Machida Squirrel Garden

Machida Squirrel Garden is an animal park in a residential part of Tokyo where hundreds of squirrels live in small decorated houses spread across an outdoor space. The garden also houses guinea pigs, rabbits, tortoises, chipmunks, and prairie dogs alongside the main attractions.

The space opened in 1988 as an educational wildlife facility and grew into a popular destination for hands-on animal experiences. Over time, facilities were improved and more animal species were added to create a more varied environment.

The name reflects the garden's focus on squirrels, which visitors can observe and interact with throughout the space. People come here to spend time with animals and learn how different species live together in one place.

The facility provides protective gloves and seeds at the entrance so visitors can feed the animals safely. It helps to arrive early, especially on weekends when the space becomes crowded.

Each squirrel has its own named house where it retreats and sleeps at night. This personal identification helps visitors recognize and follow individual animals on repeat visits.

Location: Yakushidai

Official opening: December 15, 1988

Part of: Yakushi-ike Park

Website: https://machida-risuen.com

GPS coordinates: 35.57808,139.44972

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:00