Kichijoji is located in the western part of Tokyo and often selected as “the most popular place to live in Tokyo.” You can see why if you visit there.
About Kichijoji
Kichijoji isi about 13 minutes from Shinjuku byJR Chuo Rapid Line (Orange line) or 20 minutes by JR Sobu Line (Yellow Line) You can also go from Shibuya using Keio Inokashira Line. (17 minutes by express) So it is really convenient. In addition to being convenient place to live, Kichijoji is also home to many attractive spots.
In front of Kichijoji Station, there is a temple town with history, fashion buildings, and the shopping streets with many stores, old and new.
If you head toward south to Inokashira and Mitaka, you will find Inokashira Park, where you can experience the four seasons of Japan, and Inokashira Park Zoo, where you can see many animals.
If you walk to more residential areas, you will find rare and fashionable select shops and unique cafes.
It is also a center of subculture, and even today there are many jazz cafes, live music clubs, and theaters. It is also known as a university town, as there are many universities in the surrounding area, including Seikei University, Asia University, and Kyorin University.
Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
You can experience the world of Ghibli. The museum needs reservation to enter. Please do make reservation ahead of time for it fills up quickly.
Access 15 min. walk from “Mitaka Station” *Community bus available from South Exit of Mitaka Station
Official site https://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
Inokashira Park
Inokashira Onshi Koen (commonly known as Inokashira Park), a famous place in Kichijoji, is a wonderful park whose atmosphere changes completely depending on the season and weather. If you go during the cherry blossom season, you can enjoy the cherry blossoms in full bloom from a boat. There are many stylish cafes in the park, so it is recommended to take a break after a walk in the park. On the way from Kichijoji Station to Inokashira Park, you will find a variety of stylish cafes and wonderful secondhand clothing stores.
Access:
1 min walk from the Park Exit of Kichijoji Station on the JR Chuo Line
1 minute walk from Inokashira Park Station on the Keio Inokashira Line
Official site https://www.gotokyo.org/en/spot/624/index.html
Shopping arcades
2 main shopping arcades in Kichijoji are Sun Road and Daiya-gai.
There are all kinds of shops you can imagine from drug stores, 100 yen shop, shoes stores to traditional style green grocerers.
Good thing about those shops are because they are located in residential areas, you can see how general Japanese people live. Shibuya and Shinjuku has become somewhat international but Kichijoji is more authentically Japanese.
If you are looking baby’s goods,for example, it might be difficult to find diapers or baby food in Shibuya but you can find them in Kichijoji.
Most of the shops open around 10 AM. There are affordable restaurants and cafes, too.
“Kichijoji Sato” is the most famous meat specialty shop in Daiya-gai, with a long line of customers waiting in line every day. The “menchikatsu” (minced meat cutlet) is what everyone in line is looking for. 270 yen each, and if you buy 5 or more, you can save 20 yen per piece.
It’s juicy inside and crispy outside.
On weekends and holidays, they sometimes sells out by 5:30 p.m. There is a long queue around 1:00 p.m., so the best time to visit is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m!
Harmonica Alley
Harmonica Alley or Hamonica Yokocho in Japanese. Retro and deep, “Hamonica Yokocho” is a popular spot located in a narrow alley just outside Kichijoji Station.
Although you may have an image of many izakaya (Japanese-style pubs), it is a perfect sightseeing spot for eating and walking during the daytime as well.
“Minmin” is a popular shop that specializes in jumbo gyoza (dumplings). The dumplings are too big to eat in one bite.
Many people agrees “If you think of gyoza in Kichijoji, this is the place to go!” The gyoza stand in front of the store is always crowded with people who want to buy fresh gyoza to take home.
There are also many sweets in Harmonica Yokocho. The “Taiyakisai (with sweet bean paste) ” from Arikoto Taiyakisai Honpo Amane is an excellent taiyaki with crunchy .
Harmonica Yokocho has many popular stores such as clothing stores and pickles shops, making it an exciting spot for everyone!
Other Big Shopping Malls and Stores
There are shopping malls in stations (Kirarina in Keio and Atre in JR) and near the station (Tokyu Department, Marui Department and Coppice). There are also popular shops such as Uniqlo, Parco, Muji, Loft (in Coppice), Kiddyland (in Coppice) , Seiyu super market, small Donki, DAISO and etc.
What does the name Kichijoji come from?
Kichijoji sounds like an temple but there is no temple by that name in Kichijoji. Why is it? In 15th century, when a feudal lord who built first Edo Castle dug a well during the construction of his Castle, he discovered a gold seal with the inscription “Kichijo Zojo（吉祥増上）” so he built a temple within Edo Castle.It is said that the name “Kichijoji” may have originated then.
In 1591, the temple was moved to another area in the Castle, but due to a large fire in 1657, the Shogunate government decided to reorganize the area, and the temple was further relocated to another area outside the Castle. However, the townspeople who lived in front of the temple gate lost their place to live because of this relocation.
In 1659, 2 samurais, in cooperation with a farmer in the area, cultivated the land around the present Kichijoji to relocate the people in front of the former Kichijoji Temple.
After the migration, the residents, who were attached to former Kichijoji, named the new land “Kichijoji,” thus giving birth to the present Kichijoji.
Compared with Shinjuku or Shibuya, it is compact and easy to do shopping. Arcade shopping street and shopping malls make it easy for rainy days, too. Why not visit Kichijoji for a few hours to see real life in Japan?
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