The Tokyo Metropolis is composed of numerous cities, districts, and municipalities, so much so that some of these places have gone ignored by many foreign travelers. Paying one of these supposedly unheard-of areas can either make or break one’s trip to Japan.
As such, it is always a good idea to plan ahead before going on an impromptu hunt for Tokyo’s hidden gems. For those interested in trying out this unique approach to exploring Japan, a trip to Kokubunji, a small city located in the Western part of Tokyo, is a great place to start.
Overview & Brief History of Kokubunji City, Japan
The city of Kokubunji only covers a total area of 11.46 sq. km. or 4.42 sq. mi. As of February 2016, the city has an estimated total population of 122,800.
It makes up a small part of Western Tokyo’s Musashino Terrace and is surrounded by the following municipalities: Koganei, Kodaira, Tachikawa, Kunitachi, and Fuchu.
According to historical records, the city now known as Kokubunji used to be a part of a province called Musashi back in ancient times. It used to serve as the home of the Musashi Provincial Temple during the Nara Period.
After the Meiji Restoration, particularly in the year 1878, the region was merged with the district of Kitatama of the Kanagawa Prefecture. It was only during the year 1889 that Kokubunji was first recognized as a separate area and was given a village status.
On April 1, 1893, the administrative control of the Kitatama District was given to the Tokyo Metropolis. Subsequently, the village status of Kokubunji was later elevated to that of a town in the year 1940. It was then given recognition as a city on the 3rd day of November of the year 1964.
At present, Kokubunji is known to be the headquarters of the Hitachi Central Research Laboratory and, thus, houses one of Tokyo’s largest nature preserves. Other notable companies that have made the city of Kokubunji their home include the Japan Railways Company’s technical research team, the Railway Technical Research Institute.
Kokubunji also houses several elementary schools, middle schools, and a high school, all of which are public schools. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Board of Education is in charge of the operations of the majority of these schools.
As for private educational institutes, the city of Kokubunji also houses one private school operated by the Waseda University and a branch campus of the Tokyo Keizai University.
Weather & Climate of Kokubunji City, Japan
The weather and climate of Kokubunji City is pretty much the same with the rest of Tokyo, in the sense that it is relatively warm and temperate.
August serves as its hottest month, with temperatures reaching up to 26.7 degrees Celsius. Temperatures drop as low as 4 degrees Celsius during January, which makes it the city’s coldest month. Interestingly, January also serves as Kokubunji City’s sunniest month with a recorded average of 6.7 hours of sunshine per day.
As for when the city experiences the wettest and driest climates, the months of September and January mark these periods having recorded averages of 197 mm and 38 mm of precipitation/rainfall, respectively.
Those planning to visit the city of Kokubunji may also want to consider the following data, which are based on weather report records of previous years:
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Month of January - the average temperatures for January range from -1.3 to 9.3 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 38 mm
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Month of February- the average temperatures for February range from -0.6 to 9.6 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 49 mm
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Month of March- the average temperatures for March range from 2.4 to 12.7 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 84 mm
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Month of April - the average temperatures for April range from 8.4 to 18.5 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 107 mm
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Month of May - the average temperatures for May range from 13.1 to 22.9 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 135 mm
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Month of June - the average temperatures for June range from 17.6 to 25.3 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 190 mm
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Month of July - the average temperatures for July range from 21.3 to 28.7 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 148 mm
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Month of August - the average temperatures for August range from 22.7 to 30.7 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 184 mm
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Month of September - the average temperatures for September range from 18.8 to 26.1 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 197 mm
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Month of October - the average temperatures for October range from 12.3 to 20.8 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 159 mm
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Month of November - the average temperatures for November range from 6.4 to 16.2 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 72 mm
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Month of December - the average temperatures for December range from 1.1 to 11.7 degrees Celsius, while the average amount of precipitation/rainfall is recorded at 41 mm
Things to Do in Kokubunji City, Japan – Kokubunji Temple, Musashi Kokubunji Park, Etc.
Since the city of Kokubunji is relatively small compared to Tokyo’s other more popular tourist destinations, there are only a handful of things to see and do within the area. Nonetheless, what the city of Kokubunji lacks in quantity, it makes up for in terms of quality.
The must-visit places that tourists should take note of when taking a trip to the city of Kokubunji include:
Kokubun-ji (Provincial Temple)
Kokubun-ji refers to several Buddhist temples that were established in the different provinces of Japan, as per the order of Emperor Shomu during the Nara Period. These temples were meant to be exclusively used by monks. Each province also had a kokubunni-ji, which, in contrast, were meant for nuns.
Back in ancient times, the Todai-ji Temple of the province of Yamato served as the head temple for all of Japan’s kokubun-ji, while the Hokke-ji served as the head temple for the kokubunni-ji.
At present, the provincial temple of the then Musashi Province remains standing in the city of Kokubunji and is aptly referred to as the Musashi Kokubunji Temple.
Tonogayato Garden
The Tonogayato Garden, or better known as the Tonogayato Teien by the locals, is an impressive traditional Japanese garden that spans over an estimated total area of 21,100 sq. m. It is named after the former name of the region, i.e. the Kokubunji Village’s Tonogayato.
