Kichijoji and Koenji are two quaint little Western-Tokyo suburbs just 10 minutes apart from each other by train. Spend the afternoon wondering through their little alleyways, sipping your vending machine hot green tea as you go along (and a sneaky Pocky or two!), and enjoy discovering charming little shops tucked deep within each little lane. Koenji is great for second hand and vintage clothing stores, live music venues and thrift stores, and Kichijoji is a homewares + zakka-lovers haven. Miyazaki fans will not want to miss the Studio Ghibli museum tucked in the west garden of Inokashira Park in Kichijoji. Both suburbs are packed with kawaii cafes and cheap and cheerful restaurant options so it's super easy to make a day (and night) out of it.
All images above: Hattifnatt Cafe
HATTIFNATT CAFE
2-18-10 Koenji kita, Suginami-ku
Duck as you enter through the teeny tiny kids size door into this tree-house-themed cafe in Koenji. Hattifnatt cafe is sure to bring out your inner child with it's hand painted forest wall murals and loft style tree house dining area. Adorable too, are the hand crocheted stool covers and blanket stitched fabric menu. My advice? Try the Avocado Taco Rice.
TOO TICKI
2-18-11 Koenji kita, Suginami-ku
Next door to Hattifnatt cafe, and ran by the same clever team, is a sweet little craft shop called Too Ticki. Here you can pick up treasures such as patchwork pencil cases, hand carved stamps, button hair clips and hand printed cards handmade from all around the world. Shop layout...think cubby holes!
IL CAFE
2-8-2-3F Honcho, Musashino-shi, Kichijoji
An afternoon Baileys coffee at Il Cafe? Onegaishimasu~! Also pop on down to the 2F for a peek in the mini zakka shop and sister cafe Il Cappetit. You will love their very Japanese hand-illustrated menu and menu board!
Also worth visiting: Karel Capek Teatime Shop, Cafe Apartment (a cute cafe based on a 1DK Japanese apartment) and Wickie homewares + zakka shop. More information about these will be in the Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide which will be launched at the MCA Zine Fair this May!
Thank you so much for your interest in the Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide everyone! I can't wait to show you!
Love Love
Hello Sandwich
xxx
oooh, how exciting! good 4 u...I can't wait for the zine fair!!!
ReplyDeleteSeriously cute! I want to be there now!! I CAN'T WAIT for your guide to come out! xxx
ReplyDeleteanother must go to when in Japan! thaks so much all your sharing and beautiful posts and great tips, so helpful for my trip to Japan later this year.Can't wait for the Tokyo Guide!
ReplyDeleteDA! wow, just like how you described...can't wait to see your zino!
ReplyDeleteI also can't wait for the Tokyo Guide! I hope it will be available internationally. :)
ReplyDeleteI love those forest murals!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, WOW! It's just getting better, Ebony-chan!
ReplyDeleteI love those Tokyo posts,the places are so nice.. I'll definitely visit both suburbs next time ! Omg your zine will be available in May, it's so long to wait!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT!!
ReplyDeletethose shops look too precious.
i dont know about that cafe with the animal art all over...i would feel uncomfortable in there. hahahah!
Hi Ebony, gorgeous post, I can't wait for your guide! Allison xx
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures. Makes me want to sit down and eat for hours.
ReplyDeleteoh waou!!! i love your photos of tokyo!! this is just great! im so jealous! i can't wait to go back!
ReplyDeleteweLL done!!!!
OMG the first place is completely AWESOME!!!!
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm so behind in going over my blogroll, but these are awesome (again)! I think I saw that cafe somewhere being introduced as the cafe where all the mori girls love to hung out! There you go! ;)
ReplyDeleteSweet blog... I want to come back in Japan, I am an addict...
ReplyDeleteIf i have known your blog earlier in last july for exemple, would have been ever better !
yay - so great to see little bits of kichijoji:) i love the idea of the 1LDK, i had a post about that saved up from ages ago - such a great concept! Your guide is going to be such a great, great resource for seeing another japan (not just the one in all the guide books and little snippets). i know i have said it before, but seriously, can't wait!
ReplyDeleteOh my! I wish I was visiting all these sweet shops right this second!!
ReplyDeleteoh my god, these pictures just made me want to go to japan even more. i can't wait to read about your guide. thanks a lot for posting these photos!
ReplyDeleteamazing wall paintings!!!!
ReplyDeleteLovely Blog :) :) :) I wanna go to Japan! Food looks great.
ReplyDeleteI love the cafe with that painted wall. cute <3<3
ReplyDeleteahh i love japan! only just discovered shimokitazawa on my third visit and by the look oƒ this post there is still so much leƒt to see! I cant wait to go to Koenji. wonderƒul post! :)
ReplyDelete