atré Kichijoji — Attraction in Tokyo

Walking through this mall feels like wandering into a temple of middle-class aspiration: sleek, curated & just the right mix of practical & indulgent. You’ve got your daily staples (groceries, clothing, accessories), but then boom...you stumble across a L’Occitane & suddenly you’re rationalizing why a $40 hand cream is “self-care” & not financial sabotage.

The layout is classic Tokyo retail: compact but efficient, vertical rather than sprawling, with just enough polish to make you feel like you’re in on a secret that everyone already knows. It’s not the chaotic consumer assault of Shibuya or Shinjuku...No, this is Kichijoji, after all. The vibe is more relaxed, more local, more we live here, not just pass through.

What I loved: the variety of shops keeps you engaged without being overwhelming. You can pick up a pastry, wander into a bookstore & grab a French luxury brand moisturizer within the same five-minute orbit. It’s the kind of place where “just browsing” somehow translates into walking out with a bag.

atré Kichijoji isn’t going to blow your mind, but it nails something rarer...it makes shopping feel civilized. You leave lighter in the wallet but oddly happier, which is basically the definition of...

Absolutely loved this shopping centre in Kichijoji during an extended stay. It was my local for food shopping and especially the wonderful must visit sushi restaurant in the lower floor.

Always oversubscribed but has a very efficient automatic booking system. Sushi prepared freshly in front of you by several sushi chefs. The complimentary egg appetiser was Oishi! A hot egg custard with a touch of mushroom, prawn, a tiny bit of edamame bean & sliver of chives served in a tiny cup. The Mango sorbet is the softest, most delicate and flavoursome sorbet I have tasted on earth.

However, all food ordered have to be consumed in-house, no doggie bags allowed! No eyes bigger than your belly unless you are prepared to leave it.

Atre is also close enough to the famed delicious Steak House Satou where the queues for the meatballs are long but worth it. A must to visit!

This shopping centre holds the finest Kichijoji offers, in terms of souvenir food gifts, patisserie, boutiques, cafes, even a Gong Cha (a bubble tea outlet), a Cinnabon (an unforgettable aroma wafting through the air of some NY air terminal) and...

I particularly like this Atre. It's quite narrow, but some areas are surprisingly spacious. It has a couple sections (it's best to ask the conceriage and take a map!) and I think it's fun to look around especially on a rainy day. It has everything, a grocery store with a butcher and fish market, glasses/photo stores, lingerie stores, a pharmacy, cafes, restaurants, a bookstore, an imported foods store, an organic food shop, and (of course) Starbucks. Not wheelchair friendly! There is a ramp and an elevator somewhere, but for baby strollers and wheelchairs, people will give you...