A must-see for any fan of Hayao Miyazaki’s Ghibi films, particularly those who love the move “My Neighbor Totoro,” is Kurosuke’s House and the surrounding forests. The movie setting was modeled after this forest and house. This is perfect for nature-lovers, historians, and anime fans alike!

Chris Okano of the Okano TV YouTube channel takes us on this adventure in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture, just a stone’s throw from Tokyo. This is the 100th day of his tour around all forty-seven prefectures of Japan. The closest station to the forest and house is Kotesashi on the Seibu-Ikebukuro Line. Museums and paths displaying Japanese folklore are dotted all over the Sayama region.

What sets this forest apart from others in Japan is that newer forests tend to only have trees that are used for building houses. Totoro’s Forest is an older zoukibayashi, a forest with many different kinds of trees that are unique to Japan.

Getting to the main attraction, Kurosuke’s house and Totoro’s Forest, is a 90-minute walk full of familiar scenes from the movie. You can opt to take a bus or taxi instead.

Kurosuke’s house has very limited hours. It’s open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm. Be sure to check in advance to make sure it’s open if you intend to go. Also, please be sure to view Chris Okano’s beautiful video as he let’s the sights speak for themselves!

For more information on how you can take this same tour, please refer to the Odigo website: https://www.odigo.jp/. The English language of the Totoro no Furusato Foundation can also be found here: http://www.totoro.or.jp/totorofund/index.html