Sometimes you need a break from Tokyo’s endless skyline. Don’t get me wrong, the concrete and glass have their charm, but every once in a while the eyes start to crave something green. So when I wanted an escape, I didn’t head for the mountains — I drove just 20 minutes from home to the Tokyo Institute for Nature Study in Meguro.
Now, Meguro isn’t exactly where you’d expect to find wilderness. The ward is better known for its upscale neighborhoods, stylish cafés, and the Meguro River’s cherry blossom spectacle. But tucked into all that is a 20-hectare reserve of forest and wetlands that’s been protected since 1949.
The first time I went, it was for an interview with fine arts photographer Reylia Slaby, who was using the space as a backdrop to talk about nature in her art. This time, it was about something different—getting my sons surrounded by greenery instead of concrete, especially now that the scorching Tokyo summer has finally started to give way.
The reserve isn’t a manicured park. Trails weave through marshes and groves of old growth, lined with orb weaver webs strung up like Christmas lights. My kids weren’t so much chasing dragonflies as being chased by them, zigzagging down the path while trying not to run face-first into the silk threads. My youngest even let a patrol member place a hefty praying mantis in his hand—only for it to immediately launch itself back into the foliage, much to his wide-eyed shock.
I also used the chance to chip away at a roll of film. I inherited a Contax T2 from my wife’s late grandfather and have been slowly working through exposures, looking forward to finally developing that first roll. The quiet trails and filtered light felt like the right place to give it some work.
We stayed about 90 minutes before heading down the street to Cacaocat for frozen chocolate drinks. They were pricey for what they were, but after a humid walk through the woods, they absolutely hit the spot.
The Institute may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Tokyo escapes, but that’s what makes it worth it. Sometimes the best way to get out of the city is to go further into it.