Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa
Inokashira Park (井の頭公園) is Kichijōji’s landmark. That park is just a 5-minute walk from Kichijoji Station and has a ground of 42,000 square meters. Completed in 1917, it is the first suburban park in Japan. But the most important fact is that Inokashira Park is one of Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots. Around Inokashira […]
Inokashira Park: One of Tokyo’s Best Cherry Blossom Spots Read More »
If you are a cat lover and are after a cute cat cafe, visit Temari no Oshiro (Cat cafe てまりのおしろ) in Kichijōji Petit Mura! The cafe, home to around 20 fluffy and friendly cats, is basically a cat castle. Walking through the unusually cute door is like entering the world of cats!
Tokyo’s Most Fantastic Cat Cafe: Temari no Oshiro Read More »
If you prefer organic food, visit Crayon House (クレヨンハウス吉祥寺) on Taishō-dōri Shopping Street (大正通り) in Kichijōji. The natural food spot has a restaurant and an organic grocery and product shop with many vegan options. Lunch and dinner are served in buffet style! The menu changes daily, so you won’t be eating the same thing if
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If you are after a nice boutique Italian diner in Tokyo, visit momento (モメント) in Kichijōji! The chef of this vegan-friendly restaurant near Inokashira Park was trained and had worked in Italian restaurants in Italy. Thus, the dishes he cooks using a mixture of both local and Italian ingredients are authentic. Moreover, momento won an
momento: The Best Vegan-Friendly Italian Diner in Kichijōji Read More »
On the bridge leading to Inokashira Boathouse, you might notice a traditional building at the other end of the lake. It is the home of the Benzaiten, who gets jealous of happy couples rowing boats in Inokashira Park. The Inokashira Benzaiten Temple (井の頭弁財天) in the park’s northwest corner is serene and ideal for contemplation. The
Inokashira Benzaiten: The Must-Visit Temple in Kichijōji Read More »
Besides INOKA, Blue Sky Coffee (ブルースカイコーヒー) is another place to head for a coffee break in Inokashira Park. It is also the spot for all cat lovers. However, just to be clear, this isn’t a cat cafe. It is a place where you can purchase cat-shaped donuts (ねこドーナツ)!
Blue Sky Coffee: The Gorgeous Cafe Buried in Inokashira Park Read More »
If you are tired from trekking around Inokashira Park or paddling the swan boat, visit INOKA (イノカ) for a quick break. The cafe at the side of Nanai Bridge (七井橋) offers tofu donuts and coffee with soy milk. The handmade tofu donuts there are egg-free and dairy-free, making them perfect for those who have an
INOKA: The Trendy Cafe in Inokashira Park Read More »
Just a 30-minute train ride from Tokyo, Kawagoe (川越) in Saitama Prefecture (埼玉県) is where you can timeslip into the Japanese township in the Edo and the Meiji/Taishō periods. Getting off at Honkawagoe Station, the first part of Kawagoe that is filled with the retro atmosphere is the 300-meter long, Taishō Roman Yume-dōri Street (大正浪漫夢通り).
The Best Guide to Taishō Roman Yume-dōri Street Read More »
If you are a Japanese history buff or love to examine Japan’s cultural properties, the temple you have to stop by when you get to Kawagoe is Kita-in (喜多院). The temple that has a deep connection with the Tokugawa clan not only houses the most cultural properties in Kawagoe, but it is also the last
Kawagoe Kita-in Temple and Its Connection With Tokugawa Clan Read More »
When you stroll around Kawagoe, you will notice a couple of the traditional confectionery shops are named Kameya (亀屋). A few centuries ago, the confectionery maker was chosen as a dedicated sweets maker for Kawagoe Domain’s lord. Even today, the family business is still prosperous. Thus, unsurprisingly, a few of the old houses and residences
Yamazaki Family’s Cultural Properties in Kawagoe Read More »
