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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Musashino
武蔵野市
Skip as a base: sleep in Kichijoji or Shinjuku and use Musashisakai only for a bath house, a curry lunch or a university visit.
Musashino is a residential city in western Tokyo, split by the JR Chuo Line into two station hubs: Kichijoji in the east (its own destination) and Musashisakai in the west. Almost nothing here is built for visitors, and the hotels are few. Treat it as a half-day stop between Shinjuku and Mitaka, not a place to sleep.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 武蔵野市
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot and humid), late Dec–early Jan
- 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 ¥6,000–10,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥10,000–16,000 excl. bed · High ¥16,000+ 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 · Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English) 050-3816-2787
- 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, roasted to order | ¥230–500 |
| Curry set with rice, nan and salad | ¥700–1,200 |
| Gyoza and ramen set | ¥500–1,000 |
| Izakaya dinner with drinks | ¥1,000–3,000 |
| Sushi lunch set | ¥800–1,500 |
| Taxi, short hop inside the city | ¥1,000–2,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HND · Haneda
- Keikyu or monorail to Shinjuku, then JR Chuo Line; about 1 h 15 min door to door
- NRT · Narita
- Narita Express to Shinjuku, then JR Chuo Line; about 2 h
Typical fares
- Musashisakai → Shinjuku, JR Chuo
- about ¥400, about 20 min
- Musashisakai → Kichijoji, JR Chuo
- about ¥150, 4 min
- Bath house entry
- about ¥450
Get around
Walk, bus or bicycle. The JR Chuo Line runs east–west with two stops in the city (Musashisakai and Kichijoji); Mitaka sits between them and is the transfer point for other lines. For north–south trips inside the city, take a bus or taxi from Musashisakai. Roads are quiet enough that a car is workable, but you will not need one.
See and do
Known for
- Musashisakai station area
- Toranoyu rock bath house
- Indian and izakaya restaurants near Musashisakai
- Universities: Asia University, Musashino University
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kichijoji | JR Chuo Line from Musashisakai, 4 min | About 15 min |
| Mitaka | JR Chuo Line from Musashisakai, 3 min | About 10 min |
| Shinjuku | JR Chuo Line rapid from Musashisakai, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Hachioji | JR Chuo Line west from Musashisakai, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Machida | JR Chuo to Shinjuku, then Odakyu line south | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Musashisakai station south exit
- One business hotel (Hotel Mets Musashisakai) steps from the exit; single rooms about ¥7,000–9,000, doubles about ¥10,000–13,000. Staff may not speak English.
- Kichijoji (next station east)
- Many more hotels, shops and restaurants; 4 min by JR Chuo Line from Musashisakai. The practical base for this area.
- Shinjuku (about 20 min east)
- Full range of hotels and the easiest link to both airports. Best if you want one bed for the whole Tokyo stay.
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 |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
| One adult, please | 大人一枚お願いしますotona ichimai onegaishimasu |
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
- Musashino is residential: expect few English signs and little English-speaking hotel staff.
- Many restaurants close between lunch and dinner (roughly 15:00–17:00) and on irregular days; check before you walk.
- The bath house Toranoyu is closed on Wednesdays and shuts at 22:00.
- Last JR Chuo trains from Shinjuku run around midnight; after that, taxis are expensive.
Very safe, like the rest of western Tokyo. The real issues are small: bicycles on pavements, quiet streets after dark, and restaurants with no English menu. Keep the standard 110 / 119 numbers.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Musashino yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Musashisakai station area
- Toranoyu rock bath house
- Indian and izakaya restaurants near Musashisakai
- Universities: Asia University, Musashino University
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Musashino City official site: www.city.musashino.lg.jp/
- Musashino tourist association guide: musashino-kanko.com/
- JR East — Chuo Line: www.jreast.co.jp/e/
- Wikivoyage: Musashino, revision 5221745 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5221745
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Musashino武蔵野市
ここまでお願いします
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
No embassies here; they are in central Tokyo. City Hall (Midoricho 2-2-28, 10 min north of Mitaka Station) can point you to hospitals (check hours).
Musashino is residential; keep your hotel booking in Kichijoji or Shinjuku.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/musashino). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.