✨ FREE GUIDE ✨ Kichijoji (West Tokyo) ☆ +25 Locations

✨ FREE GUIDE ✨ Kichijoji (West Tokyo) ☆ +25 Locations

King Kogi
I spent years living in this West Tokyo area called Kichijoji. It has it all: sprawling parks, shopping, standing bars, lantern packed alleys, and tons of local feeling. This is a free guide, and a peek into what my paid guides have to offer! Information about the popular local spots, off the beaten path finds, and cafes, coffee shops, street food, desserts... there is something for everybody! You can use this guide over a few days or multiple visits to Japan, there is just too much to tackle in one day.
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HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Kichijoji Tokyu REI Hotel
@kingkogi
A popular no-frills hotel located right beside the main Kichijoji Station. Excellent access to multiple train lines that can easily take you into the Tokyo core, and located beside department stores, convenience stores, and more!
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🔊 Check out my personal voice note on Kichijoji below 👇

Kichijōji Station
@kingkogi
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Izakayas, Restaurants, Savoury Snacks

The above picture is from Minmin~

Minmin
@kingkogi
A famous Chinese style ramen shop, but the gyoza and fried rice are what shines. Line ups for take away gyoza outside, and a quick moving line-up for inside seating.
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Bakawarai Junsui
@kingkogi
One of the first izakayas I ever experienced after moving to Kichijoji. Super welcoming, hilarious staff, and epic food. The locals are friendly here and expect some happy drunken conversation as everyone unwinds. Lineups on the weekend, so try stopping by mid-week. No english menu, but just tell the chef what you like, they're great. I recommend the egg roll with soft pork (tamagoyaki) the sashimi of the day, the potato salad, and the yaki-soba (stir fried noodles with egg). The sake selction is top-tier, enjoy a few cups and tell them Martina sent you!
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Yakitori Tecchan
@kingkogi
A bumping alleyway izakaya. This open concept shop serves grilled meat and a unique extra, grilled lamb chops! Try a "lemon-sour" to cut through the meat if you drink alcohol, and small veggie items are also available. Great vibe and super duper photographable.
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Shiraishi
@kingkogi
Off the beaten path, this is a deep find homemade Udon shop. One of my favs, the staff is so lovely, and they have the most imaginative dishes. The seasonal udon can range from local veg, to kimchi pork, to unusual tempura. Glass bottles of delicious plum wine, umeshu, and sake available too, which is not usual at an udon shop.
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Sushi Go-Round Restaurant
@kingkogi
There are many conveyor belt sushi shops, but they are not all delicious. This is one of my FAVS! The fish is super yummy, fresh, and cheap. Great for a snack or a full dinner.
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Satou Kichijōji
@kingkogi
Upstairs is a steak restaurant, downstairs is a butcher shop selling deep fried MAGIC> The menchi-katsu, a deep fried beef ball with chopped onions. ...it is SO SO SO GOOD! Weekends are very busy, pop on by mid-week. They start serving them after 10:30am
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Coffee and Cafes

The above photo is from Light Up Coffee ☕️

LIGHT UP COFFEE
@kingkogi
Delicious hand drip coffee, espresso based beverages, and a neat vibe. I recommend the three cup tasting set if you're a fan of coffee, you can try and compare different bean varieties and their skills are top tier. Sit inside, on the steps outside, or in the park across the street.
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SIDEWALK COFFEE INOKASHIRA
@kingkogi
Located inside the popular Inokashira Park, this shop serves delicious coffee but also draft beer, freshly baked in house pastries, breads, and more. It is SO yummy, I used to come here all the time to have a beer and bread and just read upstairs. The view is so soothing, you can see the train pass by and all the park occupants passing as well.
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Blackwell Coffee
@kingkogi
A teeny tiny shop! The owner is such a nice man, he makes a delicious hand drip coffee, and coffee jelly in the summertime! Try the red-bean based sweets and the pound cake if you're snackish.
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Café du Lièvre (Bunny House)
@kingkogi
Japanese curries in a charming cafe with vintage furniture & a view of the park! Bunny House also serves up sweet and savoury crepes, but be aware, it is a popular place on the weekend.
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Ryumon coffee stand
@kingkogi
Off the beaten path, this quirky two-story coffee shop serves up EPIC espresso based beverages as well as chai lattes, hot chocolate, hoji cha lattes, and original sodas and tonics. They also have a delicious desserts menu as: honey butter toast, cheese cake, tiramisu, fudge brownies, and loaves. The upstairs seating area is like being in someone’s home.
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Blue Sky Coffee
@kingkogi
NOTE: This is NOT a place to take photos, this quaint inner-park coffee shop DOES NOT like people shoving cameras in their face. They post many signs saying this, so it's best to enjoy their delicious coffee, warm mulled wine, and other offerings in the moment. There are no seats, it's just take out, so find yourself a nice park bench and get your people watching on. I have personally never had a problem with this shop nor the barista, they are lovely people that simply don’t want to be photographed constantly.
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Dessert and Sweets

