Two Goats Trim Grass at a Tokyo Station
Friday, November 6, 2026166 words3 minutes207 reads
Two goats are eating weeds beside Yotsuya Station in central Tokyo. JR East, the railway company, is testing whether the animals can help maintain a grassy area of about 900 square metres near the Akasaka exit. They are called Nagi and Pokke.
The idea came from a station employee. Goats naturally eat plants, so they offer an alternative to noisy cutting machines and chemicals. Some students and office workers stop to watch them. Photographs of the animals have also spread on social media.
However, the goats cannot work without care. Station staff look after them, provide clean water and have built a small shelter. The animals stay on the site overnight. Visitors are asked to watch safely without getting too close.
This is a trial, and goat grazing will not suit every place or remove every unwanted plant. JR East has not announced measured savings in money or energy. The project may make station maintenance more enjoyable to watch, but its practical results still need assessment.
