Institute for Nature Study, National Museum of Nature and Science
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
- Shirokanedai Station · 7 min walk (Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, Toei Mita Line)
- Hours
- May 1–Aug 31: 9:00–17:00 (last entry 16:00); Sep 1–Apr 30: 9:00–16:30 (last entry 16:00); closed Mon (open if holiday, closed Tue), day after national holidays (open if Sat/Sun), Dec 28–Jan 4
- Admission
- ¥320 (adults & university students, cash only); free (high school students & younger, age 65+ with ID)
- Time needed
- 60–120 min
- Best time to go
- Late November to early December for autumn foliage (iroha-momiji), or mid-spring for wild forest flora
Hours can change on holidays — check the official site before travelling.
About
This dense, 20-hectare nature reserve in central Tokyo offers a rare glimpse of the region's primeval forest before urbanization. Unlike manicured Japanese gardens, it is preserved in its wild, natural state, featuring ancient pine trees, tranquil ponds, and marshes. Visitors can expect a peaceful, uncrowded walk along shaded dirt paths, making it a perfect, quiet escape from the city's neon bustle.
What Japanese guides note
The grounds operate as a living scientific laboratory rather than an ornamental park. Visitors are required to remain on marked unpaved paths, refrain from touching vegetation or fallen seeds, and carry out all trash. The reserve sits adjacent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Teien Art Museum, making it straightforward to combine both stops into a single walking circuit along Meguro-dōri.
Details from local sources
- The reserve maintains a strict simultaneous capacity limit of 300 visitors on site at any given time to protect the ecosystem. [source]
- On April 12, 1949, the entire site was designated by the national government as both a Natural Monument and a Historic Site under the title Former Shirokane Imperial Estate. [source]
- The Orochi no Matsu, an estimated 300-year-old pine from the Edo-period Matsudaira villa, blew down during a 2019 typhoon and was left lying where it fell to demonstrate natural wood decay. [source]
- Jogging, ball sports, gathering insects or plants, and bringing pets or play equipment onto the grounds are strictly prohibited. [source]
Insider Tip
To protect the ecosystem, entry is capped at 300 people at a time; arrive early on weekends to avoid waiting for a pass.
Frequently asked
Can visitors picnic or eat meals inside the reserve?
Eating meals is prohibited along the forest trails and inside the exhibition hall; visitors who bring food must eat exclusively in the designated rest areas. Alcoholic beverages are entirely banned throughout the reserve grounds, and all garbage must be taken home when leaving.
Can I pay the admission fee with a credit card or IC card?
General admission costs ¥320 and must be paid in cash only at the entrance counter; credit cards and electronic transit cards are not accepted. Admission is free for visitors aged 65 and older as well as those 18 and under, upon presenting appropriate identification.
Is the reserve accessible for wheelchairs and baby strollers?
Wheelchair access is permitted and three rental wheelchairs are available at the entrance reception, but trails are unpaved dirt and gravel with several staircases and uneven tree roots. Navigating a stroller or wheelchair along the secondary forest paths can be challenging, especially after rainfall.
What is the closest train station to the Institute for Nature Study?
The reserve is a 7-minute walk along Meguro-dōri from Exit 1 of Shirokanedai Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku and Toei Mita lines. It can also be reached in about 9 minutes on foot from the East Exit of Meguro Station on the JR Yamanote Line.
Our Tokyo walking tours
On the same walk
Photos
