成蹊大学の周り

　今年、私は成蹊大学で留学することになっていたのですが、コロナウイルスのために残念ながら行けませんでした。しかし、日本に行かないのに、オンラインで成蹊大学の周りのことを詳しく調べました。それから、便利な情報を教えたいんです。

　成蹊大学は東京都武蔵野市の吉祥寺にあります。吉祥寺は東京都の真ん中になくても、面白い活動が多く、とても人気のある場所と言われています。それに、多くの調査によると、東京の人々に最も住みたい場所はどこかと聞くと、ほとんどの場合、吉祥寺が最も一般的な答えです。それから、吉祥寺についてのことを説明したいと思います。

The university I was going to be doing my Year Abroad with was Seikei University in Tokyo, but even though I have been unable to go to Japan I have thoroughly researched the area surrounding the university and I wish to relay what I have learnt to any students planning on studying at Seikei or simply visiting the area. In this blog I will not only write about travelling to and from the area, but also the activities you can do, including shopping and restaurants.

Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/31029865@N06/8073862544

Seikei University is located in the Kichijōji area of Musashino City, located to the west of central Tokyo. Even though it isn’t within the very centre of Tokyo, it is frequently voted to most desirable place to live in Tokyo, its proximity to Shinjuku and Shibuya, as well as the large amount of green space making it a very popular neighbourhood. Kichijōji is probably most well-known for the beautiful Inokashira Park and its accompanying zoo, and its diverse shopping opportunities. Seikei University itself is located to the north of both the park and Kichijōji Station, but is approximately a 10-minute walk away, a walk that involves passing through the shopping district, making its location ideal.

旅行 Travel

　まず、旅行のことを教えます。留学したばかりのとき、空港に着いてから、成蹊大学の学生寮に行くのは難しくないと思います。羽田空港に着いたら、吉祥寺駅まで電車で1時間20分、バスで少し長くかかります。成田空港なら、バスか電車で約1時間55分かかります。吉祥寺駅に行くのは、JR総武線と中央線、または慶應井の頭線で電車に乗ることができます。吉祥寺駅は地方の主な駅なのに、寮に一番近いのは井の頭公園駅です。

Image credit: https://www.seikei.ac.jp/university/eng/aboutus/access_campus.html

The details of the journey to Kichijōji are particularly useful for students upon their initial arrival in Japan, this journey, particularly from Haneda Airport can be relatively quick and simple. When arriving at Haneda Airport, the choice of travelling by train might be the most appealing in first experiencing Tokyo, the approximately 80-minute journey involves changing trains twice, likely at Shinagawa Station and then Shinjuku Station. However, if you want to travel direct then the bus might be more appealing: the Haneda-Airport Limousine Bus offering a 45-minute journey without changes. The journey from Narita Airport on the other hand is more complicated, particularly due to the airport being to the east of the city, with Kichijōji being in the west. Though the journey takes slightly longer than alternatives, my recommended route in terms of balancing speed and cost would be the Limousine Bus to Tokyo Station, followed by a Chuo Line train to Kichijōji Station.

吉祥寺駅　Kichijōji Station

Image credit; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kichijoji_Station_Ngate_201409.jpg

文化活動 Cultural Activities

　吉祥寺に色々な文化活動があります。学生寮から大学まで歩いていくと、吉祥寺駅の隣の井の頭公園が必ず見られます。東京にいるのに、美しい森林地と大きな湖をしている井の頭公園はとても自然な感じがします。その上、湖でボートを漕げます。湖の他に、吉祥寺は井の頭自然文化園で知られています。サルマンやペンギンなどの可愛い動物がいるし、大人のチケットは一枚４００円だし、時間があれば行ってみた方がいいと思います。

Image Credit: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fnakashi%2F47554689541%2F&psig=AOvVaw32ai-u8kT9TCuqA4NswvXI&ust=1622463341366000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CA0QjhxqFwoTCMCAhpCx8fACFQAAAAAdAAAAABAW

