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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Fuchu
府中
Spend a half‑day to see Ohkunitama Shrine, then the Suntory Musashino Brewery; add the Tokyo Racecourse if you have a morning slot.
Fuchu is a suburban Tokyo city with a historic shrine, a major brewery, and Japan's largest racecourse. All are reachable by train within 20‑60 minutes from central Tokyo, so a single day covers the highlights.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 府中
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (heat), Golden Week (late Apr–early May)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥8,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | ¥400–¥700 |
| Beer (draft at a bar) | ¥500–¥800 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi3.1 mi (5 km) taxi | ¥2,200–¥2,700 |
| Keio Line fare (Shinjuku → Fuchu) | ¥320 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HND · Haneda Airport
- —
- NRT · Narita International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Shinjuku → Fuchu (Keio Line)
- ¥320, about 20 min (check)
- Tokyo Racecourse shuttle
- ¥320 round‑trip (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Keio Line (20 min from Shinjuku, ¥320), JR Chuo Line (≈60 min from Tokyo Station), JR Nanbu Line (≈50 min from Kawasaki). Use the Keio shuttle to the racecourse.
See and do
Known for
- Ohkunitama Shrine
- Suntory Musashino Brewery
- Tokyo Racecourse
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chofu | Keio Line eastbound, about 10 min | ≈20 min |
| Kokubunji | JR Chuo Line northbound, about 15 min | ≈30 min |
Sleep
- Hotel Continental
- Opposite Keio Fuchu Station; convenient for train access.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| Where is the restroom? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
| How much is this? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Last Keio trains depart around midnight; plan return accordingly.
- Racecourse shuttle runs only on race days; check schedule (check).
- English signage is limited at the shrine and brewery; use the Japanese guide site with Google Translate.
Fuchu is generally safe; stay alert on late‑night trains and follow racecourse safety notices.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Fuchu yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ohkunitama Shrine
- Suntory Musashino Brewery
- Tokyo Racecourse
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Fuchu city official site: www.city.fuchu.tokyo.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Fuchu (Tokyo), revision 5241946 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5241946
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/fuchu-tokyo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.