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- Explore Kichijoji, find out why it is a popular town among Japanese to live
Kichijoji, a popular town in Japan, has been crowned at the top in the ranking of best places to live for years. Its biggest appeal is the fact Kichijoji offers its residents both a bustling downtown and living space, fusing the sensibility of old and new. Everything, from nature, shopping, and to dining, sprawls out from the station in a compact area.
Tokyo's leading nature park
“Inokashira Park” is what many Japanese think of when they hear the word, Kichijoji. Just a five-minute walk from Kichijoji Station South Exit, this large park offers over 380, 000 square meters for residents to enjoy and relax in. Wooded area with tall trees and a large pond accounts for much of the park, where visitors can experience being in the nature while living in a city. A large crowd of people flock to the park, especially during the cherry blossom season, when a stunning display of beloved cherry blossoms adorns the grounds.
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Enjoy leisurely, serene time around the Inokashira Pond
One of the must-visit spots is the large pond on the east side of the park. Inokashira Benzaiten, where the god of good monetary fortune is enshrined, is also a great place to see the traditional Japanese architecture close up. You can take a graceful boat ride on the east side of the pond.
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Inokashira Park
Mitaka-city, Musashino-city Tokyo -
Meet cute animals, and local aquatic life.
“Inokashira Park Zoo” located on the west side of the park, has a zoo that houses over 200 animal species, and its annex where local aquatic life is featured. You can visit their great petting zoo, and to see rare animals such as Tsushima leopard cat, fennec fox, and capybara.
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Inokashira Park Zoo
1-17-6 Gotenyama, Musashino-city, Tokyo
Commercial space directly connected to the station indulges fashion-conscious women
“Kirarina Kichijoji” is a commercial facility directly connected to the station, which pampers female customers in the area. It features many stylish stores, such as natural cosmetics stores, and hip restaurants, showcasing the current trend.
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A large craft shop “Yuzawaya" carries many materials unique to Japan that will make great souvenirs. Some of their top picks are high-quality yarns in a wide array of colors,
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and fabrics in Japanese traditional patterns. They also have made-in-Japan fabrics with popular prints licensed by Liberty London of the U.K.
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Kirarina Keio Kichijoji
2-1-25 Kichijo-ji Minami-cho, Musashino-city, Tokyo -
Yuzawaya, Kirarina Keio Kichijoji location
2-1-25 Kichijoji Minami-cho, Musashino-city, Tokyo: Kirarina Keio Kichijoji 8F/9F -
Specialty stores for all residents in Kichijoji
“coppice KICHIJOJI,” is designed to offer something for everyone in Kichijoji, featuring a collection of unique stores that offer not only fashions and cosmetics, but also sports products, supermarket, and interior goods. An open, rooftop garden with much calming greenery serves as an oasis to its visitors.
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Its 7th floor houses a city museum, a rare installment in a commercial facility, where many visitors, from local residents to tourists, get to admire art in a casual setting.
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coppice KICHIJOJI
1-11-5 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-city, Tokyo -
Kichijoji Art Museum, Musashino-city, Tokyo
1-8-16 Kichijoji Honcho, FF Building 7F (coppice Kichijoji Tower A, 7F) Musashino-city, Tokyo -
Commercial facility having retail stores with highly-selective, quality products
“Atre Kichijoji” is a shopping center with over 200 stores, located under the elevated station building of JR Kichijoji. This facility proudly brings high-quality service and products to residents of Kichijoji. Many well-known domestic and overseas stores line up, a perfect destination to find classic souvenirs.
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Atre Kichijoji
1-1-24 Kichijoji Minami-cho, Musashino-city, Tokyo
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Divine time to spend with cutest cats
Cat Cafe “Calico Kichijoji” is a 1-minute walk from Kichijoji North exit, a place where you can spend time with cats to your heart's content. Fee is charged by the hour. It makes a great lunch or tea time spot where drinks and snacks are also available, Chicken breast for cats’ treats is sold for 300 yen. With this magic charm, you will be surrounded by many cats in no time!
Cat Cafe Calico, Kichijoji location
1-8-2 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-city, Tokyo
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Toast with its signature dish, kushiyaki, and beer!
“Iseya” was founded in 1928. It is the yakitori-ya (Japanese skewered chicken grill) that has seen all the changes the town of Kichijoji went through over its history.
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A skewer with a different parts of chicken can be individually ordered, or you can place an "omakase" order of four skewers (leaving four skewers to the shop staff to choose at first )with assorted cuts. This is the shop is open from lunch, and three stores in Kichijoji.
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Iseya Koenten location
1-15-8 Kichijoji Minami-cho, Musashino-city, Tokyo -
Filled with products to adorn modern life in Japan
“unico” is a home furnishings store that carry interior decorations and small goods to create your own space to relax. Strolling around the store will give you a little overview of life in Japan. You will also find something perfect as souvenirs.
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unico Kichijoji location
2-15-4 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-city, Tokyo
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More and more select shops and café are coming in
The “Kichijoji Nakamichi-dori shopping district" is a hottest shopping area, located in northwest of Kichijoji Station. You will be amazed from the moment you walk up to the vegetable store right inside the gate. Every single one of the small shops lined up is very Kichijoji, individualistic. Their artfully designed exterior and signs will wheel you in to the stores. Try Kichijoji café tours.
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Kichijoji Nakamichi-dori shopping district
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Go picnicking to the park with donuts
“Hara Donuts Kichijoji” is a health-conscious donuts shop located at the end of the shopping center. They use tofu, made of soy beans, for their donuts. Very unique, and one of the kind items to try while you are in Japan.
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Guests can enjoy a mini picnic by taking your donuts to the park in front of the store.
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Hara Donuts Kichijoji location
4-13-15 Kichijoji Honcho, Musashino-city, Tokyo
Each of the stations on JR Chuo Line are all very distinctive
JR Chuo Line that serves Kichijoji Station is well-recognized even by Tokyoites as a chain of interesting, unique towns.The vicinity of Kichijoji, with a "sacred place" of anime and sub-culture “Nakano,” and “Koen-ji,” famous for vintage clothes and rock music, is an area where that has created Tokyo’s culture scene. The line has excellent transportation access with no transfer, having Shinjyuku and Tokyo to the east, and Mount Takao to the west.
The Kichijoji-bound bus from the Haneda Airport runs approximately 1 to 2 buses per hour.
Timetable from Haneda Airport from Kichijoji Railway Station
Kichijoji Station: adult 1,230 yen (child 620 yen)
For reservations please contact the Keikyu Highway Bus Reservation Center. Phone: 03-3743-0022 (9:00 am - 6:30 pm). English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Korean operators available.
Natsumi Shiiyama
Natsumi Shiiyama, a popular actress and personality on stage and in events, is giving us a report on some tourist spots she recommends.
