Tachikawa

JR Tachikawa Station

Tachikawa (立川市 Tachikawa-shi) is a city in western Tokyo.

Understand

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

Downtown Tachikawa is served by the JR Chuo line, JR Nambu line, and Tama Monorail.

See

Japanese garden in Showa Kinen Park

Showa Kinen Park (昭和記念公園, showa kinen koen), located at a former US Air Base, the land was regained as a spacious park.

Green Belt, perfect for walking or riding a bike. It goes from Tachikawa North, to Kunitachi.

Subaru of Tachikawa (aka Car Do), one of the largest Subaru dealers featuring large amounts of aftermarket parts as well as used cars. A frequent Subaru-enthusiast tourist stop.

Do

There are several movie theaters and a department store near the station. These are somewhat busy on weekends.

• 1 Tachikawa Racetrack (たちかわ競輪場) (a short (free) bus ride from Tachikawa Station), ☏ +81 42-524-1121. Bicycle racing (keirin) takes place on a banked oval track. Keirin was invented in Japan for gambling purposes and became an Olympic sport in 2000 in its modified form. 
• 2 Showa Kinen Park Rainbow Pool (昭和記念公園レインボープール) (2 minutes walk from Nishi Tachikawa station on the JR Ōme Line, or 15 minutes walk from Tachikawa Station), ☏ +81 42-528-1751. 9 outside pools, some with waves. ¥2200. 

Buy

There are many shopping spots, Isetan, Takashimaya SC, Lumine, Granduo, and so on. Lumine is very popular for teenagers. Isetan is a famous department store in Japan, so it might have shop clerks who can speak English or other languages. On the other hand, Takashimaya closed in 2023 and reopened in 2024 as a shopping complex - shocking the locals with cheaper shops such as Seria \100 shop, OK Store supermarket and Hama-zushi belt-conveyor sushi.

All these complexes have some café or restaurants, so you can rest while shopping.

Eat

Flowers at Showa Kinen Park

Granduo (left at exit subway/metro) has good eating area at the 6th and 7th floor.

Drink

• 1 County Clare, 2-15-21 Akebonocho, ☏ +81 42-523-8307. 17:00-02:00. An Irish pub. (updated Feb 2016)

Sleep

• 1 Palace Hotel Tachikawa (パレスホテル立川), 2-40-15 Akebonocho (5 minutes walk on 1st level pedestrian walking bridge), ☏ +81 42-527-1111. Business hotel with nice staff, many of whom speak English. 

Connect

• 1 Tachikawa Immigration Branch Office (東京入国管理局 立川出張所), Kita 3-31-2, ☏ +81 42-528-7179. M-F 09:00-12:00, 13:00-16:00. This small immigration branch office can perform various services for foreign residents of Japan. It doesn't have a full range of services, though, so check the website carefully before heading out. Unlike some other immigration offices, they speak no English — Japanese language ability is necessary. Prices for immigration services are standard across the country. 

Go next

• Akishima
• Fussa
• Akiruno
• Hachioji
• Kunitachi
• Kokubunji
• Musashimurayama
• Higashiyamato
• Kodaira

Routes through Tachikawa

Nagoya ← Hachioji ←	W  E	→ Suginami → Tokyo
Okutama ← Ōme ← Haijima ←	W  E	→ into
END ←	N  S	→ Yaho → Fuchu Honmachi → Kawasaki
Haijima ←	W  E	→ Kodaira → Tanashi → Seibu Shinjuku