More Of Kichijoji
As I promised, here’s more photos from my walk down one of Kichijoji’s many shopping street, or shoutengai. It is a strange feeling to walk down such a narrow intimate little shopping street and still have to share space with these huge city busses passing by more than once a minute during rush hour. I don’t know why exactly, but it’s really hard to get their digital sign properly with a short shutter, hence the strange looking sign at the front of the bus! Another thing I also have a hard time getting used to is the multitude of “help wanted” signs, such as by the door of this little cafes! I’ve never seen a help wanted sign in Europe, but the job market in Tokyo is as hot as ever, global economic downturn or no downturn. I also love the mix of old and new, like the traditional sweets shop in the third photo. As with most cities in Tokyo, smoking in public areas is strictly prohibited with steep fines especially for walking with a lit cigarette. This rule has become almost universal in Japan’s bigger cities in the last few years and I can compare with my experience of the streets here before the law, it is much cleaner, much better air since the laws were enacted. In the second to last picture you can see one of my favorite fast food joints here in Tokyo, the Chikara Meshi! Highly recommended! I also noted the kyabakura called UCLA, right next to a pub chain popular with foreigners in Japan called Hub. If you’re ever in Tokyo, Kichijoji is one of these classical neighborhoods that you just must visit!
It seems that the huge buses and the people are sharing the narrow streets peacefully! The streets aren’t dirty. They may be a bit old but there’s no trash. I really appreciate the non smoking law. How I used to suffer from the cigarette smoke in public (and in private) when I lived in Japan. I want to eat at Chikarameshi!
It’s gotten so much better! Now I just wait for a complete ban in all the restaurants. How people can eat and smoke at the same time I have no idea. I don’t mind smoke in bars or cafes, but restaurants…! Chikarameshi is cheap and plenty! (^-^)
I’m still loving Nihon’s small streets! I still am not sure sometimes if a street is a bikepath or for cars, then usually I see two-way traffic on it! Kyoto has some of the cutest.
Just came back from Nagasaki Chinese new year lantern festival-awesome! They add another dimension to tiny streets-they’re steep and windy too!
Sweet! I have never been to Nagasaki, some day! Living in Tokyo it is really hard to find time and motivation to leave the Kanto area, but I’ll do my best!
When I first scrolled down, I noticed the red piggy, but the second time the second picture won
I love the aura of that window with the flower-like lamp!
The no smoke thing is great, I wish the ppl here would keep it too, the law is made, now it’s up to them..
Thank you Timi! Not the kind of picture I usually take. Perhaps I should work on changing my style a little? (^-^;) Hope you get to enjoy clean air over there too!
I like this new post a lot!
So many shops often so colorful in such a narrow street… You’re right it deserved two posts
Thanks for my daily japanese bosster shot
Have a nice weekend…
Haha… booster shot indeed! More stuff coming up! I don’t shoot city scenes so often, might have to get started again soon. (^-^;) Thanks Lili!
I think the place is amazing and very romantic. Definitely goes on my must-visit list.
So, you can still smoke in cafes, bars and restaurants in Japan? Cool!
Thanks Irina! Most of them still have a section reserved for smokers, but some are either smoking or non smoking only. Starbucks for example is only non smoking! (^-^)
Starbucks was a non-smoking place even then (2002 and 2003). I actually preferred that because my Starbucks visits were usually in the morning when I was getting thousands of different coffees for my colleagues. Smoking is more of a night thing for me and is never related to work. Weird, eh?
Still can’t get my eyes off of these photos. There is something so great about them – a super cool mix of Japanese and timeless European, perhaps. It would be great to place a film or a novel in these magic streets.
Not weird at all and probably better than smoking around the clock! (^-^) Yes, it’d make a good movie set! I think there’s a few already, and probably many novels. I don’t have time to watch movies or TV though, my spare time is spent blogging, walking or traveling. (^-^;)
Well, you’re busy making art so you’re forgiven for not watching enough movies or TV.
I really enjoy your pictures
Thank you! Hope to see you back here often! (^-^)
hees, the no smoking sign is cute!
Isn’t it? It reminds me of modern art, Picasso or someone maybe? (^-^;)
It’s so funny! Cos-play club right next to Hub!! (and named UCLA.lol)
Isn’t it? I wonder what kind of cosplay they do? Well, it’s best to keep a few mysteries I think… (^-^;)
I just adore that little red piggie, it looks a bit like Babe, remember that little fella. Hmm…I might be dating myself. Yikes…
My friend said it was always pretty easy to find jobs in Tokyo, just some of them weren’t ideal. Hours, location, pay what not. We employ the help wanted sign quite a bit in the U.S. It’s almost like a right of passage when you’re a teenager looking for work. Although not as much now, sadly.
Central Tokyo is basically screaming for workers right now, reminding us again not to think that Tokyo is the same as the rest of Japan. (^-^;)
In no way should Tokyo be thought of as Japan. It’s like saying Manhattan is all of the U.S. But doesn’t every city have it’s charm. I think you’re right I may be an optimist at heart, that’s funny, I never really thought of myself that way.
For some reason this place reminds me of a setting in a video game for the Dreamcast. I’m loving little Open sign and the ‘no smoking’ sign. Reminds me a little bit of the style from the Bauhaus design movement, don’t know why ^_^;
The traditional looks are so lovely and feels ever so warm and welcoming. And the streets must be wonderful to walk in without having to worry about rubbish on the floor. You never see help signs in London. Tends to be that you have to ask for the manager and see if any vacancies are available, with in the end being told to send a CV and never getting any replies from them.
Dreamcast! It’s been a long time since I heard that name! Yes, the no smoking sign is a little Bauhaus, maybe a little softer, almost 1970′s! I had forgotten about worrying about stepping in rubbish, thankfully Tokyo is pretty clean, but then again there’s more rubbish bins here than in London if I remember correctly. (^-^;)
Hehe, I’m glad to have cropped it up
Now that you mention it, the sign does seem to almost reflect that decade. But yes, London does unfortunately not have bins everywhere you look, especially in the central part of it. Although I have had a couple of occassions where I’ve seen clean areas. How I’m looking forward to walking on clean streets in Tokyo ^_^
Great post! I used to live in Ogikubo, and would spend many afternoons in Kichijoji – my favorite little city in Tokyo! Thank you so much for bringing me back there
Just love it!
Thank you for the kind words! Love your blog by the way! Ogikubo is a nice little place in its own, I posted about Nishi-Ogi a couple of months ago. (^-^)