Step out of Chōfu Station onto the Kōshū Kaidō and you are standing on the old post road that gave this city its shape, with the Keiō Line running above the street and the Tama River floodplain a short ride away. Ten minutes south by bus or taxi, the lanes around Jindaiji Temple narrow into a village of soba restaurants and waterwheels that feels far removed from central Tokyo.
Chōfu suits travellers who have already seen the city's headline sights and want an easy half-day or full-day trip west of the centre, especially those interested in temples, gardens and football. It also works well for families and for anyone combining a temple visit with a match or a stroll along the river.
This guide covers the sights and experiences named in the source material, with practical notes on how to combine them.
Top things to do in Chōfu
1. Jindaiji Temple
This Tendai sect temple was constructed in 733 and is described as nearly the oldest in the Tokyo area, second only to Sensoji in Asakusa. The temple building itself is modest, but the surrounding village of food stands, soba restaurants and waterwheels evokes an image of Edo-period Japan. The complex houses a bronze statue of Shaka Nyorai, a Buddha said to date from around 700, kept in a separate concrete building.
Come hungry and plan to eat soba in the lanes around the temple, which are known for their noodle restaurants. You can walk into the adjacent Jindai Botanical Gardens through the gate on the temple's south side.
2. Jindai Botanical Gardens
Something is always blooming in this large, all-season botanical garden. It is divided into areas featuring specific plants such as plum and cherry blossom trees, and the Japanese azalea garden and English-style rose garden are singled out as particularly good.
The main gate on the west side is near a bus stop, and there is a second gate on the south side next to Jindaiji Temple, so the two sights pair naturally in one outing. The gardens are open 09:30–16:00; admission is ¥500 for adults, ¥250 for seniors, ¥200 for junior high schoolers, and free for children.
3. Fudaten Shrine
Fudaten Shrine is the place to go if your visit coincides with the 25th of the month, when satokagura dance and music numbers are performed. The satokagura is a traditional Shinto dance.
Check the date before you build a day around it, since the performances are tied to that single day of the month rather than running daily.
4. Ajinomoto Soccer Stadium
This 50,000-seat stadium is the home field for Tokyo Verdy and FC Tokyo, and American football, rugby games and flea markets can also be found here. It is commonly known as Ajinomoto Stadium and is listed among Chōfu's local attractions as Tokyo Stadium.
On match days the Keiō Line stops at Tobitakyu Station, and the stadium is a five-minute walk from there. You can also take the bus from Chōfu Station, Mitaka Station or Musashisakai Station.
5. Aeon Cinema Theaters Chofu
A large cinema complex with eleven screens and around 1,600 seats in total, opened in 2017. It sits in the Trie Keio Chofu C building, across the station square from Chōfu Station.
Its position directly opposite the station makes it an easy filler for a rainy afternoon or an evening after a day of temple and garden walking.
6. Nogawa Park
Nogawa Park is named among Chōfu's local attractions, offering green space within the city for a walk between other stops.
Treat it as a low-key addition to a day rather than a destination on its own, and pair it with whatever else you have planned nearby.
7. Sengawa Theater
Sengawa Theater is listed among the city's local attractions and sits in the Sengawa area, which is served by a station on the Keiō Line.
It is worth checking what is on before you travel, since a theatre visit depends entirely on the programme.
8. Chōfu City Fireworks Festival
The Chōfu City Fireworks Festival is held along the banks of the Tamagawa River and is attended by as many as 300,000 people.
Because of the scale of the crowds, arrive early and expect the riverside banks and nearby transport to be busy. Confirm the date locally before planning around it.
9. Mushanokōji Saneatsu park and memorial hall
There is a park and memorial hall commemorating the life of novelist Mushanokōji Saneatsu, a former resident of Chōfu.
This is a quiet stop best suited to travellers already interested in Japanese literature, and it can be slotted in alongside the city's other sights.
10. Chōfu's cultural centre
Chōfu has a large cultural centre that supports many groups encouraging the integration of foreigners into Japanese society, providing free Japanese, Shodo, Ikebana, Karate and many other lessons.
If you are staying a while, this is a way to spend time with local groups rather than simply passing through. Enquire locally about what is running during your stay.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Jindaiji Temple, arriving early enough to see the temple complex and the bronze statue of Shaka Nyorai before the lanes fill up. Walk through the south gate into Jindai Botanical Gardens and spend the rest of the morning among the plum, cherry, azalea and rose plantings.
Afternoon: Eat soba in the village around Jindaiji Temple, then head back towards Chōfu Station. If a match or event is on, continue to Ajinomoto Soccer Stadium via Tobitakyu Station; otherwise use the time for Nogawa Park or Sengawa Theater.
Evening: Return to Chōfu Station and finish at Aeon Cinema Theaters Chofu in the Trie Keio Chofu C building across the station square. If your visit falls on the 25th of the month, check the schedule at Fudaten Shrine instead.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Jindaiji Temple and Jindai Botanical Gardens?
Both are in the Jindaiji area of Motomachi. The botanical gardens' main gate on the west side is near a bus stop, and there is a second gate on the south side adjacent to Jindaiji Temple, so you can move between the two on foot.
When is the best time to see the botanical gardens?
Something is always blooming, and the garden is divided into areas for specific plants including plum and cherry blossom trees, with the Japanese azalea garden and English-style rose garden noted as particularly good. Opening hours are 09:30–16:00.
How do I reach Ajinomoto Soccer Stadium on a match day?
The Keiō Line stops at Tobitakyu Station around game times, and the stadium is a five-minute walk from there. Buses also run from Chōfu Station, Mitaka Station and Musashisakai Station.
When can I see the satokagura dance at Fudaten Shrine?
Satokagura dance and music numbers are performed on the 25th of the month. The satokagura is a traditional Shinto dance.
Decide which of these fits your dates, check the temple, garden and shrine schedules, and start building your Chōfu day around them.