Tokorozawa Sakura Town ～ A Pop Culture Hotspot!～
Have you heard of Tokorozawa Sakura Town? The area will serve as a pop culture hotspot, with the grand opening event set to take place on November 6. In fact, a portion of the facilities have already been in operation since August 1 as part of a pre-opening period. I headed over to Tokorozawa Sakura Town myself to find out about the place and share it’s exciting features with all of you!
Tokorozawa Sakura Town is located in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, and the closest station is Higashi-Tokorozawa Station on the JR Musashino Line. The way to Tokorozawa Sakura Town from the station is guided by LED manhole covers featuring Kadokawa Corporation illustrations.
Along the pathway leading from the station, 28 manhole covers (featuring 27 different illustrations) have been installed! As an anime fan I want to find each and every one…
In the evening, the manholes shine brightly to illuminate the area by utilizing energy produced by solar panels installed in the nearby vicinity.
If you pass through Higashi-Tokorozawa Park…
You will reach Tokorozawa Sakura Town! It looks so modern!
After climbing the stairs, I found a small water playground where children were playing happily.
To the left, I found the Musashino ‘Cool Japan’ Shrine (commonly referred to as Musashino Reiwa Shrine). The design of the shrine was overseen by world-renowned architect Kengo Kuma. In the main shrine is a priceless ceiling mural created by Yoshitaka Amano, famous for his Final Fantasy character designs. Breathtaking!
Musashino Reiwa Shrine serves as an Anime Tourism Information Point, and has been set as Fudasho Spot 1 for the Japan Anime Tourism 88-Stop Pilgrimage, providing and promoting information on regions throughout Japan with ties to popular anime. Visitors to the shrine can even purchase original seal stamp notebooks (3,500 yen) and seal stamps (500 yen).
To the right, visitors will find the Kadokawa Musashino Cultural Museum.
The ultra-modern, stylish architectural design behind this building was also handled by Kengo Kuma, who designed the facility to represent a fusion of the key elements of a library, museum, and art gallery.
The iconic symbol of the museum is it’s 8-meter-tall gigantic bookshelf-enclosed open space called the Bookshelf Theater. Apparently, projection mapping conceptualized around the idea of “playing and engaging with literature” is also displayed. The Bookshelf Theater is scheduled to open in November.
©️KENGO KUMA & ASSOCIATES
©️KAJIMA CORPORATION
Tokorozawa Sakura Town also features the EJ Anime Hotel. The hotel isn’t scheduled to be opened to the public until October 1, but I was allowed to take a look inside early! Created with the concept of “spending the night in your favorite anime,” each room in the hotel has been designed to incorporate elements of anime. It almost seemed a waste to fall asleep in such a fantastic and lovely hotel!
I hope you will all consider visiting Tokorozawa Sakura Town, where you can enjoy a full range of experiences throughout the whole day!
Name Tokorozawa Sakura Town
Address 3-31-3 Wada, Higashi-Tokorozawa, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture
Official Website https://tokorozawa-sakuratown.jp/
Name Resonating Life in the Acorn Forest
Address Musashino Woods Park (inside Higashi-Tokorozawa Park grounds)
39-3 Wada, Higashi-Tokorozawa, Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture
Official Website https://kadcul.com/park
Open Hours
Daytime 12時00分 midday – 5時30分 p.m.
Night 6時30分 p.m. – 10時00分 p.m.
※Hours vary by season.
Price
Daytime
Monday – Thursday
Adults 500 yen
Junior High School Students 400 yen
Elementary School Students 300 yen
Preschool Children Free
Friday – Sunday and Public Holidays
Adults 600 yen
Junior High School Students 500 yen
Elementary School Students 400 yen
Preschool Children Free
Night
Monday – Thursday
Adults 1,000 yen
Junior High School Students 800 yen
Elementary School Students 700 yen
Preschool Children Free
Friday – Sunday and Public Holidays
Adults 1,200 yen
Junior High School Students 800 yen
Elementary School Students 600 yen
Preschool Children Free
Scheduled Holidays Tuesdays
※Park is open on public holidays.