姫乃杏仁 吉祥寺本店
@kingkogi
A tofu dessert shop serving elegant "almond tofu" in various ways. You can also enjoy it take out, and they also offer a pastry and ice cream combo.
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Amane Taiyaki
@kingkogi
Located in the backstreets if Kichijoji Harmonica Alley, this little shop serves up Taiyaki, a fish shaped waffle stuffed with various sweets. The traditonal is sweet, red bean paste, but they also have custard and matcha bean paste! Try the “dango” rice dumplings too, they are excellent. You can choose from three different flavours. All these items are less than 200yen a piece.
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Hara Donuts Kichijōji Shop
@kingkogi
Dairy free donuts made with tofu pulp! Not quite a traditional yeast donut, more like a delicious cake-loaf. I LOVE the simple toppings, the cinnamon-sugar is my fav, but the seasonal donut is always an interesting treat. Enjoy the small park across the street while you eat them, or grab a coffee at Light Up Coffee next door. They have no problem with the donuts in their shop!
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Shopping

Kichijōji Loft
@kingkogi
Loft is a famous multi-level shop selling just everything! Mugs, plates, stuffed toys, stickers, stationary, beauty supplies... this is a one-stop shop!
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3COINS
@kingkogi
Located in the basement B1 of the department store directly attached to Kichijoji Station. It can be a bit confusing to find, because the building is divided into three sections, but once you get to the basement (there is a grocery store that you might have to walk through) you're on the right path! This shop has SO many cute household goods, jewelry, hair stuff, and much more at a super reasonable price. You'll either thank me or hate me when you find it! Haha.
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Daisō Kichijōji Sun Road
@kingkogi
Located in a sneaky spot, take Sun Road shopping street and the DAISO is located upstairs. Look for the big shoe store, and just to the right of it there is an escalator leading upstairs.
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HARD OFF KICHIJOJI
@kingkogi
Second hand video game systems, instruments, electronics, records, and more. I’ve found quite a few treasures here.
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Video Games, Crane Games, and Capsule Toys

Plaza Capcom Kichijōji
@kingkogi
An excellent arcade with video games, crane machines, Japanese drum games, and more! It’s hiding in the basement of Kichijoji Loft, head downstairs to B1
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Special Locations

The photo below is of my favourite izakayas in Harmonica Yokocho. The left one leads upstairs to a little grannies shop, the right one serves oden and plays punk music.

Harmonica Yokocho
@kingkogi
Several layers of narrow backstreet brimming with restaurants, shops, local grocery stores, and bars.
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Inokashira Park
@kingkogi
Inokashira Park (井の頭恩賜公園, Inokashira Onshi Kōen) has a large lake filled with lots of adorable wildlife as well as gorgeous bridges. The whole park is surrounded by cherry blossom trees during spring, and the plum trees bloom early. There is a petting zoo with a famous Guinea pig area with an adorable bride parade as they head back home to their hutches for the night. You can also pet the Guinea pigs and just be happy.
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Gessōji Temple
@kingkogi
This temple makes a sudden appearance as you walk along a busy shopping street. Local festivals take place here if you’re lucky enough to arrive during a festival time.
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Ghibli Museum
@kingkogi
Tickets must be purchased in advance to enter. I’ve included a link to the English website to purchase tickets 🎟️ Photography and videography is not allowed while inside the museum, and that makes it EXTRA engaging and magical. Tiny doors and little details hide all over this museum, which is much more like an art exhibition. The gift shop is usually packed, but there are lots of items for fans to buy, including dishware, toys, stationary, and the movies with English and Japanese on DVD.
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Straw Hat Cafe (Ghibli Museum Cafe)
@kingkogi
Only accessible to those who have tickets to the Ghibli Museum, this little cafe is often skipped over. It has lots of delicious themed Ghibli film food, and it is actually quite tasty. The inside of the cafe is also, adorable!
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Thanks for all your support.  Keep keeping it cool, in the King Kogi village!

