A Fuchu Walk: Okunitama Shrine to Tokyo Racecourse

Before or after a day at the races, you can walk from Keio Fuchu Station down the zelkova avenue to Okunitama Shrine (大國魂神社), the guardian shrine of the old Musashi Province, and on to Tokyo Racecourse. The shrine is about 5 minutes from the station, and the shrine says it was founded in the year 111. The JRA Racing Museum, inside the racecourse, lists Fuchu Station as an 18-minute walk. It is a free, flat walk through the oldest part of Fuchu.

Route at a glance

#	Section	What you’ll see
1	Keio Fuchu Station → zelkova avenue	Station exit, the start of the avenue
2	Zelkova avenue → great torii	Baba-daimon Keyaki Namiki, a national natural monument
3	Okunitama Shrine grounds	Zuishinmon gate, main hall, sub-shrines
4	Shrine → Tokyo Racecourse	Toward the racecourse gates

1. Start at Keio Fuchu Station

Get off at Fuchu (府中) on the Keio Line. Okunitama Shrine gives its access as 5 minutes on foot from Keio Fuchu Station, or 5 minutes from Fuchu-Honmachi (府中本町) on the JR Musashino and Nambu lines.

2. The zelkova avenue

The approach to the shrine is lined with zelkova trees. This is the Baba-daimon Keyaki Namiki (馬場大門のケヤキ並木). It was designated a national natural monument on December 9, 1924, and Fuchu City marked its 100th anniversary in 2024. The city has also passed an ordinance to protect and grow the trees.

The shrine lists the avenue among its own facilities, along with the great torii (大鳥居) at its end.

3. Okunitama Shrine

Okunitama Shrine enshrines Okunitama-no-Okami, the guardian god of Musashi Province, which covered today’s Tokyo, Saitama and part of Kanagawa. From the shrine’s own history page:

• Founded: the shrine dates its origin to the year 111 (the 41st year of Emperor Keiko). It marks “1,900 years” on its website.
• Musashi’s provincial shrine: after the Taika reforms in 645, the provincial capital of Musashi was placed here, and the shrine became the place where the governor worshipped. The six main shrines of the province were later enshrined here as well, so it was also called Rokushonomiya (六所宮).
• Main hall: rebuilt in 1667 on the orders of shogun Tokugawa Ietsuna, as three halls joined side by side, painted vermilion. It is a Tokyo Metropolitan cultural property.
• Known for: warding off bad luck (厄除け), matchmaking and good fortune.

Gate hours (as of October 2026):

Period	Gates open
April 1 – September 14	6:00–17:00
September 15 – March 31	6:30–17:00

Prayer ceremonies run 9:00–16:00, and goshuin (shrine stamps) are given 9:00–17:00. The shrine notes that the gates now close at 17:00 all year.

Inside the grounds, the shrine’s map lists the Zuishinmon (随神門) and Chujakumon (中雀門) gates, the main hall and prayer hall, many small sub-shrines, a kagura hall, a drum tower, a sumo ring and a treasure hall (宝物殿).

Kurayami Matsuri

The shrine’s big festival is Kurayami Matsuri (くらやみ祭), held April 30 to May 6 each year. The shrine explains the name (“darkness festival”): in the old days, eight portable shrines were carried to the Otabisho in the dark, with all lights put out. Since 1961 the procession has been held in the evening. Expect very large crowds in Fuchu during Golden Week.

4. On to Tokyo Racecourse

From the shrine, head toward the racecourse. You have three gates to choose from:

Gate	Nearest to	Notes
West Gate	JR Fuchu-Honmachi Station (5 min by a dedicated overpass)	The overpass gate at Fuchu-Honmachi opens only on race days and off-track betting days
Main Gate	Keio Fuchu-Keiba-Seimon-mae Station	Next to the Fuji View Stand
East Gate	Keio Higashi-Fuchu Station (10 min)	The only gate open on weekdays for the museum. Hiyoshigaoka Park is just inside

On race days, entry is usually ¥200 (under 15 free). On weekdays you can still visit the free JRA Racing Museum through the East Gate, Wednesday to Sunday most of the year. See our museum guide.

Making a day of it

Time	Plan
9:00	Keio Fuchu Station, zelkova avenue
9:30	Okunitama Shrine
10:30	Walk to Tokyo Racecourse for the first races
Afternoon	Racing, museum, food. See first-timer’s guide and eating at Tokyo Racecourse

Fuchu is three stops east of Seiseki-sakuragaoka (聖蹟桜ヶ丘) on the Keio Line. If you have a second day in the area, see things to do in Tama City.