The Streets Of Kichijoji
Earlier this month I was in Kichijoji, a neighborhood inside Tokyo Metropolitan area but in Musashino City, one of Tokyo’s western areas. For as long as I can remember people I meet, both foreigners and Japanese, claim that Kichijoji is one of the best places to live in Tokyo, especially among students and young families. The place is also famous for being the home of the Ghibli museum (the studio that creates the world famous anime movies) and Inokashira Park, a huge recreational area complete with a a zoo, boating and a shrine. Between the station area and the park itself I walked along this shoutengai, or shopping street, which while being closed to regular traffic remains open for buses. Even though it is a pretty crowded street, about once every 50 seconds everyone scoots over to the side to let a bus pass through, pretty scary at first! There’s tons of interesting cafes and restaurants, and even a funky looking book store, Basara Books with some very “un-bookish” book loving decorations! I took so many photo I’ll have to split this post into two, more photos coming tomorrow! Stay tuned.
The street looks interesting and so clean! It’s good to see a bookshop. I hear lots of them are going out of business these days. O, miso ramen is my favorite ramen!
Yes, there are very few bookshops left in Japan, I think this is more like an antiquarian actually (my bad). Even the big book stores are getting fewer. In tomorrow’s post you’ll see that Kichijoji streets are some of the dirtiest in Tokyo (^-^;) Still nothing compared with many other countries though… (^-^)
Used to go there all the time, though little reason to do so now (what with it being far and all). Great place! There’s a really good yakitori shop right next to one of the park entrances—just follow the smoke!
I think I passed that one! It had a long line of people at least… (^-^) I don’t go there often enough these days…
The long line is normally for take out. Inside it’s HUGE, and not hard to get a table.
I see! I’m normally a take-out kind of guy! Will look indoors next time I pass (^-^)
Ahh the bookshop, one of the places in which I could spend a lot of money..
I was in the library yesterday, it is a good place too! Maybe I will just get one day off sometime and spend it in sitting on the floor between the shelves reading
Haha… you would fit in here in Japan! We even have a word for it, tachiyomi, the bane of all book and comic stores! (^-^;)
I do love this, I love funky little neighborhoods. I live in such a place. We’ve got cute little independent shops and farmers markets. It’s really nice. I can appreciate it and love supporting smaller businesses. Just yesterday I found a little cafe that had what I believe to be the best cup of cappuccino I have had in a very long time. I had a decent little panini too. It was all just delightful. Your pictures reminded me of my nice little moment.
Wonderful! I do believe strongly in fair trade, local trade and local business! It’s important to support the people in our communities!
Ljuvliga o nostalgiska bilder, får en att vilja panta något och köpa en biljett dit nuu.
Inokashira Koen hade jag velat fota lite mer.
N, se till att du inte drabbas for hart av hemvandarbluesen nu bara! (^-^;) Sjalv far jag angest om jag inte hor yamanotelinemelodierna minst ett par ganger i veckan! (^-^;)
Love Kichijoji! Especially the park, great at weekends, and Thai restaurant/cafe in the park is really good
I knew you’d like this Steve! (^-^) Yeah, it’s a great place!
None of the bicycles look locked. Is this true? I know Japan has a really low crime rate but it’s hard to fathom not having to lock a bike up. If I left mine in my city for 5 minutes, chances are it would be gone and I don’t live in a dangerous area at all.
Hi Carrie Ann! They are locked, but with the small locks that we take for granted here (just a small bolt between the rear frame and the rear wheel), and almost never locked down to something immobile. Bicycle thefts is one of the more common crimes here, unfortunately!
Oh, I like all the greenery in front of Granny, and the foliage spilling over the balcony next door!
And were those what I think they were on the bookstore window or do I have, as E sometimes berates me about, a dirty mind?
Haha I was wondering the same thing…
You are correct (wether or not E is also correct I do not know… haha…)!
Yes, it’s a lovely green! And unusual, all their signs are in English?!
I’ve got to make my way japan, I’ve said it before but really nice stuff
Joshua, any time you have a chance! (^-^)/
I wanna live in a little neighborhood like this and have a quiet life serving tea and scones at a little cafe! >_< Simple dream…
Tokyo is waiting for you Juuri! (^-^)
Those might be chairs on the Basara Books window…but my eyes defiantly say they look like condoms……I’ve never been to that neighborhood. I only have been to Fussa, Hiroo, Ryoponggi, and Maihama.
You have a lot of things to discover! And you are right, one of the more alternative symbols of love I think, but nevertheless, important, and in this case cute! (^-^)
Kichijoji is on top of my list of where to go should I make my way back to Tokyo because of the Ghibli Museum. This lovely shopping street just gave me another reason to see the place.
Def. recommended! Make sure you get a ticket a long long time in advance, they are rationed out and on popular occasions you might have to buy one months in advance! (^-^;)
II just want to thank you for all the great pictures that you post. Takes me back to my time in Japan.
Keep it up!
Thank you Ronaldo and welcome to the blog! I’m happy to have your kind comment! (^-^)
Reblogged this on ロナルドのジャーナル and commented:
Tokyobling’s blog is awesome! Check it out!