city is filled with greenery and public spaces like Inagi City Central Park, local shrines including Aoi Shrine as well some curious historical landmarks like the eerie Buddhist tombstones of Arigata Yama, the Thankyou Mountain.

Aoi Shrine

Said to have been listed as on of the Tama region's eight main shrines, nobody knows exactly when Aoi Shrine was actually established. Its extremely worn komainu guardian statues suggest a long history and if you visit in early October, you'll witness the shrine's annual shishimai lion dance festival performed in dedication to the shrine's deity.

A 4-minute walk from the South Exit of Inagi-Naganuma Station on the JR Nambu Line.

Inagi City Central Park

Located in the centre of the city, Inagi City Central Park is filled with sports and athletic fields, popular children's play ground areas, gardens, ponds and open space. Home to virgin woodland forest complete with a score of walking trails, the park is right by the city's famous Kujira Bridge and whale head sculptures.

A 15-minute walk from Inagi Station on the Keio Sagamihara Line.

Arigata Yama

Completely off the tourist trail, Arigata Yama is home to over four thousand abandoned Buddhist tombstones. Relocated from central Tokyo towards the end of World War 2, the charity group carrying the tombstones up the hill chanted the word 'argiatou' which means 'thankyou', hence the name of the hill.

A 6-minute walk from Keio Yomiuri Land Station on the Keio Line.

Yomiuri Land Amusement Park

Established in 1964 and filled with roller coasters, free fall rides, and Ferris wheels, Yomiuri Land is one of Tokyo's more popular theme parks. Famous for its autumn and winter evening illumination shows, the park is also home to Tokyo's only bungee jumping facility. There is even a traditional sento public bath available.

A 5-minute Sky Shuttle gondola or Odakyu Bus ride from Keio Yomiuri Land Station on the Keio Line.

Sleiman Azizi @sleiman.azizi

I'm a Japanese Permanent Resident with over 650 published articles on Japan as well as 5 English language books inspired by traditional Japanese literature.I'm also a Japan Travel expert for Tokyo, so if you've anything to say about Japan's never ending capital - or just Japan in general - don't ...