Orientation
Musashino is a city in Greater Tokyo, sitting on the Musashino Plateau in the Kantō region. For a visitor, the key thing to understand is its shape: the rail line runs east–west through the city, which means most of your movement along that axis is easy by train, while north–south trips need a bit more planning.
Getting in by train
The JR Chūō Line connects Musashino with Shinjuku and Tokyo Station to the east, making it the natural way to arrive from central Tokyo. If you need to switch to other lines, Mitaka — one stop east of Musashisakai — is a transfer point for several other train services. Musashisakai is also the station to remember for onward travel within the city, particularly for north–south journeys.
Getting around the city
Within Musashino, travel by foot, bus or bicycle is practical. The roads here are not so crowded, so using a car is reasonable too — unusual for a Tokyo-area city, and a point in Musashino's favour if you prefer door-to-door convenience.
Rail, metro and tram
The train is the backbone of movement through the city, running east–west. Beyond that, Musashino's public transport network is made up of a mix of bus and rail routes operated by several transit operators, so you will encounter more than one company's services during a stay. There is no metro or tram network to speak of here; the rail line plus buses covers the ground.
Buses and other public transport
Several bus companies run routes in Musashino, including Odakyu Bus, Seibu Bus and Kanto Bus. Because the train only runs east–west, buses are the practical option for north–south travel — or you can catch a bus from Musashisakai, which is the recommended starting point for crossing the city in that direction. Buses also serve the main roads through town, so a route will usually exist for wherever you are headed.
For tickets and passes, buy them as you would anywhere in Greater Tokyo: single fares on board, or an IC card for tap-in, tap-out convenience across the different operators. Because multiple companies run the buses, an IC card saves you from juggling separate paper tickets for each one.
Taxis and ride-hailing
Taxis are a sensible choice for north–south trips when a bus does not line up with your plans, and they are explicitly recommended for that purpose. They are also a reasonable fallback for short hops where waiting for a bus is not worth it.
Walkability
Walking is one of the practical ways to get around Musashino, alongside buses and bicycles. The city is not so congested that you need a vehicle for every trip, and the quieter roads make strolling between stops and neighbourhoods a comfortable option.
Getting in from the airport
The reference material does not specify airport connections for Musashino. As a general rule, you would head into central Tokyo first and then take the JR Chūō Line east–west into the city, using Mitaka or Musashisakai as your arrival point. Confirm current airport transfer options before you travel, since these change.