| If you are staying in Tokyo, it can be nice to get out of | | | | have to get yourself to the south side of the station, |
| the city centre and experience some of the nearby | | | | across the main road and follow one of the side |
| suburbs. Kichijoji lies out to the west of Tokyo, about | | | | streets still heading south. Inokashira Park is really |
| 20 minutes by subway, and is a lovely area to visit, | | | | beautiful all year round and is a lovely place just to sit |
| with its narrow side streets crammed with boutiques, | | | | and relax or eat your bento lunch. There are a few |
| galleries and cafés. It has a charming 'small town' | | | | fun things to do there like hiring a boat on the lake or |
| feel and pleasant atmosphere. | | | | visiting the zoo. There is also a beautiful temple which |
| You can reach Kichijoji by taking the JR Chuo Line or | | | | you can go and look at but are, understandably, |
| Sobu Line from Shinjuku station and the Inokashira Line | | | | discouraged from entering unless you know what |
| from Shibuya. Kichijoji station is very large and can be | | | | you're doing (by which I mean that you should not |
| confusing as it has many exits and seems to merge | | | | enter the main temple building but you are free to |
| into the Lonlon department store (where, incidentally, it | | | | wander around the grounds). |
| is possible to find a very fine cup of English tea with | | | | You can also experience some culinary specialities |
| milk). | | | | while in Kichijoji. I am informed that this is one of the |
| Leaving the station by one of the north exits, you will | | | | best places to buy yakitori chicken sticks which you |
| find yourself on a busy main road. Cross over this | | | | can smell cooking in the small cafés near the park |
| road and you will think you've walked into just another | | | | and we tried local speciality menchi-katsu from a stall |
| undercover shopping arcade. However, venture a little | | | | on the north side. Both were delicious and well worth |
| further and you will discover a maze of narrow | | | | the queuing. |
| streets full of small shops and galleries. Here you will | | | | If you are interested in crafts, sewing or homewares, |
| find fashions, stylish home accessories, tableware and | | | | just to the south of the station, with its own exit inside |
| groceries. There are lovely cafés and restaurants, | | | | the station, you will find the Yuzawaya store. This is a |
| too, some of which have adopted a French theme | | | | wonderful shop which, over seven or eight floors, |
| and serve things like cinnamon toast and delicate | | | | contains everything you could need for sewing and |
| sandwiches. | | | | craft projects including gorgeous fabrics, all kinds of |
| If you haven't had your fill from central Tokyo, there | | | | wool and yarns, beads, buttons and many other |
| are also large department stores such as Loft and | | | | sundries and accessories. There is also a large range |
| Parco and, to the south, Muji and Marui (OIOI) City. | | | | of homewares such as cooking utensils and crockery, |
| When you're done with shopping, you can make your | | | | stationery, bicycles and toys. |
| way to the Inokashira Park. To find the park, you'll | | | | |