Tokyo/Setagaya
From World travel guide
Setagaya (世田谷) is in western Tokyo, and is the largest of the city's 23 wards.
Contents |
Understand
Setagaya has a reputation as an upscale residential district, and features many areas of greenery. The funky shopping and nightlife area of Shimokitazawa (下北沢), popular with students and young adults, is also located in Setagaya. The Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋) shopping district is also in Setagaya.
Get in
Shimokitazawa is on the Odakyu and Keio Inogashira train lines, just a quick hop from Shinjuku and Shibuya respectively. Most of the action is around the South Exit.
Sangenjaya is on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi train line from Shibuya.
Get around
By train
The main train lines serving Setagaya are the Odakyu and Keio (originating in Shinjuku), and the Inokashira, Tokyu Toyoko, and Tokyu Denentoshi (all originating in Shibuya). Since all of these lines run generally westward from hubs on the Yamanote line, it can be somewhat difficult to travel north-south without going in to a hub and back out.
The Tokyu Setagaya line between Sangenjaya and Shimo-takaido is one of only two remaining streetcar lines in Tokyo.
See
- Carrot Tower (キャロットタワー). Located in Sangenjaya, this is the tallest building in Setagaya and contains a free observation deck on the 26th floor.
- Gotokuji temple (豪徳寺) is the origin of the maneki-neko or beckoning-cat statuettes that bring good fortune to Japanese merchants the world over. Gotokuji station is on the Setagaya line.
- Kinuta Koen (砧公園） is a public park with a museum of modern art.
- Komazawa Olympic Koen is a large public park, built for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It is about a 15-minute walk from Komazawa-Daigaku station, on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi train line.
- Setagaya Art Museum houses works by artists from the Primitivist School, such as Henri Rousseau. 17-minute walk from Yoga Station on the Den-en Toshi Line.
- Tamagawa Daishi (玉川大師) is a Buddhist temple, and a branch of Kawasaki Daishi. It isn't very large and the location is in a nondescript residential area, but its curious attraction is hidden: an underground passageway that snakes its way under the building. There are statues and altars with lighting at various points, but much of the tunnel is in absolutely darkness. It symbolizes a passage through the intestines of the Buddha (better not to dwell too much on the symbolism!) while the 88 Buddha statues in one of the chambers also symbolize the famous 88-temple pilgrimage in Shikoku. To get to Tamagawa Daishi, get off at Futako-Tamagawa on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi Line (from Shibuya), and walk 10 minutes along the highway from Takashimaya department store.
- Todoroki Keikoku is a natural canyon nestled in urban surroundings. With a small river and lush vegetation, it offers a pleasant natural environment. Todoroki station is on the Tokyu Ooimachi line.
Do
- Tollywood, Daizawa 5-32-5 2F (Three minutes from Shimokitazawa south exit), 03-3414-0433, [1]. This small theater (46 seats) specializes in independent short films, mostly Japanese. The films aren't dubbed or subtitled of course, but they're so offbeat and often bizarre that you're sure to have a good time anyway.
Buy
- Shimokitazawa has many quirky shops.
- Lush, this shop was originally a British handmade cosmetics shop. You can get good smelling handmade soaps, shampoos, bath bombs and cleansing paste. Open 11:00 AM - 8:00 PM. Phone 03-5452-2216
- Ex, this shop sells artistic designed stuff like photo stands, postcards, clocks, accessories and so on.
- The Setagaya Boro-Ichi (世田谷ボロ市) is a flea market that's held on the 15th and 16th of December and January each year. It's been drawing shoppers from all over Tokyo since it started in 1578. The main attraction is used clothing (such as kimonos) and antiques. Take the Setagaya line to Setagaya or Kamimachi and follow the crowds.
- Dept is a good spot for used men's and women's clothes.
Eat
Shimokitazawa is your best option for restaurants and bars.
- Trocadero [2] Kitazawa 3-30-3 (North exit). 03-3476-1991. Trocadero is an authentic French bistro. How authentic? The entire store was brought over from France.
- Sunday Brunch [3] Kitazawa 2-29-2 2F. 03-5453-3366. Sunday Brunch is a cafe. Their French toast is very tasty.
- Mother Daizawa 5-36-14 (3 min from South exit, on the corner just before Gyoza-no-Osho). 03-3421-9519. Multi-ethnic food and an interesting selection of imported beers, in a cave-like, Gaudi-inspired setting. Make sure you have time to kill, as the kitchen works at a rather leisurely pace.
- La Befana 5-31-3 Daita, Setagaya-ku. Tel: 03-3411-9500. Open: 12-2pm, 5:30-10:30pm daily. (30 seconds walk from West Exit) Good pizza from wood-fired stone oven, something you will be missing if you are staying long-time in Japan. The lunch menu (available 11:30-13:30) is excellent.
Drink
- Kura Kura (蔵くら) [4] 2-20-19 Kitazawa (One minute walk from Shimokitazawa station south exit). 03-5433-2323. Tue-Fri 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM; Sat Sun 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM; closed Mon. Kura Kura has an excellent selection of beers from Japanese microbreweries served on tap, such as Swan Lake in Niigata and Sanktgallen in Kanagawa. They also have a wide selection of bottled beers, such as offerings from Baird Brewing Company in Shizuoka and Fuji Sakura Kogen in Yamanashi. Some food is also served—try the sausage and beer sampler set for ¥1000.
Contact
External links
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