Machida Squirrel Garden 町田リス園

Get up close to some of Tokyo’s cutest locals

Machida Squirrel Garden is an outdoor enclosure tucked away in the quiet residential neighborhood of Machida, about half an hour south of Shinjuku by train. Populated by around 200 adorable, very energetic squirrels, here you can see the cute bushy-tailed critters up close as you stroll through their quaint neighborhood dotted with small, colorful squirrel houses.

To draw the squirrels in, buy a bag of seeds from the front desk. They’re not shy, so don’t be surprised if they try to eat straight out of your hands. The garden is also home to some other adorable occupants including guinea pigs, tortoises, rabbits, chipmunks and prairie dogs. If you want to play with them, ask about their "encounter times" at reception.