Martina aka King Kogi 👑🐷 

If you’re looking to explore a more local Tokyo neighbourhood with a bohemian feel, this guide is for you. 🔇🙉 This area has a residential, relaxed vibe. It is great for people who don't enjoy loud, downtown noises and flashy neon lights. I’ve included over 40 places to explore in this trendy, quirky, and hipster neighbourhood just west of Shibuya. And I've also added a newly built onsen/ryokan hotel which is super rare to find in Tokyo. 🚇 three station guides for travel and exploration ☕️ cute cafes and coffee shops 🌱 vegan & vegetarian spots 🌅 scenic spots and local parks 🍮 desserts 🍛 Japanese curry 🍶 izakayas 🍣 sushi 🍤 tempura 🍕 stone oven pizzeria 🌮 international food 🍺 craft beer & friendly social bars 。・:*:・★,。・:*:・゚☆ 。・:・゚★,。・:*:・☆ 🗺🚶‍♀️All the spots provided in this guide are in walking distance of each other. You can explore leisurely at your own pace without relying on trains. 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 👀 🍲 There are plenty of great spots for people watching, strolling, and food. Small shops run by local owners outweigh the chains, so all the spots have a much more personal feel. 。・:*:・★,。・:*:・゚☆ 。・:・゚★,。・:*:・☆ This guide includes activities and shops located around three train stations and neighbourhoods: 1) Umegaoka Station 2) Setagaya-Daita Station and the area leading into 3) Shimokitazawa Station You can spread out a few days of adventuring with the amount of spots on this list, or you can plan for a full afternoon of fun, and then into the evening with the izakaya and bar listings. ⭐️ All locations featured in the Tokyo Tours video, "Curry, Coffee, and Cream Puffs" are included in this guide. Places in the video will be marked with a ⭐️ = featured in Tokyo Tours
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A digital travel guide containing vegan, vegetarian, macrobiotic, organic, and gluten-free restaurants in Japan. Majority of them are located in Tokyo, but I've also included some excellent spots in Kyoto and Fukuoka. 🌟 I’ve organized each restaurant with a convenient category that explains what type of food they serve 🌟 I’ve also included links to their websites/social media. This guide contains 50 locations with many varieties of food, including: 🍰🍩 desserts 🍜🥢 ramen 🌮🍔 international cuisine 🍛🍱 Japanese food ☕️🥪 cafes and bakeries 💖💰 higher end restaurants for a special meal 📌 This guide also includes a zero-waste Guesthouse that has an earth-friendly plant-based café and bar, that sells by weight, without trash. 💕✨ I've also created a FREE vegan and vegetarian Japanese word and phrase list to help you navigate Japan, so you can just show people your phone, and point. I’ve also including a handy Gluten Free phrase and help guide, too. My hope is that even if you don't purchase my guide, these free phrase lists will at least help you! ✨ ☆︶︶︶︶☆ ︶︶︶︶☆ Helpful Terms for Vegan and Vegetarian travellers: The more commonly used terms: vegetarian: ベジタリアン (beh-ji-tarian) vegan: ヴィーガン (vui-gan) OR ビーガン (bee-gan) The more traditional terms: Buddhist vegan: 完全菜食主義者 (kanzen saishoku shugisha) vegetarian 菜食主義者 (saishoku shugisha) ☆︶︶︶︶☆ ︶︶︶︶☆ NOTE: Even if you’re vegan, it’s good to start with this phrase, “beh-ji-tarian des” (I’m vegetarian) since it is already rare to be a vegetarian in Japan. Saying you’re