Tachikawa is the unofficial setting for a number of scenes in Kanon. Today we’re dealing with the Showa Kinen Memorial Park in Tachikawa, and a medical school in nearby Higashiyamato.
Thankfully some helpful otaku have done a lot of the hard work for us already:
- The park, setting for some of Shiori’s key locations
- The school, a regular enough feature
The park has a helpful English-language homepage detailing the extensive facilities and activities available.
Nishi-Tachikawa station is on the far left. Key locations are as marked.
Tachikawa city is about 37km west of Tokyo. Transit is expected to take 45-60min, and will cost you in the order of 700yen. It’s recommended that you arrive at Nishi-Tachikawa station, then proceed on foot through the park, departing from Tachikawa station. Entry to the park is 400yen.
The school is approximate 3.5km north-northeast, just over the border to Higashi-Yamato. The intercity monorail is probably the simplest way to get there, departing from Tachikawa-kita or Tachikawa-minami stations (adjacent to the main JR station), and should cost 250yen. If you’re game to walk, the terrain is mostly flat and should be easy.
Tamagawa-jyosui station on the left, school marked by "A"
Arriving at Tamagawa-jyosui, you want to exit on the north side of the east-west trainlines. There are two obvious exits, you want the east side. If you walk out and see a large cemetary then you’re on the wrong side. The correct exit faces onto a bus turning loop.
Head east-southeast, out the right side of the loop and parallel to trainlines. The school is 300m from the loop, on your left.
As a functioning school, you should not assume ready access to the inside. Poking around too much is likely grounds for tresspass. In your favour, the fact that the building has won an award for its architecture may be a useful talking point.