Fuchu City Tourism Information Center
This tourist information center is close to Okunitama-jinja Shrine. A staff member is always there who is knowledgeable about tourist sites in Fuchu City to answer questions. The service is only in Japanese but sightseeing maps in English are there. Stop by before you explore Fuchu.
It's right next to Okunitama-jinja Shrine, and there are plenty of free tourist brochures you can pick up. There's also a cute mascot that seems to represent Fuchu City. ☺️
Okunitama-jinja Shrine
Okunitama Shrine, with a history stretching back about 1900 years, is where Okunitama-no-Okami, the deity protecting the Musashino area, is enshrined. Musashino was a vast area including modern-day Tokyo, Saitama, and parts of Kanagawa. Inside the shrine grounds are several smaller shrines, each one granting its own blessing. Among those, the shrine blessing love and marriage is especially well-known.
There was a festival going on when I visited, and the atmosphere was super lively.
Compared to Meiji Jingu, Okunitama-jinja feels more local because of its location, so you see a lot more people from the area.
Everyone was really sincere in their prayers, which made it feel warm and welcoming.
Jagarico
This popular potato snack has a crispy texture.The stick-shaped snack is packaged in a cup, making it easy to carry around.They come in salad, cheese, buttered potato, and tarako butter flavors. Their most popular flavor, salad, includes carrot and parsley.Limited-time and special regional flavors are also available.
Tasty and fills you up.
A must-have for the Shinkansen! 😋
Mito Castle
The ruins sit on a plain 90m above the ground. The castle was inhabited by the Mito Nanbu Clan from the late Muromachi period to the early Edo period. In the Edo period, the Morioka became the main residence in this heavily fortified castle, which explains the time period.
Being surrounded by so many cherry blossoms here just makes you feel happy 🌸
Mt. Yoshino
Mt. Yoshino is acclaimed as the best spot to see cherry blossoms in all of Japan. In the spring, the entire mountain is washed with flowering trees as they bloom from the Shimosenbon (the lower 1,000 trees) at the foothills up to the Okusembon (the inner 1,000 trees).
Really hoping to catch the cherry blossom season here 🌸. It must be absolutely breathtaking! 🎊
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Observation Deck
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, located in Shinjuku, is Tokyo’s centralized administration complex, comprised of three buildings: the First Main Office Building, the Second Main Office Building, and the Metropolitan Assembly Building. The First Main Office Building is home to a 45th floor Observation Deck, which is accessible by dedicated elevator on the 1st floor. In just 55 seconds the dedicated elevator will whisk you into the skies, to a height of 202 meters above ground and the sprawling view of Tokyo below.
Highly recommend going at night! It's insanely cool!!!
Ikuta Ryokuchi Park
Located in a corner of the Tama Hills, Ikuta Ryokuchi is the most representative greenery park in the suburbs of Tokyo. Within the park grounds covers a wide range of areas of woods centered by the perfectly kept sawtooth oak and quercus acuta (the Japanese evergreen oak), and precious natural resources such as wetlands and bubbling springs.
This is a really nice place, perfect for bringing kids along!
Yakiago Shio Ramen Takahashi, Shinjuku Main Store
An elegant Japanese-style ramen restaurant. The soup combines a broth made from domestic pork bones and chicken carcass, with the main ingredient being "Yakiago" - flying fish dried and grilled. Multiple types of seafood broth are layered in the mix. For the salt seasoning, "Yakiago" prepared using Takahashi's unique method is used, combining broth extracted at two different temperatures with salt from Okinawa. The refined and delicious flavor of the premium ingredient "Yakiago" is a highlight.
Three words: Absolutely fantastic!
Kabukicho
Kabukicho is the entertainment district that sits just steps from the east exit of Shinjuku Station. It’s a major hub for izakaya pubs, amusement centers and nightlife spots to enjoy after hours. With neon signs lit up through the entire night, it’s earned the nickname of “the city that never sleeps”.
This was taken during the pandemic. There were hardly any people around—it was almost sad to see. 😯
Shinjuku i-LAND
Located in the skyscraper district of Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku i-LAND is an area ripe with urban functionality, including offices, shops, residential areas, schools, and plazas, all centered around the 44-story skyscraper “Shinjuku i-LAND Tower.”
The LOVE sculpture wasn't as impressive as I expected, and there weren't many people around. But there are quite a few restaurants and shops, including Ippudo!