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Kichijoji: 10 Things to Do - Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, and More

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Tokyo's Kichijoji district is well-known for Inokashira Park, a famous cherry blossom spot, and for its excellent dining facilities and stylish cafes. Learn some of the best things to enjoy in Kichijoji, from cafes and dining to shopping and the Ghibli Museum.

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Kichijoji: A Tokyo District Bustling with Visitors All Year Long

Kichijoji is often mentioned as one of the most desirable places to live in Tokyo due to its bustling shotengai shopping streets, excellent options for casual dining, sophisticated cafes and shops, and quiet residential areas near Inokashira Park.

Top 10 Things to Do in Kichijoji

1. Inokashira Park
2. Harmonica Alley for Casual Dining and Bars
3. Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
4. Sunroad Shopping Arcade
5. Iseya: Delicious Yakitori
6. Kichijoji Sato: Tasty Menchikatsu Dishes
7. Cat Cafe Temari No O-uchi
8. Soybean Farm: Miso-Based Cuisine
9. HATTIFNATT: Cute Handmade Gifts
10. MARKUS: Quality Household Goods Made in Japan
How to Get to Kichjoji

1. Inokashira Park: Enjoy a Walk or a Boat Ride

Kichijoji: 10 Things to Do - Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, and More

Photo by Pixta

Inokashira Park can be reached in just five minutes on foot from JR Kichijoji Station. The abundance of greenery and seasonal flowers makes it the favorite park of many visitors and locals.

Inokashira Pond offers scenic views at any time of the day. You can enjoy it by riding a boat. The swan boats are particularly popular. On weekends and holidays, the park is bustling with families and couples.

Inokashira Park is also home to a zoo, an outdoor stage, and cafes, so you can spend an entire day just relaxing and walking around. The park offers splendid views in the cherry blossom and fall foliage season.

Inokashira Park
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Gotenyama 1-18-31 Google Map
Access: 5 minutes on foot from the south exit or park exit of JR Kichijoji Station. 1 minute on foot from the Inokashira Station on Keio Inokashira Line.
Official website: Inokashira Park

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2. Enjoy a Drink on Harmonica Alley

Kichijoji: 10 Things to Do - Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, and More

Photo by Pixta

Harmonica Alley is located just one minute on foot from the Kichijoji Station's North Exit. This narrow back alley with shops lined up side by side resembles the mouthpiece of a harmonica; this is the origin of its name.

There are unique dining establishments on this alley such as Harmonica Kitchen, a long-standing restaurant and bar, Eihire, a shop boasting delicious sake and seafood dishes, and Poyo, a shop specializing in tasty roast chicken.

During the day, Harmonica Alley is an enjoyable place to go for a walk, but in the evening it takes on a lively atmosphere. Exploring the shops and sampling local food and beverages is a great way to enjoy Harmonica Alley.

Harmonica Alley
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho 1 chome Google Map
Access: 1 minute from the north exit of Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
Official website: Harmonica Alley (Japanese)

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3. Ghibli Museum, Mitaka: Explore the World of Studio Ghibli Animation

kichijoji

The Ghibli Museum, located in Inokashira Park, is a place where you can get ddeper insights into the world of Studio Ghibli animation.

Characters from famous works such as "My Neighbor Totoro," and "Laputa: Castle in the Sky," are on display at the museum. There is also an area featuring the locations that inspired many of the films, as well as an adjoining cafe. The museum can be truly enjoyed by both adults and children.

Please be aware that tickets needs to be booked in advance. Same-day tickets are not available, and tickets are not sold directly at the museum.

For more details on how to buy tickets for the Ghibli Museum, please refer to the article linked below.

Ghibli Museum, Mitaka
Address: Tokyo, Mitaka, Shimorenjaku 1-1-83 (Inokashira Park-west side) Google Map
Access: 15 minutes on foot from the south exit of Mitaka Station (JR Chuo Line), or take a community bus (fare required) headed to the museum from the same south exit.
Official website: Ghibli Museum, Mitaka

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4. Have Fun Shopping at Sunroad Shopping Arcade

Kichijoji: 10 Things to Do - Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, and More

Photo by Pixta

Sunroad Shopping Arcade, one of Kichijoji's main shotengai shopping streets, is located directly outside the north exit of Kichijoji Station. The arcade is lined with 150 shops, including fast food chains, ramen shops, shoe stores, drug stores, and supermarkets. The arcade is regularly visited by many local shoppers.

The Kichijoji area also has many commercial facilities and department stores including Atre Kichijoji, which is directly connected to the station, Kirarina Keio Kichijoji, and the Kichijoji Marui department store.

People who like shopping won't be able to get enough of this place!

Sunroad Shopping Arcade
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji, Honcho 1 chome Google Map
Access: 1 minute from the north exit of Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
Official website Sunroad Shopping Arcade (Japanese)

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5. Iseya: Enjoy Delicious Yakitori

kichijoji

If you're looking for a well-known yakitori (grilled chicken) restaurant in Kichijoji, Iseya is the place to go. There are three Iseya locations in the Kichijoji area.

The main store of Iseya was established in 1928 and first operated as a butcher shop. For many years the shop continued to do business in this old building, which was renovated in 2008.

Iseya-Koenten, the store near Inokashira Park, is a large location with 350 seats. This is a popular spot that's always bustling with customers.

The yakitori on the menu is reasonably priced at 90 yen per skewer. The skewers pair well with beer and sake. If you'd like to sample tasty yakitori, this well-established shop is highly recommended.

