Major city · Japan
Chofu調布市
Give Chofu one half-day for Jindaiji Temple and the botanical garden, then return to Tokyo; sleep here only if you want a cheap Keio-line base.
Chofu is a western Tokyo suburb on the Keio line, 15 minutes and ¥280 from Shinjuku. Its one real sight cluster is Jindaiji Temple and the Jindai Botanical Gardens, side by side about 2–3 km north of Chofu station. Everything else is ordinary suburban Tokyo: a shopping centre at the station, a 50,000-seat stadium, a cinema. Come for the temple and garden, not for the city.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- JPY
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week
- Airports
- NRT · HND · ---
- Nights
- 0–1
Rules in force · 5
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- Japan ↗IC cards (ICOCA/Suica) are topped up with cash at station machines.
- Japan ↗Smoking while walking is banned in most city centres; use designated areas.
- Japan ↗Shinkansen bags 160–250 cm (L+W+H) need a seat reserved with the oversized-baggage area.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Chofu110 ▾
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Chofu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.Japan-wide
- SIM or eSIMData-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.Japan-wide
- Tap waterSafe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.Japan-wide
- TippingRestaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.Japan-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 100 V: UK and AU 230 V-only devices need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Japan-wide
- SafetyChofu is a low-risk Tokyo suburb; the real issues are summer heat, crowded weekend buses and izakaya bills with no posted prices…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFree, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet.Japan-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 050-3816-2787 Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMuseums close on Mondays (Tuesday when Monday is a holiday); many family restaurants close one weekday, often Tuesday or Wednesday…Japan-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNRT Narita International (Narita Express or Keisei to central Tokyo, then the Keio line from Shinjuku; 1 h 45 min–2 h 15 min door to door).
- Getting aroundThe Keio line runs from Shinjuku to Chofu in about 15 min on the special express (¥280 (≈ US$2)).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Coffee¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5)
- Sit-down mealIzakaya dinner with a drink¥3,000–5,000 (≈ US$25–35)
- Street or quick mealBeer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbini¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6)¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideBus ride¥210 (≈ US$2)
- Museum or sight ticketJindai Botanical Gardens entry, adult¥500 (≈ US$4)
- Budget bedHostel or capsule bed, a night, per person¥3,500 (≈ US$25)
- Mid-range bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥15,500 (≈ US$110)
- High-end bedBusiness-hotel double room, a night, per room¥30,000 (≈ US$250)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ¥6,000 (≈ US$45) · Mid ¥11,000 (≈ US$75) · High ¥20,000 (≈ US$140)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NRT Narita International (Narita Express or Keisei to central Tokyo, then the Keio line from Shinjuku; 1 h 45 min–2 h 15 min door to door) · HND Haneda (Keikyu or monorail to central Tokyo, then the Keio line from Shinjuku; about 1 h 15 min–1 h 45 min) · --- Chofu Airport (local field) (Izu Islands flights only; no scheduled international or mainland domestic arrivals)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Feb
not flagged
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
Best
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Apr
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Sep
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Oct
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Nov
Best
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Dec
not flagged
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Jun (13 rain days), driest Jan (5). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Chofu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
5 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
6 rd
Mar
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
10 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
10 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
11 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
13 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
12 rd
Aug
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
9 rd
Sep
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12 rd
Oct
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
9 rd
Nov
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
7 rd
Dec
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
5 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The Keio line runs from Shinjuku to Chofu in about 15 min on the special express (¥280). Jindaiji Temple and the botanical gardens are 2–3 km north of the station: bus 34 from stop 14 on the north side goes to the temple gate, buses 05, 06, 31 and 56 from stop 13 stop at Jindaiji Iriguchi, a short walk away. All five reach the gardens; fare ¥210. Walking takes about 30–40 min, a taxi about 10 min. Tobitakyu station on the Keio line is a 5-min walk from Ajinomoto Stadium on match days.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 40 min
Keio line to Kichijoji, then bus to Jindaiji
Inokashira Park and the shopping streets; a natural pairing with Chofu.
