Kichijōji

For the burial place of Enomoto Takeaki, see Kisshō-ji.

The Kichijōji Station can be seen in the back. A Moo-bus, Musashino city bus, is waiting for passengers in the foreground.

Kichijōji (吉祥寺) is a neighborhood in the city of Musashino in Tokyo, Japan. It is centered on the commercial area to the north of its train station and has a youthful, artistic, slightly countercultural reputation. Kichijōji Station is served by the Chūō Line, Sobu Line, Tozai Line and is also a terminus of the Keiō Inokashira Line, which takes passengers as far as Shibuya.

Economy

The neighborhood is dominated by a shopping district centered on a covered street, Sun Road, which extends from Kichijōji Station to the north. This well organized and clean area includes many amenities, shops, entertainment and restaurants.^{[citation needed]}

Half way up this shopping street there is the Buddhist temple Gessōji (月窓寺), with graveyard, and at the northern end of it are Shinto shrines, the latter holding the occasional festival, with amusements such as fishing for gold fish, sweet food stalls, and typical dishes.^{[citation needed]}

On the north, east, and south sides of the station is a large nightlife area with many restaurants, bars, izakaya, and "live" houses. On the north-east side of the station lies a red-light district on the Chūō Line between Tachikawa and Shinjuku, containing numerous cabarets, hostess bars, and love hotels. Groups of young adults congregate in the restaurants and bars around this area and on the streets outside the station on most evenings of the week.^{[citation needed]}

The anime and manga company Coamix has its headquarters in Kichijōji.

Inokashira Park

The Temple in Inokashira park

Inokashira Park, the source of the Kanda River (神田川), is located south of Kichijōji Station, and is a favorite spot for springtime hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing. Public-opinion surveys consistently designate Kichijōji one of Tokyo's most desirable residential neighborhoods.^{[citation needed]} It features a petting zoo and the Ghibli Museum.

Universities in the area

Seikei University (成蹊大学) is a private university in the northwestern area of the district. It is part of a wider educational institute—an escalator school—which teaches from elementary school right through to university level, and is situated amongst rows of large trees in that area of Kichijōji.

Gallery

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  Cherry blossoms in Inokashira park

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  Entrance to Inokashira Park

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  Beautiful White Temple Gates in a busy shopping town at the opposite side of Kichijoji station to Inokashira Park

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  Kichijoji's gold and platinum plated Mikoshi

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  Cherry blossoms during Hanami

External links

• Kichijōji travel guide from Wikitravel
• Official site of the City of Musashino (Japanese)