'''Suginami''' (____) is in Tokyo, west of Shinjuku.

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 '''K?enji''' (___~__) and the antique shops of '''Ogikubo''' (___E) and '''Nishi-Ogikubo''' (_____E).

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 K?enji, Asagaya, Ogikubo and Nishi-Ogikubo. BE CAREFUL! During weekends and holidays Rapid service on JR Chuo line does not stop at K?enji, Asagaya and Nishi-Ogikubo.

?me Kaid? (___~_X__) is a main street which connects Shinjuku to the western burbs, running through K?enji and Ogikubo. Straight down ?me Kaid?, K?enji is a 10-minute drive, 45-minute walk or 1600 yen taxi from Shinjuku Station.

See

Do

  • '''K?enji''' 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.
  • The '''[http://www.koenji-awaodori.com/indexEn.html Tokyo K?enji Awa Odori]''' (___g______) 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 barbeque. 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. King fishers have their habitats in this area which is very rare in a city life. 15 minutes walk from [Nishieifuku Sta.] of Keio Inokashira Line, parking facilities available.
  • '''Suginami historical museum''' near Wadabori Park. It is small but has some interesting findings from the prehistoric and historic times.
  • Buy

    '''K?enji''' has a long ''sh?tengai'' that is well-known for its vintage clothing and bohemian-style shops. It more or less begins adjacent to K?enji Station and runs up to Ome-Kaido (Ome Highway) and Shin-K?enji Station. It is composed of two sections: '''[http://www.koenji-pal.jp/ Pal Shopping Mall]''' and '''[http://koenjilook.com/ K?enji Look]'''.

    '''Nishi-Ogikubo''' (_____E), one station down from Ogikubo, has a good selection of antique (____ ''kott?'') shops with reasonable prices, but they're scattered over a fairly large area. Ask at the station of a map showing where to go.

    Eat

  • '''Baan-Esan''' 2F Mitsuwa Kaikan, 3-33-15 Kita Koenji, Suginami-ku (03-5327-3629), open 5pm-3am. A trip to Thailand just a minute's stroll from Koenji Station_fs 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.
  • '''Taish?''' (____) is a popular open-air yakitori restaurant right across from K?enji Station's south exit. 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 Taish? are also near the station: one about 100 metres west of the station adjacent to the train tracks out the same exit, and another about two blocks straight north of the north exit.
  • '''Miyagawa''' (________) is 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. It's located about 20 metres past the "second Taish?", adjacent to the tracks just west of the south exit.
  • '''Zats Burger Cafe''' is 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 defeinitely not the cheapest place to drink in Koenji. [http://sasebo-burger.jp/sasebo-burger/stores.html Shop location on Official Site].
  • Drink

  • '''B-Glad''' is a large restaurant-bar just north of the intersection of Ome-Kaido and the main street leading to K?enji 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. oenji-Kita 3-3-9. 3-3310-3461. ttp://www.rumholic.com. pm-3am. heap. 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.

    Sleep

    Contact