Kichijōji (吉祥寺) is a neighborhood in the city of Musashino in Tokyo, Japan. It is centered on the commercial area to the north of its train station and has a youthful, artistic, slightly countercultural reputation. Kichijōji Station is served by the Chūō Line, Sobu Line, Tozai Line and is also a terminus of the Keiō Inokashira Line, which takes passengers as far as Shibuya.
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The neighborhood is dominated by a shopping district centered on a covered street, Sun Road, which extends from Kichijōji Station to the north. This well organized and clean area includes many amenities, shops, entertainment and restaurants.
Half way up this shopping street there is the Buddhist temple Gessōji (月窓寺), with graveyard, and at the northern end of it are Shinto shrines, the latter holding the occasional festival, with amusements such as fishing for gold fish, sweet food stalls, and typical dishes.
On the north, east, and south sides of the station is a large nightlife area with many restaurants, bars, izakaya, and "live" houses. On the north-east side of the station lies a red-light district on the Chūō Line between Tachikawa and Shinjuku, containing numerous cabarets, hostess bars, and love hotels. Groups of young adults congregate in the restaurants and bars around this area and on the streets outside the station on most evenings of the week.
The anime and manga company Coamix has its headquarters in Kichijōji.[1]
Inokashira Park, the source of the Kanda River (神田川), is located south of Kichijōji Station, and is a favorite spot for springtime hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing. Public-opinion surveys consistently designate Kichijōji one of Tokyo's most desirable residential neighborhoods. It features a petting zoo and the Ghibli Museum.
Seikei University (成蹊大学) is a private university in the northwestern area of the district. It is part of a wider educational institute—an escalator school—which teaches from elementary school right through to university level, and is situated amongst rows of large trees in that area of Kichijōji.
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