Born from the student movements of the 1960s and ground zero of Tokyo punk around 1980, Koenji is a web of covered shopping streets (Pal, Look, Junjo, Nakadori), vintage shops, cheap izakaya under the JR tracks and live houses such as 20000 Den-Atsu. It is smaller and a little older in spirit than Shimokitazawa.
- Address
- Around Koenji station (Pal, Look, Junjo and Nakadori shopping streets), Suginami-ku, Tokyo
- Hours
- Shops daytime; izakaya and live houses at night
- Best time to go
- Afternoon, Evening · About 3 h
- Price
- Free to wander
- Price level
- JPY
Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.
Good to know
- Drink in the izakaya under the JR line near the station, as residents recommend (Tokyo Cheapo).
- Late August brings the Koenji Awa Odori, Japan's second-largest Awa Odori.
- Vintage shops are busiest on weekends.