Kichijouji 吉祥寺
Kichijouji is outside Tokyo's 23 wards, but nevertheless particularily well located, at the junction of the Keio Inokashira line leading to Shibuya, and the Chuo-line leading to Shinjuku or to Nihombashi and Chiba, via the Tozai line.
But proximity to the big center isn't all Kichijouji has to offer. It is a groovy place with street vendors, little boutique and even a Marui Department Store. Restaurants range from Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai to German, Italian and American fast-food - and Japanese of course.
Inokashira Park 井の頭公園
Kichijouji and Mitaka's biggest attraction is probably the Inokashira Park. It was the first park founded by an emperor open to the public. Its particularity is its elongated lake around which the park is shaped. The lake is divided by a bridge and pleasure boats are available for dating couples or families that flock at weekends.
The park has a shrine dedicated to Benzaiten, the Goddess of property, good-looks, entertainment and love. However, this one must be a vicious one has it is said that couples courting in the park will split soon afterwards. The award-winning novelist Osamu Dazai mysteriously commited suicide here with his lover in 1948.
At weekends and holidays, a plethoria of vendors, musicians, performers and portraitists gather in the park. Ethnic goods from India and Nepal as well as hand-made and second-hand clothes are sold by (ex-)backpackers. Inokashira is a world apart from the stereotypes of salarymen and voguish brand-bags girls found in Shinjuku or Ginza.
Opening date
Land area
Number of trees
Variety of plants
Address
Nearest station
|
1 May 1918
383,773 m2
Tall trees : 11,060 / Shrubs : 12,800 / Lawn : 10,000 m2
Cherry trees, cypresses, red pines, azaleas
Gotenyama 1-chome, Kichijoji Minami-cho 1-chome, Musashino city, Inokashira 3~5-chome, Shimorenjaku 1-chome, Mure 4-chome, Mitaka city, Tokyo
5min walk from Kichijoji (JR Chuo line), 1min walk from Inokashira Koen (Keio Inokashira line)
|
Mitaka 三鷹
Mitaka, just one stop from Kichijoji on the JR Chuo-line, is most famous for the Ghibli Museum, officially named Mitaka Municipal Museum of Animation Art.
Ghibli Museum
Miyazaki Hayo's lovers will be delighted to ride a giant stuffed "nekobasu" (well, at least those under 12), meet "face to face" with one of the robots from Laputa, head up the spiral staircase or just wander around the innumerable anime related exhibits.
For the others, the museums may seem like a maze of staircases and toilets with miniature doors. The 15-min movie is rather disappointing, and the whole museum can be seen in less than 20 minutes.
Watch out that entrance to the Museum is only by advance purchase of a reserved ticket with the date specified on it. It is open everyday from 9am to 6pm, except on Tuesdays and during the New Year holidays.
Tickets cost ￥1000 over 19 years old, ￥700 from 13 to 18, ￥400 from 7 to 12, and ￥100 from 4 to 6 years old. The museum is located about 15min walk from Mitaka station south exit, and at the southern end of the Inokashira Koen. There is a special bus from Mitaka Station every 10min (￥200 one-way, or ￥300 return) for those who wish.
Please refer to the official website for more information on advance purchase from outside Japan or for the access map.
|
|
Surrounding areas
Shinjuku (East)
Okubo (East)
Yoyogi (South-East)
Shimokitazawa (South)
|
| |
