Tokyo Drive – Shinjuku City to Suginami City (Ochiai to Koenji & Asagaya) [4K] JAPAN (POV)

Let’s go for a ride! We hope to show you not only the tourist destinations but also the places only the locals visit. YouTube Premiere on every Saturday at JST 21:00​ (GMT+09:00​). Join the fun!

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As always, thank you for coming along. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy the view!

Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=13GFkCV-aGQ5oshn17a54o5vmoGz0B0SK&ll=35.706960432638446%2C139.65894368794272&z=14

Ochiai Station (落合駅, Ochiai-eki) is a subway station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo subway operator Tokyo Metro.

In fiscal 2013, the station was 116th busiest on the Tokyo Metro network with an average of 24,035 passengers daily.
(Wikipedia)

Shinjuku (Japanese: 新宿区, Hepburn: Shinjuku-ku) is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world (Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration centre for the government of Tokyo. As of 2015, the ward has an estimated population of 337,556, and a population density of 18,517 people per km².
(Wikipedia)

Kōenji (高円寺) is a district of Tokyo in the Suginami ward, west of Shinjuku. The district’s name originates from the old temples in the area.

Kōenji is primarily a residential community with easy access to the Shinjuku and Tokyo stations. It was largely unaffected by the 1980s building boom and therefore many of the houses and shops in the area are small and reflect the character of “pre-boom” Japan. Due to its aging retail district and location on a major commuter route, the station area has become a center for small restaurants and “Live Houses” which offer live music. It is also known for having a young population and as a center for suburban underground culture including multiple used record and clothing shops.
(Wikipedia)

Asagaya (阿佐ヶ谷) is a residential area of Tokyo located in Suginami ward (one of the 23 wards or boroughs of Tokyo) west of Shinjuku. Main access to Asagaya is via the Chūō-Sōbu Line, 12 minutes by train from Shinjuku station.

The origin of the area name “Asagaya” comes from the combination of two words, the adjective “asai” meaning “shallow” and the geographical noun “Yachi” (谷地) meaning “marsh” or low wetlands. In 1921 a stop was created on the Sōbū streetcar line running on Ome-kaido from Shinjuku to Ogikubo, which later became the Tōden Suginami (都電杉並線) streetcar line, then the present subway Marunouchi line. Service on the Tōden Suginami streetcar ended in 1961. Asagaya Station was built and added to the Kōbu railway line (built 1884; Kōbu-tetsudo (甲武鉄道) in 1924, which later became the Chūō Main Line.

After the exodus from central Tokyo following the Kantō Earthquake of 1923, Asagaya became the home to a literature community beginning with Ibuse Masuji, and eventually including Yosano Akiko, Dazai Osamu, Aoyagi Mizuho, Ima Harube, Miyoshi Tatsuji, Hino Ashihei, and Tokugawa Musei. Because of this history Asagaya is also known as “Literary Town Asagaya”.

Along the bar streets that run to the west of the JR Asagaya Station on the north and south sides are a number of tiny music venues, mostly jazz and folk oriented. Also a number of bars that offer jazz, blues, and rock pepper the western bar area.

Eating and drinking
On the lively street, Star Road (スターロード) originating from the northeast side of the JR Asagaya station, there are a number of tiny, intimate eateries, however while some places are renowned for their food, the size and number of these dens makes for an adventure.

On the southwest side of the station on Kawabata Street (かわばた通り), a number of bars and yakitori places abound, and other grilled delights abound.

Festivals
Asagaya has two large festivals each year. The Tanabata (七夕祭り)is held annually during the first week of August. The Tanabata festival is known for its assortment of hanging papier-mâché characters that adorn the Pearl Road.

Asagaya is also known for its jazz festival, Asagaya Jazz Streets, held over the last weekend in October. This jazz festival is one of the largest in the city with musicians playing an assortment of venues.
(Wikipedia)

Camera: GoPro HERO9 Black

Filmed in November 2020

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Drive with me! Japan travel guide 2020
Road trip across Japan in a kei car – Japan scenery 4k by Tokyo Smith

– Scenic drive
– No music
– No talking

#TokyoSmith #japandrive #japantravel