Kichijoji is located in Tokyo Musashino city as Kichijoji station as its center, and includes the town around it.

Because it is very easily accessed being able to go to Shinjuku/Shibuya by one train, a number of students come together also known as “The town for college students”. We took a stroll in Kichijoji that is evolving as the “The town for college students” as it as the same time protects its old fashioned landscape.

First, we start from Seikei University that is about a 20 minute walk from the station.
The entrance to the school, and the interior for the main buildings, are often used for filming TV dramas.

The grass that spreads the premises, it is an open space for students to have lunch during lunch time, sit in a happy circle, and a resting place for sunny days. It is nice being able to feel like you’re at a picnic.

Next, is the “Nakamichi Sreet” which is also a street students use to get to Seikei University. We headed towards the station.

In this shopping street there are a collected variety of specialty stores, cafes, used clothing stores, fruits and vegetables stores, for those that live there it must be a place that they are close to.

Hara Donuts
A donut store originally from Kobe that was created by a tofu store, makes donuts out of tofu; a simple but delicious and reasonably priced and healthy snack. On this day we had the standard Hara donut. My favorite was the sweet and sour scented strawberry. Also another recommendation is the sugar cane. In the evening sometimes the menu with the strawberries are sold out! It is very popular due to its delicious and comforting taste!

We found a pillow specialty store. They make order made pillows, which must be very comfortable to sleep in.

A fashionable furniture store, an old fashioned Chinese cuisine, stores with frog goods, there are a number of unique stores. Just by walking around it is fun, and also is a great place to look for small accessories.

If you go to the basement of this building there is a café called Café. This cozy interior has cute chairs and tables, and handmade goods and accessories are sold. It is a café that is packed with fashionable menus, and elements that a girl would enjoy.

Next we arrive at Musashino Hachimanguu!

This picture on the right is the scenery observed from the inside of the torii. Although it is located in the middle of the town, it has a very calming atmosphere so different from the noisy station front. It is almost forgettable that Kichijoji is “The town for college students” from being in the quiet precincts.

It is a colorful and pretty main building. We also prayed there. In the summer there is the Hachiman-san festival, and supposedly becomes very busy with different food wagons. It is a heartwarming shrine that has been loved by the area’s citizens both in the past and present.

■Related Post
*Kichijoji walking guide Part2