Totoro no Mori

Totoro no Mori is a forest preserve in Sayama Hills, Saitama Prefecture, located across Tokorozawa. It was saved thanks to the Totoro no Furusato Foundation, which was founded in April 1990. This organization has included Hayao Miyazaki. There are several museums, visitor centers, walking trails, and a Totoro statue in the area. Totoro's Forest No.1 was born in 1991, and the foundation will have acquired its 55th Totoro forest in January 2020.

The majority of Totoro's forests are concentrated in the northern part of Sayama Hills. Sayama is a lush hill of greenery located about 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the Tokyo metropolitan area, overlapping the Tokyo and Saitama provinces. It spans 3,500ha (8,650 acres) and measures about 11 kilometers (6.9 miles) east to west and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north to south. The extensive woodland area, which includes two reservoirs, Lake Sayama and Lake Tama, retains an old-world charm. From above, the Hills look like a small green island in the middle of a city. The forests, museums, and visitor centers are spread throughout the Sayama region and are linked by paths or nature trails.

Location: Kamiyamaguchi, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359–1153, Japan