Kichijoji - photos of a popular Tokyo area

Kichijoji Sunroad
Kichijoji's Sunroad.

Kichijoji is a popular place in Tokyo. It has also played a major part in my life over the last thirty years. I’ve spent many years working there and walking its streets. It’s given me many good memories. But I’ve had little luck with photos there. Anyway, this article has a few of my latest ones.

What can I tell you about Kichijoji? Well, I came to Japan in 1991. Since then, some things have changed, and some haven’t. Over recent years, it has become far more popular. In terms of livability, the area is popular among Tokyoites. It ranks very highly.

Keio-Inokashira Line trains
Trains at Keio-Inokashira Station.

So, in the “old days,” it might have been called a hidden gem. But over the years, people discovered its virtues. They found an easy living place close to the heart of Tokyo. Once that happened, the population grew.

First, is shopping. It is good. You’ll find some big department stores like Isetan, Tokyu, Marui, PARCO, and Kirarina. There are more, of course.

Niku Iseya yakitori shop
People eating at Niku Iseya.

There are the shopping streets like Sun and Diamond Streets. A big Yodobashi Camera pulls many customers. Granted, Kichijoji isn’t a Shinjuku or Shibuya, but it is good. Shopaholics should be fine.

Enter the backstreets, and you’ll find plenty of small shops and boutiques. If you want to buy something, you’ll find it. You could probably spend days there and not see everything. It’s that kind of place.

Then there are all the bars, restaurants, and izakayas. A night out in Kichijoji can be awesome. There are so many choices. My first ever meal in Japan was there, at Iseya. Iseya is famous for its yakitori. There are two shops, one near Inokashira Park and the second a little further away.

As a first experience, it was great. But it was smoky! The ambiance probably draws people. The first shop was demolished quite a few years ago as it was getting old. Luckily, a new one now stands only a few meters from its original spot.

Another famous place is Harmonica Alley. Are you familiar with Memory Alley in Shinjuku? No? It’s similar. Its narrow streets are crammed with bars, izakayas, and shops. You can find it just north of the station.

But if you want a quiet life, you can do that too. There is Inokashira park and its zoos. The area has temples and shrines to enjoy too. Walk back streets, and you can find interesting houses. Have you seen the one with its red and white stripes?

Kichijoji is a good place to live for Tokyoites. On the Chuo, Sobu, Keio-Inokashira, and Tozai lines other parts of the city aren’t far away. It only takes roughly fifteen minutes to get to Shibuya and Shinjuku. That is very nice. To the west, Tachikawa and Mount Takao aren’t far either.

There is a lot to like about Kichijoji. The only smear on the area is a shocking murder. That might have been in 1996. A poor person got a shock when they found a dismembered body in a rubbish bin. It was huge news in Tokyo at the time. I might write about it one day.

I know I’ve probably failed to talk about many places in Kichijoji, but I must stop somewhere. This is a photography blog! Well, there might be a follow-up story in the future. We can only hope.

Inokashira Park cherry blossoms
Cherry blossoms at Inokashira Park.

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