【4K】Japan Walk – Tokyo ,Kichijoji,吉祥寺, February 2021,#Japan #Tokyo #吉祥寺#Kichijōji

【4K】Japan Walk – Tokyo ,Kichijoji,吉祥寺, February 2021,#Japan #Tokyo #吉祥寺#Kichijōji
Kichijoji (吉祥寺, Kichijōji) is a trendy neighborhood located just outside of central Tokyo. Consistently voted as one of the top neighborhoods that Tokyoites want to live in, Kichijoji offers a good balance of commercial business and nature, namely Inokashira Park, within a relatively small space.

Kichijoji’s main shopping district lies north of the station and consists of three main arcades: Sunroad, Harmonica Yokocho and Daiyagai. Smaller shopping streets branch out from them, and they round up the plentiful shopping and dining options alongside some larger shops and department stores.
Head out west for some of the city’s best parks, restaurants, boutiques and bars, all with a lovely family-friendly vibe.

In Kichijoji, the moment your feet touch the ground you’re within walking distance of any kind of place that you can imagine. Located amid the western suburbs of Tokyo in Musashino City, Kichijoji plays host to an array of lovely coffee houses, live jazz, swan boats, theaters, a zoo, and shops that engage the imagination. With a warm and inviting atmosphere — in part thanks to one of the capital’s most cosmopolitan and friendliest communities — Kichijoji is a magical place to explore with friends, family or by yourself.

History and Background
Kichijoji

Interestingly, the name Kichijoji derives from the Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune and posterity, “Lakshmi,” known as Kichijoten in her Japanese Buddhist form. The temple dedicated to this goddess, Kichijo-ji, was originally located in Bunkyo-ku before being lost in a fire in 1657. After the fire, new land was provided for those whose homes had been destroyed. In memory of their lost home, the relocated residents decided to name the new village after their beloved temple, Kichijoji.

Nowadays, Kichijoji is a regular feature on various lists of the best areas to live in the Tokyo metropolitan area, notably winning the top spot on Japanese real estate giant Suumo’s annual survey in 2017. Though it was beaten by Yokohama this year, Kichijoji is still one of the city’s most sought-after neighborhoods for home seekers.

Things to Do
Inokashira Park
In the heart of Kichijoji lives Inokashira Park, a haven of trees, a gorgeous giant pond which gets filled with sakura petals in spring, and a bridge that is reminiscent of the one in Spirited Away. Large in size, but intimate in proportion, Inokashira Park provides tree-covered paths for a refreshing stroll along the water. Tucked away in a forested alcove towards the east of the park, you’ll stumble upon Benzaiten shrine, dedicated to the goddess of “everything that flows.”

Inokashira Park

Inokashira Park Zoo
In addition to the conservation and breeding of indigenous animals in the area, the zoo inside Inokashira Park was home to the first elephant ever to come to Japan after World War II. Named Hanako, she now has her own statue at Kichijoji station’s northern exit, unveiled two years ago to honor her memory. Within the park, you’ll also find a beautiful botanical garden, and an open-air sculpture museum with pieces by Seibo Kitamura, the man behind the famous Peace Statue in Nagasaki.

Ghibli Museum
The western side of Inokashira Park is home to the Ghibli Museum, a pocket of magic and mystery for all those who know and love the works of Hayao Miyazaki. For tickets, you’ll need to purchase in advance at Lawsons —the museum’s website has instructions on how to do this. Photography is not allowed inside the museum, so much is left to the imagination until you set foot inside where exquisitely designed and whimsical exhibitions await.

Totoro at Ghibli Museum

Cocomaru Theater
Cocomaru Theater, located along the Penny Lane Road just at the entrance of Sun Road, is a retro-looking cinema-cafe hybrid. Despite its newness (it opened late in 2017) Cocomaru offers a nostalgic atmosphere for film buffs. The first-floor theatre screens both independent and commercial films but focuses especially on supporting the former, holding special screenings with the director. The cafe is located on the second floor with a reasonably priced menu of diner-style ‘Merican foods like burgers and beer.

Cocomaru Theater Kichijoji

Sometime
A short walk from Cocomaru Theatre is Sometime, an institution of Kichijoji’s renowned jazz scene. Every night, this dark and moody locale comes alive with the sound of music. At its center a beautiful grand piano sets the mood; the audience sits around the musicians in circular fashion or above them in loft-like seats. Sometime also holds daytime gigs on weekends and holidays, and serves coffee and western-style lunch throughout the day.