Inokashira Park

Inokashira Park is a metropolitan park that straddles the boundary between Musashino City and Mitaka City in Tokyo. Opened in 1917, it was the first park of its kind in Japan to be located in the suburbs of a major city. The Park is close to the commercial districts of Mitaka and Kichijoji, and is situated very near to a railway station; as an “oasis” of greenery within the metropolis, it receives many visitors every day, not only from the immediate neighborhood but from other areas as well. There are street vendors (selling handmade goods, etc.) and street performers, giving the Park and the surrounding area a lively atmosphere. Inokashira Park is famous for the cherry trees (of the Somei Yoshino variety) that flower near the pond inside the Park in spring; it is ranked among the Top 100 best places in Japan to view cherry blossom.