Totoro no Mori (トトロの森 , Totoro Forest) is the forest preserve in Sayama Hills, located across Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. It was preserved due to the efforts of the Totoro no Furusato Foundation, founded in April 1990. Hayao Miyazaki has served as member of this organization.
The area includes several museums, visitor centers, walking trails and a Totoro statue. In 1991, Totoro's Forest no.1 (トトロの森 1号地 , Toro no Mori 1 gōchi) was born, and in January 2020, the foundation has acquired its 55th Totoro forest.[1]
Address[]
- Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359–1153, Japan
Overview[]
Totoro no Mori was named after Hayao Miyazaki's 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro since the village in the film was modeled after Sayama Hills. This forest was previously in danger of being destroyed due to urbanization, deforestation, and illegal dumping, but in 1986, Saitama Prefecture and Waseda University conservation groups banded together to help conserve Sayama Hills. By April 1990, Totoro no Furusato Foundation was formed to preserve the area.[2]
Most of Totoro's forests are distributed around the area of northern part of Sayama Hills. Located about 40 km (24 miles) from the Tokyo metropolitan area, in an area overlapping Tokyo and Saitama provinces, Sayama is a lush hill of greenery, encompassing 3,500ha (8,650 acres) measuring about 11 km (6.9miles) East to West, and 4 km (2.5miles) North to South. The vast woodland area, which includes two reservoirs, Lake Sayama and Lake Tama still maintain an old-world charm. Seen from above, the Hills resemble a small green island in the middle of a metropolis.[3]
Several museums are located around this area containing history and folklore. The forests, museums and visitor centers are located all over the Sayama region and are connected to each other via paths or nature trails.[4]
Attractions[]
- Kurosuke's House
- The exhibit is managed by the Totoro no Furusato Foundation, a public interest incorporated foundation, as a base to protect the forests of the Sayama Hills. It is an old folk house that is registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property. It has been open to the public since 2011. The admission is free, but visitors are asked for a donation to the Kurosuke's House Fund for the repairs and maintenance. The 3,000-square-meter ground on the Sayama hills, which retain the vestiges of old Musashino, includes a farmhouse, a storehouse, and a tea factory, all of which are older than 100 years and are important cultural assets.
- The house is surrounded by a tea plantation and has a stream and a bamboo forest in the back, so you can experience the views and atmosphere of an old farming life. Totoro Fund-original goods are sold, and events are held at the farmhouse. There are no parking space, so it is recommended to use the public transportation when visiting this place. No English language support is provided. It is a 5-minute walk from the Dainichido Bus Stop on the bus routes for Waseda University or Miyaderanishi, which can be boarded at the Kotesashi Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.[5]
- Hachikokuyama Park
- The park is located within Tokorozawa, and is said to have inspired Shichikokuyama Hospital from My Neighbor Totoro.
