A flowering tree at Musashino University

Musashino (武蔵野市 Musashino-shi) is a city in western Tokyo.

Understand

Musashino was formed as the result of a merger of several nearby neighborhoods. The most notable of these, Kichijoji is in itself a destination, and has its own article. Train travel is ubiquitous, so the second hub of the city is the area near Musashisakai Station. The remainder of the city is largely residential. There are several universities in the area, including Asia University and Musashino University.

The city is roughly squarish in shape, except that the south central part of the square is a part of Mitaka, the neighboring city to the south. The JR Chūō Line, which runs east-west through Musashino, has two stops in the city: Musashisakai (武蔵境, in the west) and Kichijoji (吉祥寺, in the east). Between those is Mitaka.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Get in

By train

The JR Chūō Line (中央本線) connects Musashino with Shinjuku and Tokyo Station to the east. Mitaka, one stop east of Musashisakai, is a transfer point for several other train lines.

Get around

April streets

Within Musashino, travel by foot, bus or bicycle is practical. The roads here are not so crowded, so using a car is reasonable, too.

By train

By train, the JR Chuo Line has stops at Kichijoji, the neighboring Mitaka, and Musashisakai.

By bus

There are several bus companies that have routes in Musashino. The train runs east/west through the city, and for north/south travel, it is probably best to take a taxi or catch a bus from Musashisakai.

Do

• 1 Toranoyu Iwaburo (虎の湯 岩風呂), Yahatacho 3-1-21 (from the Sekimae Sanchome bus stop, head ENE for 200 m; the bath house is on the north side of the road.), ☏ +81 422-52-3029. Th-Tu 16:00-22:00. This is an old Japanese bath house with rock walls. There are large changing areas, men's and women's baths, a small shop, and washing machines. Adults ¥450. 

Buy

The station areas at Kichijoji and Musashisakai have a fair number of shops. For a larger selection, take the Chuo Line to Shinjuku or elsewhere in Tokyo.

Eat

• 1 Adarsha (インド料理アダルサ), Sakai 2-14-10 (from Musashisakai Station's north exit, go west 100 m; take the passageway just north of Doutor and continue 50 m west; the restaurant is on the south side of the street), ☏ +81 422-36-2210, adarsha@e-kanji.jp. M-F 11:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00; Sa Su 11:00-23:00. This Indian restaurant has several kinds of curry. Sets come with curry, rice, nan, and a salad. It also has all-you-can-drink specials. Serving staff speaks English. Lunch ¥700-1200. 
• 2 Gyoza no Manshu (ぎょうざの満洲), 1F M-H Bldg, Sakai 2-2-18 (200 m north of Musashisakai Station), ☏ +81 422-59-1201. This restaurant specializes in gyoza and also serves ramen and Chinese food. The sets are very large. ¥500-1000. 
• 3 Ikkyu (一休), Asahi Freedeo B1F, Sakai 1-15-6 (100 m E from the north exit of Musashisakai Station), ☏ +81 422-55-8719. 17:00-01:00. This restaurant serves standard Japanese izakaya fare. ¥1000-3000. 
• 4 Janaki (ザナキ), Sakai 1-12-2 (from Musashisakai Station's main exit, walk north 200 m to the first traffic light; head east for 100 m to find this place on your right, just before the traffic light), ☏ +81 422-52-0269. This small Indian restaurant has many different kinds of curry. There are several different choices of nan, including a sweet chocolate nan and a very cheesy nan. The staff is very friendly. ¥800-1600. 
• 5 Kintoki (きんとき), Nakamachi 1-23-13 (ten minutes' walk NE from Mitaka Station.), ☏ +81 422-54-5580. This is a small restaurant that serves multi-course "kaiseki" Japanese cuisine with an emphasis on vegetables. Along with the great flavors, the staff provide excellent explanations of the food and drink. Reservations are recommended. ¥5000-8000 per person for food. (updated Oct 2015)
• 6 Kouzushi (幸寿司), Sekimae 5-9-5 (on Route 7, halfway between Don Quixote and Musashino University, 50 m W of Seven-Eleven), ☏ +81 422-54-4001. A small and tasty sushi place with bar and table seating. Lunch set ¥800. 
• 7 Nakazaki (なかざき), Nishikubo 3-11-1 (A few blocks NW of the Musashino Post Office.), ☏ +81 422-53-1872. Daily 11:30-15:30, 17:00-21:00. A Japanese shokudo with handmade soba. The house special is a katsudon set. Dishes ¥700-1200. 
• 8 Restaurant Elle (エル), Sekimae 4-17-10 (across the street from the main gate of Musashino University, next to Seven-Eleven), ☏ +81 422-55-0922. 11:00-14:30, 17:00-20:30. This small eatery is a good lunch option for people visiting Musashino University. The servings are large. ¥600-1200. 
• 9 Sakura Sushi (さくら鮨), Sekimae 5-14-11 (several blocks SE of Don Quixote.), ☏ +81 422-53-1006. Tu-Su. A small sushi restaurant with a friendly and talkative chef. Lunch sets ¥900-1500, dinner sets ¥1200-2100. 
• 10 Todairo (東大楼), Sakai 2-2-3 (on the corner a block west from the north exit of Musashisakai Station), ☏ +81 422-52-0033. W-M 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00. This small Chinese restaurant is often filled with the smell of tasty food. ¥400-1000. 

Drink

• 1 Coffee Roast Musashisakai (コーヒーロースト武蔵境店), Kyonancho 3-1-5 (west 300 m from the south exit of Musashisakai Station), ☏ +81 422-31-5860. This coffee roaster has a dozen kinds of beans. Order a cup, and if you like it, get a bag of beans roasted to take home. ¥230 per cup. (updated Dec 2015)

Sleep

Musashino is not generally a business or tourist destination, it being largely residential. What hotels do exist are unlikely to have English speaking staff. Kichijoji has many hotels, though. To the east along the Chuo Line are Nakano and Shinjuku, with plenty of places from which to choose.

• 1 Hotel Mets Musashisakai (ホテルメッツ武蔵境), Kyonancho 2-1-8 (just east from the south exit to Musashisakai Station), ☏ +81 422-32-5111. A nice hotel for families or people traveling on business. Single ¥7000-9000, double ¥10,000-13,000. 

Connect

• 1 Musashino City Hall (武蔵野市役所), Midoricho 2-2-28 (a 10-minute walk north from Mitaka Station), ☏ +81 422-51-5131. M-F 08:30-17:00, closed Dec 29-Jan 3, closed national holidays. City Hall has many services essential for residents. It also has information on hospitals, which could be of use to travelers. 

Go next

Musashino is bordered on the west by Koganei, on the east by Mitaka, and on the north by Nishitokyo. These cities are easily accessible by bus or bicycle.

Ride the JR Chuo train for another ten or twenty minutes to reach Nakano or Shinjuku. The Chuo Line ends at Tokyo Station, the shinkansen terminus.

• Higashikurume
• Kodaira
• Higashimurayama
• Kokubunji
• Chofu

Routes through Musashino

Nagoya ← Takao ←

W  E

→ Mitaka → Shinjuku