Mitaka

The Ghibli Museum has permanent exhibitions showing the history and science of animation, as well as a mock-up animation studio showing the animation process, and features characters from Studio Ghibli films throughout. There are also special exhibitions, a cinema showing exclusive Ghibli animated short films, a store, a rooftop garden, a restaurant, and a catbus (for children ages 12 and under). The space itself is intricately decorated, notably with Ghibli-themed stained glass and accents, and features many nooks and crannies to explore. A purchased reservation is required before visiting. All reservations for a given month are sold on the 10th of the month before and sell out within a few days. Reservations can be made at any Lawson convenience store within Japan, or through Lawson's online ticketing interface accessible in English through the museum's website.

Features special exhibits four times a year.

This is the main campus of Japan's national observatory. Data collection mostly occurs elsewhere, which frees up many of the buildings here for a view. About half of the campus is open to the public. Many buildings are decades old and house equipment used by the observatory decades ago, in a well-preserved state. The entire place is surrounded by forest, and unlike much of Tokyo, it's quiet and peaceful here. Some people bring a sketch pad and draw the buildings. There are no guides. A self-paced tour might take 1-2 hours.

A pond with boats, petting zoo and a small aquarium, and is a place where vendors, musicians, artists and street performers gather. The park is bustling with crowds who arrive to take in the lively environment on weekends and holidays, especially during the cherry blossom season when the entire park is overrun with visitors for hanami. There is also a small temple dedicated to Benzaiten, a vengeful goddess of love.

The Mitaka International Society for Hospitality is an association for cultural exchange between Japanese volunteers and international visitors. It hosts various cultural events and also operates fee-based Japanese lessons. Alternatively, a system for connecting students with volunteer language partners is available for those who wish to learn Japanese on the cheap.