9 Things to Do in Kichijoji: Japan’s Most Desirable Town

The best seasons to visit Kichijoji are spring and autumn.
In spring, Inokashira Park becomes a breathtaking sight as around 500 cherry trees reach full bloom.
From the bridges spanning Inokashira Pond, you can enjoy stunning views of the cherry blossoms reflected in the water—a truly unforgettable experience.
Autumn brings the lively Kichijoji Autumn Festival, held every year on the second Saturday and Sunday of September, featuring traditional performances and lively activities.
The festival sees the entire town come alive, with grand mikoshi (portable shrines) parading through the shopping streets in a spectacular display.

The travel times and routes to Kichijoji Station from major stations in Tokyo are as follows

Inokashira Park, stretching across Musashino City and Mitaka City in Tokyo, opened in 1917 as the first imperial gift park in Japan, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2017.
The park covers an area of about 380,000 square meters, approximately the size of nine Tokyo Domes.

In Tokyo's Mitaka lies the Ghibli Museum, overseen by Director Hayao Miyazaki. Studio Ghibli, established in 1985, is a Japanese animation studio known for planning and producing films primarily directed by Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki. Its portfolio includes celebrated works like "My Neighbor Totoro," "Castle in the Sky," "Kiki's Delivery Service," "Spirited Away," and "Howl's Moving Castle," representing some of Japan's most iconic movies.

Inokashira Park Zoo occupies about 1/3rd of the area of Inokashira Park. It’s made up of the “Zoo (Main)” area, which features the animal exhibits, a sculpture museum, and archives, and the “Aquatic Park (Secondary)” area, which features aquatic animal exhibits and waterfowl. The zoo is home to over 170 species of animals.

This spot is an easy-access part of the station, directly connected to the Keio Inokashira Line on the 3rd floor and JR Chuo Line Kichijoji Station via the 2nd floor.
Swing by to find shops with anything and everything from apparel and miscellaneous goods to bookshops and more across the ten floors spanning the 9th to first basement floor.

A theme park inspired by a world depicted in picture books. Various shops surround the garden that has a cute and unique atmosphere.
The largest building in the park is a castle named Temari no Oshiro, which is a cat café supposedly built by cats. Many cats run free in the store, and you can touch and interact with them as much as you want. The shop offers a wide range of handmade sweets and alcoholic drinks, and we also recommend visiting for lunch.

Located just outside the north exit of Kichijoji Station, this small alley is home to about 100 shops. The name “Harmonica Alley” is said to come from the fact that the line of small storefronts looks like the holes on a harmonica. Many of the shops sell delicious things to eat, so it’s a great place to stroll while sampling some of the delights.

Here on this 7-hectare site bursting with seasonal flora you’ll find 30 Tokyo buildings from the early Edo period through the postwar period that have been relocated and restored for display.
The lifestyles and businesses of each associated time period are reproduced inside of the buildings.

The National Astronomical Observatory of Japan is a central institution for astronomical research in Japan, focusing on the study of astronomy and the development of astronomical observation equipment. Part of its campus includes public tour routes, and regular events are also held for the general public.

Koganei Park is a vast park with an area of about 80 hectares. It boasts wide open lawns, groves, a cherry blossom garden, a children's square, and a steam locomotive exhibit. Part of the grove serves as a bird sanctuary (no entry allowed), making it a paradise for wild birds.