If you are interested in fun activities to do in Kichijōji or in engaging in Japanese culture, there are many options to choose from in close proximity to Seikei University, the International Student dormitory, and Kichijōji Station. With Kichijōji Station located to the north-east, and the dormitory to the south, Inokashira Park’s beautiful woodland, natural scenery and lake is a lovely place to relax in the summer, watch the cherry blossoms in spring, or go boating on the lake. If Inokashira Park Zoo, with its many exotic animals and 400-yen ticket cost doesn’t appeal to you, then fans of Japanese animation should visit the Studio Ghibli museum located nearby might. However, tickets are needed to be bought significantly in advance, which is something to consider when visiting. For a more traditional look at Japan, why not go to the Musashino Hachimangu Shrine to the north of the train station and see one of the oldest historical spots in the area.

Image Credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:天皇陛下御在位30年記念_(47194108291).jpg

買い物 Shopping

　大学の辺には、たくさんの種類の店があるので、買い物が好きでも嫌いでも、行きたい店を見つけることができます。例えば、ファッションが好きなら、コピス吉祥寺に行ったらどうですか。かっこいい洋服だけでなく、ポケットモンスターやハロー・キティなどのことも売られています。サンロード商店街に行けば、食料品店と100円ショップがあるので、お金をたくさん使う必要がありません。よく知られている店を訪れたかったら、吉祥寺中道通りには、ユニクロがあります。伝統的な店も現代的な店もあるので、成蹊大学の辺にいれば、つまらなくなりませんよ。

Sun Road Shopping Street

Image Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelvito/14468621062/

As Kichijōji is renowned as a shopping district, whether you want to buy current fashion from popular brands such as Uniqlo, or visit a small quirky shop to buy souvenirs, you can find everything you want here. From Coppice Kichijoji, where you can buy things such as Hello Kitty merchandise, to the more traditional Daiya Shopping Arcade, you will never run out of new places to visit in the area, though the ease of travel to Shibuya and Shinjuku offers even further opportunities. However, it would be wrong to say that the abundance of shops makes all of Kichijōji feel touristy or crowded, as the concentration of the shopping districts to the north of the station gives other areas a more peaceful feeling, whilst its proximity to Seikei University makes the location ideal for exchange students.

レストラン Restaurants

　日本の飲食をしてみたいなら、吉祥寺には、居酒屋とレストランが多いです。例えば、ハーモニカ横丁路地には、伝統的な居酒屋がたくさん詰まっています。そこで、日本人のように焼き鳥を食べたり、ビールを飲んだりできます。一方で、吉祥寺の喫茶店とレストランはよく混んでいるので、人気のある場所で食べるつもりだったら、予約しておいたほうがいいと思います。それに、私のお勧めは「てまりのおうち」というカフェです。このカフェで猫と遊ぶし、子供向けの本みたいなテーマがあるし、機会があれば訪れなければいけないと思います。

Harmonica Yokocho Alley /ハーモニカ横丁路地

Image credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/kanon_7/24884478172/

When it comes to finding places to eat or drink in Kichijōji, whether at a café during a break from classes, or going out with friends, you can find all kinds of food and bars here. If you venture down Harmonica Yokocho Alley, you can a variety of Izakaya bars where you can enjoy Kichijōji’s nightlife and try Japanese beer or traditional Yakitori. There are also many interesting café’s such as ‘Temari no Ouchi’ where you can play with cats whilst sitting in a story-book themed setting, or even a café where you drink whilst sat in hammocks. Visiting any of these places should be an amazing experience, though the popularity of many of Kichijōji’s restaurants might require you to make a reservation in advance.

　それで、成蹊大学の周りの楽しい活動を詳しく説明したと思います。留学生か観光者として吉祥寺に行く時、なるべくこのブログを使ってください。

Whether you go to Kichijōji as a tourist, or to study at Seikei University, I hope that I have given you a guide to use to see and experience everything that the area has to offer and to take full advantage of your trip.