Tokyo is a prefecture consisting of 23wards, 26cities 3towns and a village. The 23 wards area, which account for roughly one third of Tokyo, is considered as the main part of Tokyo Metropolis and is located in the east part of Tokyo, close to Tokyo Bay.The rest of the area, 26cities plus several towns and a village, are located on the west side of Tokyo and those are more residential areas and countryside. Thus West Tokyo area is not always mentioned in guidebooks.
Spots/Things in West Tokyo
Here, I'd like to introduce what you can see/enjoy in West Tokyo!
If you are interested in any of these, feel free to contact me!
①Fussa-City and Akiruno-City
In this area, there are a couple of small family-owned Japanese Sake Breweries that were established during the Samurai era. They still keep very traditional buildings on the factory grounds and you can taste/shop their Sake there.
②Mt.Takao (1965ft / 599m), Meiji-no-mori National Park
Mt.Takao is a national park including a traditional old temple "Yakuo-in" and only one hour away from the center of Tokyo. It is a popular spot for casual hiking and people can also enjoy Japanese traditional culture there. Thus Mt. Takao got the hightest rating, "three stars" from the Michelin Guide which is published by a well-known French company Micheline.
③Hachioji-City
Hachioji-City is one of the local residence areas in West Tokyo which has a long history and since it is along one of the oldest national road the downtown had been developed as an old post town during Samurai era. The main industry of Hachioji in old times was silk fabrics, and still there are traditional fabric related businesses and long established kimono shops. Hachioji is about 50minutes away from the center of Tokyo so that this area is less busy and you can see more local and daily stuff of Japanese culture.
I'm going to list up what you can see/enjoy in Hachioji-City below.
・Hachioji Castle Ruins and Takiyama Castle Ruins
Those two castle remains were built in the 16th century right before the Shogunate era started. Although the buildings are lost in both places you can see the foundation structures of the typical fort castles of the 16th century. Also you can enjoy a walk through the remains as a casual hiking.
・Tokyo-Fuji Art Museum
Established in 1983. The art collection holds roughly to 30,000 pieces, including Western, Oriental, and Japanese art.
・Komagino Residence and Garden
100years old traditional Japanese wooden house which had been owned by an upper middle class family. The house has two different types of Japanese style gardens and you can also enjoy seasonal flowers there.
・Traditional Japanese textile products such as stencil printing and indigo dyeing
The main industry of Hachioji had been silk fabrics so that Hachioji was once called "Textile Town". Although there is no silk growers nowadays, still there are traditional fabric related businesses such as traditional dyeing ateliers and long established Kimono shops in the town.
・Town area along Rd.20 with many of old privately-run shops and restaurants
Since Hachioji is an old town there are long established family-owned shops and restaurants along one of the oldest national road, Rd.20. If you are interested in visiting non-franchised shops/restaurants, it would be a nice area to walk around. Also the street trees of Rd.20 in the area are Gingko trees, and they turn a beautiful yellow color in the fall.
・Musashi Imperial Graveyard
It is a mausoleum complex containing the tombs of the Taisho Emperor (1879-1926), his wife Empress Teimei, the Showa Emperor (1901-1989) and his wife Empress Kojin.
④Hino-City
Hino-City is known as a home of "Shinsen-Gumi" which is a Samurai group who fought for the Shogunate Government at the end of the Samurai era. There is an old temple named Takahata-Fudo Temple which worships one of the guardian gods of Buddhism. The main building of the temple was originally built in 14th century and it is rare to be able to see such an old wooden building in the Tokyo area. You can see more custom-like daily activities of a local temples here and take a glance at a traditional ritual to get good luck.
In addition the temple holds a Hydrangea Festival in June since there is a hill covered by Hydrangeas on the temple ground and it's beautiful in the season.
This museum is established as a part of the Edo-Tokyo Museum located in Ryogoku, Sumida-ward Tokyo. It is an open-air museum that aims to preserve and exhibit historical buildings which were difficult to keep at the original places. The buildings there are all actual historic structures which were relocated.
⑥Ghibli Museum
The noted Japanese Animation company "Ghibli" has their museum in Mitaka-City, Tokyo, which is about 30minuts away from the center of Tokyo. The tickets have to be booked in advance, and the reserved tickets specify the appointed date and time frame.
⑦Kichijoji-area in Musashino-City
Kichijoji is a popular shopping district which has many of privately-run shops for stylish clothing and goods. Also Kichijoji is the original place for unique cat-cafe business in Japan.
(There is also my blog about "cat-cafe", please click here!)
⑧Oume-City
Oume-City is full of nature although it is within Tokyo. The upper Tamagawa River, which is one of the major rivers in Tokyo goes through this area and there are many nice trails. Also Oume is famous for the product place of Japanese Plums, "Ume". Actually the City name "Oume" means "unripe green plum".
On Mt.Mitake in the city is known as a Shinto Shrine guarded by wolves and a poplar sightseeing spot. According to a Japanese myth, the origin of the shrine history goes back to BC. Recently it is also known as a dog friendly shrine.
Supplemental Table
"Seasonal Events/Festivals in West Tokyo and The Neighbor Area"
There are many of traditional festivals and events you can try to see during your travel! Please check the event calendar below!
