Let’s go away from the big city of central Tokyo!
Welcome to Kichijoji! 吉祥寺へようこそ！
<Introduction of Kichijoji>
I love Kichijoji! where I live nearby.
Kichijoji is often ranked as the best place to live in the Kanto region in Japan.
Kichijoji station building called Atré
Why is Kichijoji so popular for Japanese living in the Tokyo area?
I think, the atmosphere of the town is lively, friendly and open for women and men of all ages.
Kichijoji belongs to Musashino-city in Tokyo,but the fastest train takes 28min from the Tokyo station, 14min from Shinjuku by Chuo line rapid train and 17min from Shibuya by Inokashira express train.
It’s a very pleasant town for strolling around, go shopping and find your favorite nice coffee shops and restaurants. Especially Nakamichidori where private small shops stand is like a secret path in Harajuku. The Arcade, called the Sun road and the diamond town where the streets lined with pet shops, daily goods such as 100yen shops and drug stores, lots of other interesting shops. Don’t forget Izakaya! Taverne and bars at Harmonica Yokocho in Kichijoji are concentrated in the area just across the street of the station from the North exit!
<Sightseeing in Kichijoji>
1st choice: Ghibli museum in Mitaka
It is one of the best places to visit for those who love the world of Ghibli! It’s a 20-minute walk from Kichijoji Station to the Ghibli Museum. Take the Inokashira Park exit of the station and walk through Inokashira Park to get there.
https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en
Ghiburi museum is worth visiting! A fun museum where you can experience the world of Jibri-Animation! Executive and honorary director of the Ghibli museum, Hayao Miyazaki, is the world famous animator, director and producer and a co-founder of studio Ghibli. He produced numerous famous animation films and won a lot of awards.(see Wikipedia). His recent film, the Boy and the Heron was Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominated in January 2024.
The park of the museum is called Inokashira park, between Kichijoji and Mitaka-city. For the entrance of the museum the reservation is needed on the Web, after 10th of every month by appointment basis.
Near Kichijoji station, you can even find Totoro chou à la crème at the patisserie shop (picture below).
https://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1318/A131812/13161008
2nd choice:Inokashira park
It takes about 10 min from the south exit of the Kichijoji station on foot.
https://www.kensetsu.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/jimusho/seibuk/inokashira/en_index.html
Benzaiten temple
Inokashira animal park
Toriyoshi (Teriyaki restaurant) near Inokashira park
Especially, it’s nice to walk during the cherry blossom seasons and fresh green season in May. Or, in the season of autumn leaves.
3rd choice: Shopping in department stores & arcade
In Kichijoji there are six department stores in Kichijoji. Tokyu department store, Parco, Marui, Copice, Atré, Kirarina.Besides that, you can find brand shops as well, such as Zara, Uniqlo, Muji, Loft, and some well known outdoor goods and fashion brand stores, etc.
Dia street Sun road
4th : Unique coffee shops and restaurants in Nakamichi Dori
When you come to Kichijoji, you must not miss Nakamichi-dori street.
There are lots of unique stores and shops here!
Cafe Capoon (Matcha coffee shop)
https://www.instagram.com/cafecapoon
Broken house
knick-knacks store
Restaurant, Talk back in Nakamichi dori
5th: Izakaya area in Kichijoji, Harmonika Yokocho (drinking spot)