- Tamichika Cafe
- A cafe called Tamichika used to be located around the area, but has since permanently closed.[6]
Totoro Forest Acquisition Site[]
- No. 1-351, Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on August 8, 1991
- No. 2 place - Tokorozawa Oaza Kume shaped Yahata Yue 2375, 2376, 1996, April 10 acquisition
- No. 3-253-2 Kamiyamaguchi Chikata, Tokorozawa City, acquired on May 26, 1998
- No. 4-395, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on May 23, 2001
- No. 5 --133-1, Horinouchi, Oaza, Tokorozawa, 134–1, acquired on October 29, 2003
- No. 6-Tokorozawa City Oaza Yamaguchi Aza 2627–1, 2630–1, 2632–2, 2633–1, -2, acquired on October 29, 2003
- No. 7 --2-28-45, 46, Kitanominami, Tokorozawa, acquired on November 14, 2008
- No. 8-1-20-49 Kitanominami, Tokorozawa City, acquired on November 14, 2008
- No. 9-410-13, Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, 14, acquired on November 26, 2008
- No. 10-1-379-1, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on May 19, 2009
- No. 11–2-28-13 Kitanominami, Tokorozawa City, acquired on January 25, 2010
- No. 12 --- 455 Kitanaka, Tokorozawa City, acquired on June 14, 2010
- No. 13-472, Horinouchi, Tokorozawa, acquired on October 28, 2010
- No. 14-3-6-12 Kitano, Tokorozawa City, acquired on January 27, 2011
- No. 15-251-2, Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on October 30, 2011
- Route 16–2-28-9 Kitanominami, Tokorozawa City, acquired on March 19, 2012
- No. 17–5-28-21, Akitsu-cho, Higashimurayama-shi, 22, 30, 31, 33, 30–13, 15, May 28 / June 8, 2012
- Route 16-374 Horinouchi, Tokorozawa, acquired on October 22, 2012
- No. 19-Tokorozawa City Oaza Kamiyamaguchi Oshibahara 1998, acquired on March 18, 2013
- No. 20-21 --- 497–2, -3, 502, Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on June 10, 2013
- No. 21-503, Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on October 17, 2013
- No. 22 --- 73-1 Mikajima, Tokorozawa City, acquired on February 7, 2014
- No. 23-Tokorozawa City Yamaguchi Mujina No. 2636, acquired on February 26, 2014
- No. 24-336-1, Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on March 14, 2014
- No. 25-Tokorozawa City Oaza Yamaguchi Mujina No. 2629, acquired on May 27, 2014
- No. 26–2-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, August 25, 2014, acquired on November 17, 2014
- No. 27-Kitano 3-chome, Tokorozawa, acquired on October 21, 2014
- No. 28-Tokorozawa City Oaza Kamiyamaguchi Aza Nagakubo, acquired on December 16, 2014
- No. 29-1-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on March 23, 2015
- No. 30-Iruma City Miyadera Aza Miyamae and Aza Otanito, acquired on May 25, 2015
- No. 31–2-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on August 24, 2015
- No. 32-Tokorozawa City Kitano Minami 2-chome, acquired on November 17, 2015
- No. 33-2-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on December 8, 2015
- No. 34-2-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on December 8, 2015
- No. 35/36—Tokorozawa City Oaza Yamaguchi Mujina, acquired on January 26, 2016
- No. 37-Otani, Arahata, Tokorozawa, acquired on February 19, 2016
- No. 38-1-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on June 6, 2016
- No. 39-Tokorozawa City Oaza Kamiyamaguchi Aza Kitamine, acquired on August 29, 2016
- No. 40-Imokubo 2-chome, Higashiyamato City, acquired on September 7, 2016
- No. 41-2-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on March 6, 2017
- No. 42-Kitano, Tokorozawa City, acquired on October 23, 2017
- No. 43–1-chome, Kitanoshinmachi, Tokorozawa, acquired on October 23, 2017
- No. 44-Kitano 2-chome, Tokorozawa, acquired on October 23, 2017
- No. 45-Tokorozawa City Oaza Kamiyamaguchi Aza with small fish, acquired on November 21, 2017
- No. 46-Hayashi 1-chome, Tokorozawa, acquired on December 26, 2017
- No. 47-Imokubo 2-chome, Higashiyamato City, acquired on February 20, 2018
- No. 48-Tokorozawa City Oaza Kamiyamaguchi Character Chikata, acquired on March 23, 2018
- No. 49-Horinouchi, Tokorozawa, acquired on March 19, 2019
- No. 50-1-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa-shi, acquired on April 3, 2019
- No. 51-Mikajima 2-chome, Tokorozawa, acquired on May 30, 2019
- No. 52-5-chome, Higashi-Sayamagaoka, Tokorozawa, acquired on March 19, 2020
- No. 53-1-chome, Mikajima, Tokorozawa, acquired on July 7, 2020
- No. 54-Kitano 2-chome, Tokorozawa, acquired on July 7, 2020
- No. 55-Kitano 2-chome, Tokorozawa, acquired on December 1, 2020
References[]
External links[]
- Totoro Forest Official Site
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