Nujabes, under his real name Jun Yamada (山田 淳), is laid to rest with his family at Tama Cemetery in Fuchu City, Tokyo.
If you’re a fan of Nujabes, I highly recommend visiting his grave when you travel to Tokyo. Tama Cemetery also serves as a park and a peaceful retreat for local residents, so despite being a cemetery, it doesn’t feel eerie or gloomy. You’ll often see people jogging or families taking leisurely strolls through the grounds.
We rented an electric bike from LUUP at Musashi-Sakai Station and headed to the cemetery. If you have time and want to enjoy the serene suburban landscapes of Tokyo, I recommend this option. However, if you’re on a tighter schedule, taking the train would be more efficient.
Nujabes’ grave is located at Section 1, Type 1, Row 18, sixth plot. While his location is marked on the cemetery’s map pamphlet, we weren’t sure where to pick one up, so we ended up searching the area ourselves.
We visited around 10 AM and found that someone had recently left flowers at his grave. It made me happy to see that so many people still remember and visit him.
Nujabes holds a very special place in my heart. During the tumultuous years when I was transitioning from boyhood to adulthood — when everything felt unstable and even I seemed unfamiliar to myself — his music quietly comforted my confusion. His songs became the emotional foundation of who I am today.
Tama Cemetery is a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo and to reflect on quiet memories. Also, nearby, there’s a tonkatsu restaurant featured in the show The Solitary Gourmet (Kodoku no Gurume), which I highly recommend checking out.
Wishing you a wonderful trip.