According to historical records, the Tonogayato Garden was developed from 1913 to 1915 as part of a villa that was being built for the Manchurian Railway’s vice president, Eguchi Teijo. Come 1929, the area was bought by Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of Mitsubishi, who then proceeded to complete the garden by arranging it in a circular style and adding a tea house.
The villa served the family of Iwasaki Yataro for a significant amount of time until plans to redevelop the area for other purposes resulted in the local residents starting a campaign to keep the garden intact.
By the 1970s, the ownership of the area was eventually bought by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which then opened the garden to the public by the year 1979. The same agency soon designated the Tonogayato Garden as a Place of Scenic Beauty in 1998.
At present, some of the notable points of interest that can be found within the property include a bamboo forest, a natural spring known as the Jiro Benten, and a charming tea house known as the Koyo-tei.
There is also a wide array of plants and flowers housed at the Tonogayato Garden such as bellflowers, false anemone, toad lilies, dogtooth violets, and goldband lilies. The most prominent tree species of the garden is the Japanese ternstroemias, which Iwasaki Koyata was particularly fond of.
Tourists can reach the garden by simply taking a 2-minute walk away from the Kokubunji Station of the Seibu Tamako Line, Seibu Kokubunji Line, or the JR Chuo Line.
The city of Kokubunji also houses more than enough shopping and dining options for tourists to enjoy and pass the time. Some of the must-visit shops include:
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Akagi - a traditional Japanese canteen-style restaurant where customers can choose from counter seats or tatami seats.
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Aburaya – a Chinese restaurant that specializes in rice bowls and noodle dishes.
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At Café – a comic book café that features a smoking area, a non-smoking area, and an open area for guests to relax or rent out PCs.
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Bunraku – a casual resto-bar that is highly recommended for those looking to drink a bottle of beer or two with some friends.
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Ikkyu – a Japanese bar that is known for being among Tokyo’s cheapest places to grab a drink.
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Marui Family – a shopping center located right next to the Kokubunji Station and is ideal for tourists traveling with family.
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Mezurashiya – a shop that specializes in rare CDs.
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Muji – a minimalist shop that carries an extensive list of products that range from clothing to stationery.
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Okmart – a beautiful store that offers a wide array of products for relatively cheap prices.
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OIOI – a branch of the famous Japanese fashion mall known as Marui. It houses numerous shops, restaurants, and food stalls.
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Panas – a restaurant that specializes in Indian cuisine and Nepalese brews. It can be found a few meters away from the north exit of the Kokubunji Station.
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Rubber Soul – a bar that features a Beatles theme and an incredibly friendly team of staff. Live bands typically play during the later hours of the evening.
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Shoya – an izakaya (Japanese gastropub) that offers exceptional food and drinks at relatively low prices. It is open from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM and again from 5:00 PM to 5:00 AM.
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Sitar – an Indian restaurant that offers authentic dishes at reasonable prices. It is a 15-minute walk away from the Kokubunji Station.
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Supuun – a restaurant that specializes in curry dishes. It is a 5-minute walk away from the Kokubunji Station.
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Takeshige-shokudo – a Japanese restaurant considered to be a crowd-favorite among local students because of the 1,000-yen set meals.
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The Lighthouse – a European resto-bar owned and operated by Dutch-English siblings. The place can comfortably accommodate up to sixty people at a time.
Access to Kokubunji City, Japan from Haneda Airport, Shinjuku Station, Etc.
Given that the city of Kokubunji is still part of the Tokyo Metropolis, it can be accessed from different parts of the capital, be it from the Haneda Airport, Shinjuku, or Shibuya. Tourists should note that the city is not accessible through any national expressways or highways.
Instead, the city of Kokubunji can be reached by taking any of the following railway lines and getting off at the indicated stations:
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The Chuo Main Line of JR East – tourists can choose to get off at the Kokubunji Station or the Nishi-Kokubunji Station
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The Musashino Line of JR East – tourists should get off at the Nishi-Kokubunji Station
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The Seibu Kokubunji Line of Seibu Railway – tourists can choose to get off at the Kokubunji Station or the Koigakubo Station
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The Seibu Tamako Line of Seibu Railway – tourists should get off at the Kokubunji Station
Hotels in and near Kokubunji City, Japan
Since not a lot of tourists still know about the wonders of Kokubunji, the city only houses one hotel – the Hotel Mets Kokubunji. It is located right next to the Kokubunji Station and offers more than seventy guest rooms for tourists who want to spend the night at the relatively quiet city.
For those who want a few more options, there are nearby hotels, traditional Japanese inns (ryokan), and apartments available at the neighboring municipalities. The closest ones to the city of Kokubunji worth checking out include Ryokan Niko, Hotel Continental Fuchu, Fuchu Urban Hotel Annex, Marroad Inn Tokyo, Business Inn Grandeur Fuchu, Hotel Asahi Grandeur Fuchu, and Tachikawa Grand Hotel.