Iseya main store
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Shimorenjaku 1-2-1 Google Map
Access: 5 minutes on foot from the south exit or Inokashira Park exit of Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
Official website: Iseya (Japanese)

6. Sample Juicy Menchikatsu at Kichijoji Sato

kichijoji

While walking through Kichijoji's shopping arcades, you'll undoubtedly see a line in front of a certain shop. That shop is very probably Kichijoji Sato, a store selling meat products and prepared food items. The customers are waiting to buy menchikatsu (breaded and deep-fried meat patties) sold here for 240 yen apiece.

Made from high-quality wagyu beef, these menchikatsu meat patties are loved for their savoriness. If you purchase more than five patties, the cost becomes 200 yen/piece. On weekdays, purchases are limited to 20 menchikatsu per person, while on the weekend, you can only buy 10 patties at once.

Why not drop in and try one of these delicious snacks during your walk?

Kichijoji Sato
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho 1-1-8 Google Map
Access: 1 minute from the north exit of Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Park)
Official website: Kichijoji Sato (Japanese)

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7. A Relaxing Visit at Cat Cafe Temari No O-uchi

kichijoji

Cat Cafe Temari No O-Uchi is a place where you can play with adorable felines. The cafe's atmosphere makes it feel like you've just stepped into a storybook. There is no time limit here, so you can spend a leisurely afternoon with the cats.

The shop offers special drinks and homemade sweets. Some customers enjoy staying here all day long!

They also opened up a sister shop called Temari no Oshiro Cat Cafe (Japanese), so please check out this location as well.

Cat Cafe Temari No O-uchi
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho 2-13-14 3F Google Map
Access: 5 minutes on foot from the north exit of Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
Official website: Cat Cafe Temari no O-uchi (Japanese)

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8. Enjoy Tasty Miso-Based Cuisine at Soybean Farm

kichijoji

Miso paste made from soybeans is one of the essential ingredients in Japanese cuisine. At Soybean Farm, they sell about 30 different types of miso from all around Japan.

The miso is sold by weight, starting from 100 grams, so you can easily buy your favorite variety.

At the adjoining restaurant, you can sample various types of miso-based cuisine such as roll cabbage miso soup and Saikyo (Kyoto-style) miso cheesecake, to name just two of the many dishes available.

The menu is full of items that dispel the conventional image of miso being only a seasoning in Japanese-style cooking (washoku). we hope you enjoy the various kinds of miso cuisine offered here.

Soybean Farm
Access: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho 2-15-2 Google Map
Access: 6 minutes on foot from the north exit of Kichijoji Station (Keio Inokashira Park)
Official website: Soybean Farm (Japanese)

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9. Find Cute Handmade Gifts at HATTIFNATT

kichijoji

HATTIFNATT is a shop that combines a cafe and an adjoining general goods store inside a renovated traditional Japanese home. It can be reached in just ten minutes on foot from Kichijoji Station.

The shop was playfully built with children in mind, so the door at the entrance is only 130 centimeters high, and the cute and colorful interior is reminiscent of a fantasy storybook world.

Artisan and handmade items fill up the space in the general goods shop. The wooden boxes shown in the picture above are part of a series of small shops inside the store; each one displays an artisan's original creation.

All of the goods are special in their own way, so you'll definitely find something you like here. When you visit this shop you'll soon be immersed in an atmosphere that feels like a treasure hunt!

HATTIFNATT Kichijoji
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji, Minamicho 2-22-1 Google Map
Access: 10 minutes on foot from Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
Official homepage: HATTIFNATT (Japanese)

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10. MARKUS: Buy Household Goods Made in Japan

kichijoji

MARKUS is a select shop gathering traditional crafts from all corners of Japan. The space has a stylish, contemporary design that enhances the beauty of items on sale here.

This is an ideal shop to come to look for lacquerware, pottery, and other Japanese household items for everyday use. The care and craftsmanship that went into these products are visible, making them excellent souvenirs from Japan.

MARKUS
Address: Tokyo, Musashino, Kichijoji Honcho 2-18-15, Musashino Country Heights 112 Google Map
Access: 6 minutes on foot from Kichijoji Station (JR Line, Keio Inokashira Line)
Official website: MARKUS (Japanese)

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How to Get to Kichijoji

Kichijoji: 10 Things to Do - Inokashira Park, Ghibli Museum, and More

Photo by Pixta

Read on to learn the main access routes to Tokyo's Kichijoji Station.

1) It's only 15 minutes from Shinjuku Station via the JR Chuo Line (Rapid Service).

You can easily get from Shinjuku Station to Kichijoji Station by taking the JR Chuo Line. The ride takes about 15 minutes and the one-way fare is 220 yen.

While most of the trains on the Chuo Line stop at Kichijoji, please make sure you've boarded a rapid train. Some of the Commuter Special Rapid and Chuo Special Rapid services do not stop at this station.

2) It takes 18 minutes from Shibuya Station via the Keio Inokashira Line (Express).

You can also get to Kichijoji Station from Shibuya Station by taking the Keio Inokashira Line. The ride takes about 18 minutes and costs 200 yen.

Since Shibuya Station is the Keio Inokashira Line's first station and Kichijoji Station is the line's final station, you should be able to take this route without any difficulties.

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Enjoy the Unique and Entertaining Kichijoji

The locations featured in this article can be explored in about half a day. Compared to districts like Shinjuku and Shibuya, Kichijoji is more compact and easy to navigate.

We hope you enjoy your time in Kichijoji.

Main image by Pixta

Written by

1988年東京生まれ・在住。 慶應義塾大学文学部東洋史学科卒業後、2012年朝日新聞社に入社。 新聞記者として新潟、青森、京都を転々とし、2016年11月からフリーで活動を始める。 旅、演劇、本などが主な守備範囲のフリーライター、フリーランサー。

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