Tokyo/Suginami
Understand
Suginami is mostly a residential area which will provide a great view of real Japanese living in Tokyo. The area's main points of interest are the clothing shops and nightspots of Kōenji (高円寺) and the antique shops of Ogikubo (荻窪) and Nishi-Ogikubo (西荻窪).
Get in
JR Chuo Line and the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line both connect Shinjuku to Ogikubo. Also JR Chuo line, JR Chuo Sobu line and Tokyo Metro Tozai line you can go to Kōenji, Asagaya, Ogikubo and Nishi-Ogikubo. Be careful! During weekends and holidays Rapid service on JR Chuo line does not stop at Kōenji, Asagaya and Nishi-Ogikubo.
Ōme Kaidō (青梅街道) is a main street which connects Shinjuku to the western burbs, running through Kōenji and Ogikubo. Straight down Ōme Kaidō, Kōenji is a ten minute drive, 45 minute walk or 1600 yen taxi from Shinjuku Station.
See
- Suginami Historical Museum (Near Wadabori Park). It is small but has some interesting findings from the prehistoric and historic times.
- Namisuke. There is Namisuke in Suginami. Namisuke is Suginami's official charactor. Namisuke's poster sticks on the wall. And there are Namisuke loaves in convenience store. It is Namisuke motifs. It draw Namisuke's face on the loaves.
- Myosyoji Temple. Myosyoji Temple built in 1325. But this temple is not then temple. Because this temple was rebuilt in 1646. There are Myosyoji park and Myosyoji river near Myosyoji temple.They extracted from this temple.
- Myoshoji River. There is Myoshoji river near Myoshoji temple. This river start from Myoshoji pond in Myoshoji park. Afterward, this river meet Kanda river. This river flow some water . There are drooping cherry around this river.
- Myoshoji Park. Myoshoji park is bigger than nearly other park. There is Myoshoji pond in Myoshoji park. There is fountain in Myoshoji pond.
- Suginami koukaidou. It walk there in 7 minute from Ogikubo station. Suginami koukaidou is building.It was built in 1957.But current building is not it. Because Suginami koukaidou is rebuilt in 2006.This building perform many kind of event.For example,perfome ceremony there for 20age's people in coming of Age Day.
- Suginami Animation Museum. Suginami Animation Museum is for general animation.This museum is shown animation.And people can experience to make animation . price is free.
- Omiyahachimangu, 2-3-1 Omiya Suginami ward, ☏ 03-3311-0105. 9:00~17:00. This is a shrine in Omiya.This shrine was built in 1053.Many people are called "Navel of Tokyo" because there are center of Tokyo.It is said in particular that success in prayer of the child care esey delivery.
- Zenpuku temple Park, 3-9-10 Zenpukuzi Suginami ward, ☏ 3396-0825. This park is near Tokyo Women's Christian University. there are a lot of greenery.This park is well-known for water lily in the pond.You can see take a boat and see them.You should go to there on June.
Do
- Kōenji. Has many used clothing and other shops and restaurants, as well as "live houses" where bands play all genres of music. After the war many temples and shrines were moved here and now there are many walking tours to visit them.
- Tokyo Kōenji Awa Odori (阿波おどり). The Tokyo Kōenji Awa Odori is held yearly on the last Saturday and Sunday in August. About 1.2 million people show up to eat, drink and watch 188 groups (or 12,000 dancers) perform Awa dance to lively music and parade through the nine routes set up along the Shotengai station-front street. It is the second largest Awa Odori festival in Japan, after Tokushima.
- Wadabori Park. is a large park in Omiya that runs along Zenpukuji River. It is a popular place for groups and families to barbecue. There is a small pond, restaurant, and fishing tanks. There is also a children's park for bicycle training in a safe area with street signs and traffic signals. There is a traditional thatched roof house near the park as well. Kingfishers have their habitats in this area which is very rare in a city life. It's a fifteen minute walk from Nishieifuku Station on the Keio Inokashira Line, parking facilities available.
Buy
Kōenji has a long shōtengai that is well-known for its vintage clothing and bohemian-style shops. It more or less begins adjacent to Kōenji Station and runs up to Ome-Kaido (Ome Highway) and Shin-Kōenji Station. It is composed of two sections: Pal Shopping Mall and Kōenji Look.
Nishi-Ogikubo (西荻窪), one station down from Ogikubo, has a good selection of antique (骨董 kottō) shops with reasonable prices, but they're scattered over a fairly large area. Ask at the station for a map.
Eat
- Baan-Esan, 2F Mitsuwa Kaikan, 3-33-15 Kita Koenji, Suginami-ku, ☏ +81 03-5327-3629. 5PM-3AM. A trip to Thailand just a minute's stroll from Koenji Station's south exit. Located on the Koenji shotengai, they serve good-sized portions of traditional Thai food but not at Tokyo prices. Most dishes are 580 yen and great for sharing. The service is less than stellar, but the Thai woman in charge of the kitchen makes the wait worth it.
- Miyagawa (みやがわ) (About twenty metres past the). Another yakitori-ya. It is small but has outdoor seating for about eight, and is arguably some of the best yakitori you can find. Decorated with rock and blues paraphernalia spanning from the 1940s, it's got friendly staff, good prices and great food.
- Taishō (大将) (Right across from Kōenji Station's south exit). A popular open-air yakitori restaurant. Cheap and good, it's crowded late into the night with the young and old working on tomorrow's hangover. Just look for the big red sign and tables made from milk crates. Two other locations of Taishō are also near the station: one about 100 meters west of the station adjacent to the train tracks out the same exit, and another about two blocks straight north of the north exit.
- Zats Burger Cafe. A growing burger chain serving up the famous Sasebo Burger, which is the result of homemade recipes handed down by American troops during the 1950s in Sasebo, Nagasaki. Burgers run 690 yen for a regular size (which is generally enough) and 1,380 yen for a large. Alcoholic beverages run from 530 yen to almost 1,000 yen so it's definitely not the cheapest place to drink in Koenji.
- Ebisu Yakitori (Turn right just outside the south exit and follow the smell of grilling chicken.). Don't let the glitzy photos on the website fool you. This branch consists of a sometimes changing string of tiny storefronts, kiosks, and rickety tables in the alley running west from the south exit of the station. Get ready for a raucous and very crowded and chaotic but fun experience. Per piece fromas low as ¥90.
Drink
- B-Glad. A large restaurant-bar just north of the intersection of Ome-Kaido and the main street leading to Kōenji Station. The menu is a blend of Japanese and Western dishes (pasta, salad, pizza, yakitori) ranging from 450 to 1200 yen. Located in the basement, it's extremely spacious by Japan standards, with comfortable seating, free billiards, and two electronic dart boards. Highballs are 550 yen and beer 600 yen. Very friendly staff and 50s music.
- Bar Rumholic, Koenji-Kita 3-3-9, ☏ +81 03-3310-3461. 8PM-3AM. Rumholic is a nice small rock'n'roll oriented bar located near the Koenji station. The owner is a friendly guy who plays guitar and also builds them. cheap.
Sleep
- The Koenji, 2F,3F 3-22-2 Koenji (1 minute walk from Koenji Station on the Chou Line), ☏ +81 080-3416-9048. The place has 7 rooms (4 single and 3 double) all efficiently laid out. There may be noise from nearby bars on weekends. ¥2500.
Connect
Go next
| Routes through Suginami |
| Nagoya ← Tachikawa ← | W  E |
→ Tokyo/Nakano → Tokyo |
| Mitaka ← | W  E |
→ Tokyo/Nakano → Tokyo/Shinjuku |