vegan will go over many people's heads, so if they say that they "can’t serve a vegetarian", they definitely can not serve a vegan. Some helpful phrases you can keep handy on your phone: I don’t eat meat, seafood, eggs and dairy products 肉とシーフードと卵と乳製品を食べません (o-niku, shifudo, tamago, to nyūseihin wo tabemasen) I don’t eat pork 豚肉を食べません (buta niku wo tabemasen) I don’t eat chicken 鶏肉を食べません (tori niku wo tabemasen) I don’t eat fish stock 魚のだしを食べません (sakana no dashi wo tabemasen) I don’t eat eggs 卵を食べません (tamago wo tabemasen) I don’t eat cheese チーズを食べません (chizu wo tabemasen) ☆︶︶︶︶☆ ︶︶︶︶☆ How to express having an allergy: I am allergic to shrimp エビのアレルギーがあります (ebi no arerugi ga arimasu) For example: I am allergic to _____________________ _____________________ の アレルギーがあります _____________________ no arerugi ga arimasu ☆︶︶︶︶☆ ︶︶︶︶☆ GLUTEN FREE TIPS: Many Japanese dishes contain soy sauce and/or miso, and most of them contain gluten. I am allergic to wheat 小麦アレルギーです (Komugi arerugi desu) 麩 質 Fushitsu is the Japanese word for gluten グ ル テ ン sometimes it is written in Katakana, as “gu-ru-ten” Things to avoid: 小麦, 小麦 粉 Komugi is wheat, komugiko is wheat flour. 麦 Mugi is barley, usually in mugicha, barley tea. Or rye, called rye-mugi (ライ麦). 醤 油 Shoyu, or soy sauce 味噌 Miso paste 水 飴 Mizuame, or malt syrup, and barley malt syrup are in many sweets Helpful Phrases: I cannot eat food that contains gluten. So I cannot eat anything made with wheat, rye or barley. That means that I cannot eat soy sauce which contains wheat, or miso that contains wheat. 私はグルテンを含む食品が食べられません。小麦・大麦・ライ麦が使われているものは全部です。そのため、小麦を原料としている醤油や味噌もいっさい口にできません。 I have a serious disease called celiac disease, so that I cannot eat food that contains gluten. I cannot eat anything made with wheat, rye, or barley. I cannot eat soy sauce which contains wheat or miso that contains wheat. 私は、グルテンの摂取によって発症する「セアリック病」という深刻な病気をもっています。そのため、小麦・大麦・ライ麦が使われている食品は食べられません。小麦を原料としている醤油や味噌もいっさい口にできません。 Does this contain wheat? これは小麦を使っていますか。 Does this contain barley? これは大麦を使っていますか。 Does this contain soy sauce? これは醤油を使っていますか。 When you go to a chicken grilling shop, they can dip it in a sauce which contains soy sauce, but you can ask them to do the salt sprinkled version instead: Can you do shio-yaki (salt-flavored)? 塩だけで焼いてもらえますか。
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
King Kogi
👑🐷 こんにちは~ I'm Martina Sazunic, known as King Kogi on YouTube. Born in Toronto (Canada) but living in Asia since 2008, exploring South Korea and Japan 🔎 🗺 Use my Digital Travel Guides to confidently explore Japan knowing you've got one of my hand-picked spots nearby. Plus, you can watch my Tokyo Tours, Osaka Tours, Kyoto Tours, and Yokohama Tours for free on King Kogi YouTube My guides include a wide range of restaurants: izakayas 🍶 ramen/udon 🍜 sushi 🍣 coffee ☕️ cafes 🍵 street food 🥟 bistros 🍝 curry 🍛 vegetarian/vegan 🌱 snacks 🍡 dessert 🍧 local craft beer 🍺 secret bars 🥃 As well as popular (and hidden) parks, temples, shrines, museums, shopping spots, interesting finds, and more ⛩ If you're feeling overwhelmed with planning a visit to Japan, the Mega Guides cover 100+ spots and features all the tourist hit list locations, plus off-the-beaten path finds too. It also includes a Japanese language and culture guide.
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