Asagaya in my heart

Hello. This is Hamabata from the design department.

This time, I would like to introduce Asagaya, a place I love very much.

I moved to this town for no particular reason, but before I knew it, I'd been living here for over 10 years since moving to Tokyo.

Those of you living in Tokyo may already know this (?), but Asagaya is located on the JR Chuo Line, right halfway between Shinjuku and Kichijoji.

At the south exit of the station is Pearl Center, a shopping street that supports daily life, while at the north exit is Star Road, lined with a variety of drinking establishments, as if connected to the infinite universe.

Despite being home to shops of all kinds, the town as a whole has a relaxed atmosphere and is much more livable than Koenji, Nakano, and Ogikubo, which are all along the same line.
However, when asked what its greatest attraction is, I can't really answer with a specific "this!"

I would like to introduce some of the recommended spots in Asagaya, a city with such mysterious charm.

Asagaya Shinmei Shrine

Located a two-minute walk from the north exit of JR Asagaya Station, Asagaya Shinmei Shrine is a historic shrine built in 1800 and dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami.

The Noh theater located within the temple grounds is a somewhat famous spot, as music videos for Gesu no Kiwami Otome and BABYMETAL have been filmed there.

Shinmei Shrine is located on the route of my daily life, and it is clean, comfortable, and has lots of greenery, so I often drop in on my way to or from shopping, and I also make my first visit of the year here every year.

It's easily accessible from the station, so be sure to stop by if you're in Asagaya.

SINCERITA

This gelato shop is located near Matsuyama-dori shopping street, past Asagaya Showakai, from the north exit of JR Asagaya Station.

The owner and gelato master, Yosuke Nakai, has even won third place at an international gelato contest.

Since I discovered this shop, I love their gelato so much that I no longer eat ice cream or gelato from other brands.

Each flavor has a refreshing, simple taste that allows you to fully enjoy the ingredients.
They have many seasonal flavors, so it's a gelato shop you'll want to visit in the winter as well as the summer.

We also have an online shop, so please come and try it.

Gion

This coffee shop is located about a 2-minute walk from the north exit of JR Asagaya Station.

On weekends, it has become my daily routine to have breakfast here after going for a run.
It's open until 2am, so I often go there when I want to take a break after work.

Because it's a popular restaurant, it's often fully booked, which can be a hassle if you can't get in easily.

The interior is retro and girly, but it's so comfortable that even men in their 40s frequent it.

The recommended dishes are the creamy Vienna coffee and the Neapolitan pasta.

Rabbit and

When it comes to souvenirs from Asagaya, the dorayaki from Usagiya is the one to go for.

The moist and fluffy dough and the refined sweetness of the bean paste are delicious.
I often use them as gifts and everyone loves them.

It is recommended to make a reservation as there are often long lines and the tickets sell out.

There are stores with the same name in Ueno and Nihonbashi, but they are run by different family members and use different manufacturing methods and ingredients, so the taste is naturally different as well.

Personally, I would recommend the Asagaya store without any bias.

Laputa Asagaya

A small cinema that mainly screens classic Showa era films.

I'm a movie lover, so I get excited when I find a small movie theater in the town I live in. The exterior of the building is a little unusual, and it has a unique atmosphere that you can't experience at other movie theaters.

The name comes, of course, from Ghibli's "Castle in the Sky."

I think this is one of the spots that really exudes Asagaya-ness.

JR Asagaya Station South Exit Fountain Square

It's a fountain square that you can find anywhere in front of a station.
There stands a magnificent cedar tree that symbolizes Suginami Ward.

There is a smoking area, so I go there almost every day on my way to work, and on weekend afternoons I take a break and relax with a beer and yakitori in hand.

Looking around, you can see people reading, what appear to be members of a theater troupe having a meeting, and people taking a nap next to people having a banquet. It is being made to its full potential as a place of relaxation, and it is a place where you can feel the laid-back, relaxed atmosphere of Asagaya.

Goodbye, Asagaya.

Many of the shops, bars, and coffee shops are locally based, and the area is neither too few nor too many people, creating a calm and lively atmosphere. Although we haven't introduced them this time, there are also Anime Street, theaters, galleries, and underground idol live houses in the middle of residential areas, making this chaotic blend of subculture and the city what gives Asagaya its comfort and mysterious charm.

Speaking of myself, I will likely be moving out of Asagaya next year due to various circumstances.

After living here for over 10 years, I have a lot of memories and feel a little sad to move from such a strange place, but I don't mind living in a new place, so I'm looking forward to the new world and want to enjoy my final hours in Asagaya at a relaxed pace.

See you next time.