Goats at Tokyo's Yotsuya Station: a short stop for the kids, while the grass lasts
This week's news · Checked 2026-11-07
What happened. Two white goats, Nagi (male, 1) and Pokke (female, 2), were placed by JR East on a 900 m² empty lot next to JR Yotsuya Station in Tokyo to eat the weeds. The trial started on 9 Oct and is due to run until around December, but JR East says it ends once the grass has been eaten. Office workers, schoolchildren and visitors have been coming by for photos (Malay Mail/AFP, 6 Nov 2026). Shukan Josei Prime magazine (23 Oct 2026) reported that the lot is on your left as you leave by the Akasaka exit, that a sign asks people not to feed the goats, and that the next round is planned for March–May 2027.
What it means for you.
- For kids who love animals, it is a short stop in the middle of Tokyo. Neither report mentions a ticket or fee. Go in daylight: Shukan Josei Prime noted that on one day the goats were back in their shed after 7pm.
- Don't feed them, and keep small hands outside the fence. That is what the sign on site asks.
- They may be gone before your December trip. The end date depends on the grass, not the calendar. Check JR East's official X account (it announced the goats there) before you go, or treat it as a bonus if they are still around.
- Food nearby: SHINJUKU-TEI ramen has a Yotsuya branch. Its official site says "All dishes are 100% halal" without naming a certifying body, and every branch has a prayer space (checked 27 Oct 2026). Full list: halal food in Tokyo. Yotsuya is also on Tokyo Metro, so the Tokyo Metro 28-hour weekend ticket covers it.
Before you fly: Map of 231 halal places & prayer rooms (US$6.99) — December Edition, 15 Nov.
Affiliate links may be used; your price doesn't change. Sources: Malay Mail (AFP), "Bleat the rush-hour blues: Tokyo commuters fall for grass-munching goats Nagi and Pokke", 6 Nov 2026 (English); Shukan Josei Prime, report on the Yotsuya Station goats, 23 Oct 2026 (Japanese); SHINJUKU-TEI official site, checked 27 Oct 2026. Checked 7 Nov 2026.