Door to door: About 40 min
Keio line west from Chofu
Mount Takao trailheads and a bigger suburban base.
Door to door: About 1 h
Keio line to Chofu, then Odakyu from Shinjuku or a bus link
No direct rail link; check the route before you commit.
Tachikawa
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Keio line to Bubaigawara, then JR Nambu line
Showa Memorial Park and a useful JR interchange.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Chofu station north side
Trie Keio Chofu, Parco and the Creston Hotel sit here; the Keio line reaches Shinjuku in 15 min, so this works as a cheap Tokyo base.
Fuda and Tenjin Street
A few minutes north of the station: izakaya and curry restaurants, quieter at night.
Jindaiji area
Almost no beds; stay here only if you find a guesthouse and want the temple at opening.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ¥6,000–10,000 (≈ US$45–70) excl. bed
- Mid
- ¥10,000–16,000 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- High
- ¥16,000 (≈ US$110)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Business-hotel double room1 × 1 night × ¥15,500 | ¥15,500 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ¥11,000 | ¥22,000 |
| Keio line Shinjuku ↔ Chofu, both ways2 × ¥560 | ¥1,120 |
| Bus to Jindaiji and back, one day2 × ¥420 | ¥840 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ¥2,500 | ¥5,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ¥4,450 |
| Trip total≈ ¥24,460 per person per day, bed included | ¥48,910≈ US$350 |
Chofu Creston Hotel quotes single ¥10,000, double ¥15,500, twin ¥17,300
2026 estimate in yen; flights and rail passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee | ¥400–700 (≈ US$3–5) |
| Jindaiji soba, one bowl | ¥900–1,600 (≈ US$7–11) |
| Izakaya dinner with a drink | ¥3,000–5,000 (≈ US$25–35) |
| Beer: draught in an izakaya / can at a konbini | ¥500–750 (≈ US$4–6) / ¥250–350 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Bus ride | ¥210 (≈ US$2) |
| Keio line Shinjuku → Chofu | ¥280 (≈ US$2) |
| Jindai Botanical Gardens entry, adult | ¥500 (≈ US$4) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Jindai Botanical Gardens closes at 16:00 and charges ¥500 (≈ US$4) for adults; arrive by early afternoon.Jindai Botanical Gardens closes at 4:00 PM and charges ¥500 (≈ US$4) for adults; arrive by early afternoon.
- Buses to Jindaiji fill on weekend mornings; the platform is crowded with families.
- Chofu Airport handles flights to the Izu Islands, not international arrivals; do not book it by mistake.
- Last Keio trains back to Shinjuku run around midnight; after that, a taxi is the only option.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Fire and ambulance
- 119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (JNTO, 24 h, English)
- 050-3816-2787
Pocket card
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Chofu調布市
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ここまでお願いしますTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Fire and ambulance119
- Japan Visitor Hotline (24 h, English)050-3816-2787
Embassy
No embassies in Chofu; most are in central Tokyo (check your own country's address).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Keio line Shinjuku → Chofu: about ¥280 (≈ US$2), about 15 min
- Bus Chofu station → Jindaiji: ¥210 (≈ US$2), about 15–20 min
- Taxi Chofu station → Jindaiji Temple: about ¥1,200–1,600 (≈ US$9–11)
Say or show
- すみません — Excuse me / Sorry (sumimasen)
- ありがとうございます — Thank you (arigatō gozaimasu)
- これをください — This one, please (kore o kudasai)
- いくらですか？ — How much is it? (ikura desu ka)
- カードで払えますか？ — Can I pay by card? (kādo de haraemasu ka)
- トイレはどこですか？ — Where is the toilet? (toire wa doko desu ka)
Chofu is a suburb of Tokyo, so the practical base is usually a Tokyo hotel and Chofu is the day out.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Chofu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Golden Week · month by month →
- 3 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NRT and HND: last Keio departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster for the Jindaiji pair: temple gate, soba street, botanical garden south gate, bus stops 13 and 14.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Jindaiji Temple, Jindai Botanical Gardens, Ajinomoto Stadium) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.