Saitama Midori-no-mori Nature Park, Open-air museum and nature park in Iruma, Japan
Saitama Midori-no-mori Nature Park is an open-air museum and nature park set in the Sayama-kyuryo Hills with wooded areas, wetlands, and walking trails. The grounds span roughly 85 hectares offering diverse habitats to explore.
The park and museum complex was established in 1995 through efforts by local residents seeking to protect the natural landscape of Sayama-kyuryo Hills. Its creation reflects a broader movement to preserve such environments for future generations.
The site displays traditional satoyama landscapes showing how communities have long lived alongside nature. Visitors see through exhibitions how villages and forests connect and depend on each other.
The site is accessible by bus from Kotesashi Station or by car. The grounds feature marked paths and information boards at various locations throughout the park.
The grounds inspired scenes in the animated film My Neighbor Totoro, linking local nature with world-renowned cinema. Film fans recognize familiar landscape features in the hills and forests throughout the park.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
