From Wikitravel
Setagaya (世田谷) is in western Tokyo, and is the largest of the city's 23
wards.
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
Inokashira 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.
Komazawa-Daigaku is on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi
train line and near Sangenjaya. Komazawa University is a few
minutes from the station.
Get around
By train
The main train lines serving Setagaya are the
Odakyu from Shinjuku to Odawara and the Keio
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.
- Carrot Tower (キャロットタワー). This is the tallest building in Setagaya and
contains a free observation deck on the 26th floor. edit
- Gotokuji Temple (豪徳寺), (take Odakya line to Gotokuji station or
Setagaya line to Miyanozaka station). The origin of the maneki-neko or
beckoning-cat statuettes that bring good fortune to Japanese
merchants the world over. edit
- Kinuta Koen (砧公園）). A
public park with a museum of modern art. edit
- Komazawa Olympic Koen, (about a 15-minute walk from
Komazawa-Daigaku station on the Tokyu Den-en-Toshi train
line). A large public park, built
for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. edit
- Setagaya Art Museum, (17-minute walk from Yoga Station on the
Den-en Toshi Line). Houses works
by artists from the Primitivist School, such as Henri
Rousseau. edit
- Tamagawa Daishi (玉川大師), (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). 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 absolute 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. edit
- Todoroki Keikoku, (take Tokyu Ooimachi line to Todoroki
station). A natural canyon nestled
in urban surroundings. With a small river and lush vegetation, it
offers a pleasant natural environment. edit
- Setagaya Koen, Ikejiri 1-5-27. A public park with a pool, tennis courts,
baseball grounds and so on. There is a mini steam train and a
retired full-size steam locomotive for children to play on.
edit
- 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. edit
- Okuraland, Sakura 3-24-1 (5 minutes from Kamimachi station of
Tokyu-Setagaya line), ☎ 03-3420-0271. Here you can go bowling or practice your golf
swing. There are also batting cages. edit
- Shimokitazawa. Has
many quirky shops. edit
- Ex.
Sells artistic designed stuff like photo
stands, postcards, clocks, accessories and so on. edit
- Yellow
Pop. Carries an eclectic and
well-stocked inventory of vinyl including punk, reggae, electronic,
and hip-hop. edit
- Setagaya Boro-Ichi (世田谷ボロ市),
(take the Setagaya line to Setagaya
or Kamimachi and follow the crowds). 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. edit
- Dept.
A good spot for used men's and women's
clothes. edit
- Haight & Ashbury, kitazawa2-37-2, ☎ 03-5453-4690,
[2]. Vintage clothes for girl. The
interior decorations are very cute. edit
Eat
Shimokitazawa is your best option for restaurants and bars.
- Buon
Sangue (世田谷区太子堂), 4-20-7 B1F, ☎ +81 03-3411-7776. Excellent italian traditional restaurant, with
several different type of pasta, meat, fish. Wood-oven made pizza
is available on the ground floor. edit
- BOTERO, Komazawa 1-17-17, ☎ +81 03-3410-5922. Regular holiday is Tuesday. edit
- Cheese Cake Factory, Yo-ga 4-28-18, ☎ +81 03-5716-5401. 10AM-8PM. Just what
it says: it's a cheese cake shop. edit
- Dining cafe Tsunami, 〒154-0012 Komazawa 1-3-1
(a few minutes from Komazawa
station), ☎ +81
03-3424-0273. 11:30AM-1PM lunch
only. Hawaiian food restaurant
near Komazawa Station. edit
- KURA,
at Yutenji, with
others at Gotanda, Shibuya, Nakameguro, and
Yotsuka-ichi-shi. This is
an Italian restaurant - pasta, risotto, pizza, etc. All menu items
are very inexpensive. edit
- La
Befana, 5-31-3 Daita (30 second walk from Shimokitazawa West
Exit), ☎ +81
03-3411-9500. Daily noon-2PM,
5:30PM-10:30PM. Good pizza from
wood-fired stone oven, something you will be missing if you are
staying for a long time in Japan. The lunch menu is
excellent. edit
- Mother, Daizawa 5-36-14 (3 min from Shimokitazawa South Exit, on the
corner just before Gyoza-no-Osho), ☎ +81
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. edit
- Patisserie NAOKI, Komazawa 1-4-12 1F, ☎ +81 03-3422-3167. edit
- Setagaya, Nozawa 2-1-2 1F, ☎ +81 03-3418-6938. 11AM-2:30PM and 6PM-3AM (closed Th). A famous ramen restaurant. edit
- Sunday Brunch, Kitazawa 2-29-2 2F, ☎ +81 03-5453-3366, [3]. The French toast is very tasty. edit
- Trocadero, Kitazawa 3-30-3 (North exit), ☎ +81
03-3476-1991. Trocadero is
an authentic French bistro. How authentic? The entire store was
brought over from France. edit
- 31
Ice Cream. Ice cream shop that has
many flavors. Discounts on the 31st of each month. edit
- Mois
Cafe, Kitazawa 2-21-26, ☎ +81 03-3421-1844, [4].
A seasonal menu, and very tasty.
edit
- Village Vanguard, Asagayakita 2-13-4, [5]. 11:30AM-2AM. Hamburger shop that has many kind of very
delicious hamburgers. ¥660.
edit
- Kura
Kura (蔵くら), 2-20-19 Kitazawa (One minute walk from Shimokitazawa station
south exit), ☎ +81
03-5433-2323, [6]. Tu-F 5PM-11:30PM, Sa-Su 4PM-11:30PM, closed M.
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. edit
- Ushi-Tora, 2-9-3 Kitazawa, ☎ +81 03-3485-9090, [7].
Daily 5PM-4AM. Seemingly in direct competition to Kura Kura,
Ushi-Tora also offers a wide selection of Japanese and U.S.
microbrews on tap. edit
- The B Sangenjaya, 2-17-9 Taishido (Two minute walk from Sangenjaya station
North Exit A on Tokyu Denen Toshi Line, two minute walk from
Sangenjaya station on Tokyu Setagaya Line), ☎ +81 03-3795-0505 (fax: +81 03-3419-0690), [8].
A business style hotel convenient to
transport. edit
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