26 best things to do in Kichijoji: restaurants, cafés, shops and more

This izakaya bar offers a menu of fun and inventive dishes. We recommend the immensely addictive smoked egg and potato salad, which is served with corned beef and onion chips. Wash it down with the two drinks that share the same name as the bar, such as the Panda Beer or the Panda One Cup (sake) – they both feature cute drawings of the black-and-white bear on the labels.

If you want to make your yen go further, opt for the otsukare set (the name literally translates to ‘thank you for your hard work’): this combo offers you a choice of any drink plus a three-snack set that changes daily. 

This charming little café pours a mean cuppa with house-roasted beans, which can also be purchased at the shop. Go for the tasting set if you can’t decide – it features a flight of three different drip coffees. Other menu items include latte and Americano, made with a different espresso bean each day, as well as snacks like toast and puddings.

If you're looking to grab a drink on the go before heading to Inokashira Park, stop by this café for the real deal. The various tea and chai drinks are rich in aromas, with its 'boiled milk tea' prepared the traditional Indian way. Here, a cup of chai has two teapots' worth of tea leaves, giving the tea a full flavour. Pair your drink with cake, baked samosas or brioche french toast. If you have a sweet tooth, go for the ginger panna cotta or kulfi.

If well-designed homeware is what you’re after, make a beeline for this zakka lifestyle store. Cinq carries all sorts of tableware and kitchen gear, plus fashionable clothing such as socks and knitwear. It even has its own brand of merchandise that includes metal coffee and tea canisters, cloth aprons and umbrellas. With items sourced from around Europe and Japan, the shop is perfect for a spot of interior inspiration.

This minimalist outlet only stocks what it calls ‘welfare’ items, or products designed and made by people with disabilities. The items in store, sourced from all around Japan, each have their own charm. Browse through artisanal ceramics and jewellery, children’s toys, hand-woven belts, camera straps and more besides. Many of the products come with a description of their provenance and the artisans who created them.

Looking like an outlet store, the expansive Sippo will delight bargain hunters with its wide range of reasonably priced goods. The selection may seem random but everything is either made in Japan or features Japanese aesthetics. There’s homeware, fashion, jewellery, accessories, gourmet food items and even antique furnishings. Some of the best deals can be found just outside the entrance, where the shelves stock pre-loved tableware, crockery and pottery items with prices as low as ¥100.

Situated just off of the popular Nakamichi-dori shopping street, Markus is home to a fine array of Japanese objects of desire sourced from all across the country. The shop owner personally picks out everything in the shop and goes around the country to visit various craftspeople to learn about their unique products. You’ll see that items are categorised by area and artisan, with small descriptions accompanying each and every one.

This Kichijoji tea specialist has been a neighbourhood fixture since 1996, keeping locals well caffeinated with leaves and packaged tea from countries like India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and China. Sampling is allowed, and you're sure to have fun comparing the many seasonal varieties. If your Japanese is up to par, try prodding the staff for further details about the leaves' characteristics, brewing techniques and anything else you've always wanted to know about tea but never had the chance to ask.

Rows of colourful, wrapped-up shoes line the walls at this Kichijoji store that offers an exhaustive range of sneakers from the likes of Adidas, Puma, Nike, Admiral, Reebok and Onitsuka Tiger. It deals in everything from the latest models to 'dead stock' while also carrying limited-edition versions – enough to pique the interest of even the most discerning sneakerhead. The store’s Twitter timeline is a must-check, with daily updates on new arrivals. Skit mainly stocks products on a pair-by-pair basis, so if you see something you like in your size, best make a quick decision.

An import stationer in Kichijoji, Giovanni feels like a museum of treasures for those excited by 'aristocratic' sealing wax and replicas of medieval astronomy paraphernalia. The shop owner boasts an extensive collection of traditional European stationery – think feather pens, parchments and extremely official-looking seals – and some of the items are only available here (unless you head over to the Old World, of course). Really serious shoppers can try ordering a custom seal stamp.

Nico is just a few minutes from Kichijoji Station and sells on-trend yet eclectic secondhand clothing from Europe and the US for both men and women. It's perfect for late-night shopping, too, as it’s open till 11pm on weekdays. 

To give you an idea of what you’ll find in store, expect a colourful selection of plaid shirts and vintage college sweat tops, plus frilly blouses and graphic tees. There’s usually a few pairs of vintage Converse and Vans lying around as well.

This beautiful Kichijoji park has more than enough to occupy you for an afternoon, including a zoo, a pond with quirky rental boats, and playground facilities to keep the little ones happy. The south side is home to the Ghibli Museum – a must-visit for anime fans – and at weekends the park comes alive with street traders, musicians and artists. In late March and early April, the park fills with people enjoying hanami (cherry-blossom viewing).

Hayao Miyazaki’s studio has produced some of Japan’s most popular and complex animation classics, from 'My Neighbour Totoro' to 'Princess Mononoke' and 'Spirited Away'. If you want to learn more about the studio’s work, be warned that gaining access to this museum is quite tough. You need to purchase tickets in advance, then show up at the prescribed day and time with your ticket and some ID.

But once you're inside you'll be transported into another world. You can view original prints, play in rooms with painted ceilings and walls, and watch short animations in the cinema. The gift shop sells original animation cels, and there's even a Cat Bus that can be ridden by children and adults.

This charming cat café introduces you to a whole new level of cuteness. Located within the themed shopping and food ‘village’ Kichijouji Petit Mura, the facade looks like the castle of a magical cat­-kingdom straight from a book of fairy tales. A selection of 22 cats are on hand to be cuddled, and offer highly Instagrammable photo opportunities, especially at feeding time. When it comes to snacks, the smart money’s on the tasty parfaits garnished with cute cat­-shaped cookies.

For some relaxing-yet-edifying downtime, head to the trendy Uplink theatre in the basement of Parco Kichijoji for a range of documentaries, independent and art films. Spend some time exploring Uplink before your show, as the space also features an art gallery plus a gift shop with a range of film merchandise. The snacks here go beyond your standard popcorn and soda: settle in with craft beer and cola, house-made ginger ale, hot dogs, cookies and cakes. Check its website for the film schedule.

This small, charming Kichijoji workshop offers classes in making small leather goods and brass or silver jewellery to people of varying experience levels. There’s really no set formula here, and the friendly owner will help you craft anything you’re itching to make. If you’re just visiting, you can choose from the ready-made items or have the owner customise something for you on the spot. Cool brass bracelets perfect for stacking and layering are available, as well as a variety of rings, like one made from a brass nail.

All along the sakura-lined Meguro River, the shops, restaurants and cafés here reward exploration at any time of year

This west Tokyo neighbourhood is a hub for vintage fashion, vinyl records and independent cafés and restaurants