🍃 Kichijoji | ☺️ The Incomplete Guide to a Happy CityWalk 🦢

☀️ Before arriving, I couldn't understand why Kichijoji, tucked away in the eastern corner, consistently tops the list of Japanese' most desired neighborhoods to live in. It wasn't until I, a stranger, experienced the long-lost "happiness of community." The swan pedal boats glistening in the sunlight, people jogging, walking dogs, and strolling with children, the closely packed shops, the aroma of coffee mixed with beer, and the long lines for the original beef patties... This is not the typical Tokyo, but a blissfully enviable one. 🦢 A leisurely day begins with daydreaming. On the south side of the station is Inokashira Park, connected to the Ghibli Museum. The park is vast, and the swan pedal boats on Inokashira Pond are famous for their elegance; ☕️ Blue Sky Coffee offers delicious coffee and adorable 🐱 cat-shaped pancakes. The park also features a zoo, a nature center, Daishoji Temple, and other attractions. Western-style restaurants start to queue up at noon, and on weekends, there are street performances and stalls. The cherry blossom 🌸 season in April is not to be missed, with pink blossoms and white swans. 🛍️ Commerce in Kichijoji is thriving, with PARCO, OIOI, Tokyu Hands, and more, meeting general shopping needs. Because it's away from tourists, the sizes are more complete. There are many second-hand and variety stores, and handmade shops are mainly on the northwest side of the station, each worth a visit. 🐱 The 7-story Uniqlo offers Kichijoji limited edition T-shirts/hoodies/canvas bags that can be customized on-site. You can create your own design with materials, and in 10 minutes, you'll have your own Uniqlo. And Kichijoji's element is 🐱, a must for cat lovers. 🎿 There are many outdoor stores, with chains like Oshman's, L-Breath, and others having branches. You can find Arc'teryx's Gamma, Beta jackets, and Atom, and Patagonia has a lot of stock. Not far from the park, there's a large L.L.Bean flagship store. ❗️ Recommend The North Face store for a more complete selection of on running shoes, Purple Label North Face, and the new brand neuturalworks. As always, the shopping experience is better than in the city center. ☕️ For coffee, consider Yataganiko near the park and LIGHT UP COFFEE next to Kichijoji West Park. Enjoy coffee while watching Japanese baseball youths. 🍽️ There are so many delicious foods in Kichijoji 😋. Satou's original beef patties are a must-try, a large one, where onions neutralize the greasiness of the beef and add texture; for a full meal, there's the hard-to-reserve Banniku and rice, remember to get a reservation card if you want to eat there, I didn't get to eat there today. Highly recommend the DRA I had for lunch, the Japanese really love their Western cuisine. There are many pizza places and Japanese diners here, also with lines of people. Strolling around the neighborhood, happy shops and happy customers, without the hustle and bustle of downtown Tokyo, it's a feeling of happiness. #Kichijoji #citywalk #Arcteryx #Tokyo #JapanTravel #TokyoShopping #Coffee #TokyoTravel