Jindaiji and Jindai botanical gardens
Jindaiji Temple has been a popular attraction in Tokyo since it was founded in 733. For hundreds of years, people have enjoyed visiting the temple to pray, viewing the gardens, and eating local food at the teahouse. Jindaiji still offers these same recreational activities and continues to attract visitors from all over.
Jindaiji Temple stands out from other temples in Tokyo due to its unique location in a lush wooded area with plenty of spring water. It's hard to believe that the temple is within commuting distance from the bustling Shinjuku district in central Tokyo.
How do you get to Jindaiji?
To reach Jindaiji temple, you are to take a bus from one of the nearby stations, Tsutsuji-gaoka Station, Kichijoji Station, or Mitaka Station. The bus goes through residential streets and heads for the wooded area, which would be a 20 to 30-minute ride.
Getting off at the bus stop “Jindaiji”, you will see an approach leading to Jindaiji temple. Streets around the temple are lined with old shops and teahouses, and most people come to see this unchanged scene in a natural setting.
You will see many Soba noodle shops on the streets as Soba noodle is the speciality of Jindaiji as the town abundant with spring water to make noodles. Zaru or dipping cooled noodles with Soba soup is the popular eating style at Jindaiji.
The Jindai Botanical Gardens are a must-visit location.
At the back of Jindaiji temple, there is the large park, Jindai Botanical Gardens, operated by the Tokyo metropolitan government, another attraction in the Jindaiji area. Seasonal flower festivals, including rose festivals in May and October, are held in the park. Jindai Botanical Gardens is divided into three zones, and an admission fee is required to enter the main zone where flower festivals are held.
Since most visitors who visit the flower festival also visit Jindaiji Temple, and vice versa, it will be so crowded during the festival, especially on weekends. If you plan to visit both the temple and the botanical gardens, it is recommended that you visit early in the morning*, so you can enjoy lunch peacefully before all the soba restaurants get busy at noon. The slope and starts behind Jindaiji temple lead to the entrance “Jindaiji Gate” where visitors can buy entrance tickets there. Since the ticket is good for one day, the ticket holders are allowed to reenter after enjoying lunch at a Soba shop nearby.
*Jindai Botanical Gardens open at 9:30AM and close at 5:00PM (by 4:00PM for admission).
Special Free Admission Days
The parks operated by Tokyo metropolitan government offer free admission on Green day (Midori-no-hi on May 4) and Tokyo citizens day (Tomin-no-hi on October 1). On these special days, free admission is available to anyone visiting the main zone of Jindai Botanical Gardens.
Getting to Jindaiji temple
By Train and Bus from Shinjuku 新宿 - 3 options
(1) By way of Tsutsujigaoka station つつじヶ丘北口 (The cheapest way in the 3 options)
Take the Keio-sen Line train from Shinjuku station, and get off at Tsutsujigaoka Station (21-min ride). From Tsutsujigaoka Station (North Exit), take a bus bound for Jindaiji 深大寺 and get off at Jindaiji(18-min ride)
Keio Bus Timetable (From Tsutsujigaoka Kitaguchi (North exit) to Jindaiji)
(2) By way of Kichijoji station 吉祥寺駅
Take the JR Line from Shinjuku station, and get off at Kichijoji Station (15 or 20-min ride). From Kichijoji Station (Bus stop No.6), take a bus bound for Jindaiji 深大寺 and get off at Jindaiji (30-min ride)
Odakyu Bus Timetable
https://www.odakyubus.co.jp/regular/
(3) By way of Mitaka station 三鷹駅
Take the JR Line from Shinjuku station, and get off at Kichijoji Station (17 or 23-min ride). From Mitaka Station (South Exit Bus stop No.3), take a bus bound for Jindaiji 深大寺 and get off at Jindaiji (27-min ride)
Odakyu Bus Timetable
https://www.odakyubus.co.jp/regular/
How to get to Jindai Botanical Gardens
If you visit only the flower festival, get off at the bus stop Jindai-shokubutsu-koen-mae 神代植物公園前 or Jindai-shokubutsu-koen 神代植物公園, that is one bus stop before Jindaiji.
Google Maps | Jindaiji https://goo.gl/maps/tFNZL
Related Information
Jindaiji Temple
Jindai Botanical Gardens
https://www.tokyo-park.or.jp/jindai/
https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/content/000007552.pdf
Keio-sen Line
https://www.keio.co.jp/english/
Keio Bus Service (Japanese)
https://www.keio-bus.com/bus//
Odakyu Bus Service (Japanese)
https://www.odakyubus.co.jp/regular/
