Where In Tokyo
Yatsuhigata Nature
Observation Center/
Minami-Funabashi:
Park/garden
0474-54-8416
Data
Yatsu Higata, a
1000-acre mudflat
connected to Tokyo
Bay, is one of the
better bird-watching
spots in the Tokyo
metropolitan area.
The wetlands here
are an excellent
place to see migrat-
ing shorebirds dur-
ing their stopover
in Japan, with good
bird-watching oppor-
tunities all through
the year. And it's
relatively access-
ible via public
transportion -
roughly a twenty-
minute walk from JR
Minami-Funabashi
station and Ikea,
which are about 25
minutes from Tokyo
station.
Although it's a
mudflat there's no
need to bring your
wading boots - with
an investment of
Y300 you can enjoy
the wrap-around view
from the site's
Nature Observation
Center. There you'll
find good-quality
telescopes and bi-
noculars, bird-spot-
ting guidebooks, and
a fairly extensive
avian-focused li-
brary (all in Japa-
nese). A play area
is provided to keep
younger children
busy, and the cen-
ter's store sells
books and bird-
themed souvenirs.
The cozy little cafe
serves pastas and
curries, coffee and
microbrew beers.
Photos
Google Map
Map for AU phones
Map for DoCoMo
Nearest venues
Narashino-shi,
Chiba, Akitsu 5-1-1.
From Minami-Funaba-
shi station (JR
Keiyo line) take the
pedestrian overpass
and cross to the
north side of the
highway as soon as
you can, then walk
east parallel to the
highway until you
reach the park en-
trance; it's about
15-20 minutes on
foot. [There's also
onsite parking for
100 cars.]
Open 9am-5pm (en-
ter by 4:30pm).
Closed Mondays.
Y300 (general
admission to Nature
Observation Center)
Average visit
time: 45-90 minutes
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