From Wikitravel

Suginami (杉並) is in Tokyo, west of Shinjuku.

[edit] 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).

[edit] Get in

The JR Chuo Line and the Metro Marunouchi Line both connect Shinjuku to Kōenji and 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 10-minute drive, 45-minute walk or 1600 yen taxi from Shinjuku Station.

[edit][add listing] See

[edit][add listing] 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.

• The Tokyo Kōenji Awa Odori (阿波おどり) 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 thr prehistoric and historic times.

[edit][add listing] 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 of a map showing where to go.

[edit][add listing] 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’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.

• Taishō (大将) is a popular open-air yakitori restaurant right across from Kōenji 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.

[edit][add listing] Drink

• B-Glad is 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.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Contact

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