Kichijoji
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
The anime and manga company Coamix
has its headquarters in Kichijōji.
, 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. It features a petting zoo and the Ghibli Museum
.
(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.
Musashino, Tokyo
is a city located in Tokyo, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 137,222 and a population density of 12,788.63 persons per km². The total area is 10.73 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1947...
in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. 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
Chuo Main Line
The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It runs between Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faster, while the Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the fastest rail...
, Sobu Line, Tozai Line and is also a terminus of the Keiō Inokashira Line, which takes passengers as far as Shibuya
Shibuya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. As of 2008, it has an estimated population of 208,371 and a population density of 13,540 persons per km². The total area is 15.11 km²....
.
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.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.
On the north, east, and south sides of the station is a large nightlife area with many restaurants, bars, izakaya
Izakaya
An is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are popular, casual places for after-work drinking.-Name:...
, and "live" houses.
On the north-east side of the station lies a red-light district
Red-light district
A red-light district is a part of an urban area where there is a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, adult theaters, etc...
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.
The anime and manga company Coamix
Coamix
Coamix Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manga and anime production company partnered with Shinchosha. Its headquarters are in the in Kichijōji, Musashino, Tokyo....
has its headquarters in Kichijōji.
Inokashira Park
Inokashira ParkInokashira Park
straddles Musashino and Mitaka in western Tokyo, Japan.Inokashira Pond and the , established during the Edo period, are the primary sources of the Kanda River....
, the source of the Kanda River
Kanda River
The stretches 24.6 km from Inokashira Park in Mitaka to the Sumida River under the Ryōgoku Bridge at the boundary of Taitō, Chūō, and Sumida. Its entire length lies within Tokyo, Japan. It drains an area of 105.0 km². The government of Japan classifies it as a Class I river.-Tributaries...
(神田川), is located south of Kichijōji Station, and is a favorite spot for springtime hanami
Hanami
is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms or ume blossoms. From the end of March to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan, and around the first of February on the island of Okinawa...
, or cherry-blossom viewing. Public-opinion surveys consistently designate Kichijōji one of Tokyo's most desirable residential neighborhoods. It features a petting zoo and the Ghibli Museum
Ghibli Museum
is a museum featuring the Japanese anime work of Studio Ghibli, and is located in Inokashira Park in Mitaka, a western suburb of Tokyo, Japan.The museum is a fine arts museum, but does not take the concept of a usual fine arts museum. With many features that are child-oriented and a sprawling and...
.
Universities in the area
Seikei UniversitySeikei University
is a private university in the Kichijōji neighborhood of the city of Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. Its name derives from a passage in the Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian. Its campus is noted for its beautiful rows of zelkova trees.- Overview :...
(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.