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I read somewhere that many young people would choose to live in Koenji. It is much quieter than its neighbour Nakano, which is the next stop on the train or you can even walk it. It is also less popular with the tourists than Kichijoji, the other hipster town on the same JR Chuo Line. In some ways, this makes Koenji a much better option for an afternoon / evening stroll…

I took so many photos of Koenji that I’d have to divide this post into two different ones. So let’s start with highlighting some of the cool shops I found in Koenji…

Okashi no Machioka (おかしのまちおか)

If you love Japanese sweets and snacks, you will love this store.

There are actually a few stores around Tokyo, but some are quite tiny and less impressive. Personally, I really enjoy walking around the Koenji one. The size of the shop isn’t that big, but they were organised well and made me want to buy and try a lot of things.

What I love about this candy store is that you can also buy lollies and snacks from yesteryears. Well, at least those junk food that I used to love growing up as a kid in Indonesia.

And then they also have the more bizarre varieties like katsu or tempura snacks that are cheap enough for you to want to try, even though you might be quite sure that they won’t taste that great! LOL.

All in all, this is the kind of store I’d spend time and money in… And here’s how it looks like on the outside, in case you’d like to visit it when in Koenji. Trust me, it’s hard to not buy at least one thing. Don’t stop yourself.

Value Flower (バリューフラワー)

This is a random flower shop that I thought was kinda pretty. Located in a slightly quieter side of Koenji, it was fun to explore and take random flower photos…

Box Gallery & Antique

This shop speaks to me, although not literally. Because if it speaks to me literally, I will also literally run away as fast as I can. Anyway, Box Gallery & Antique is a creepy antique store with plenty of doll heads and knick-knacks.

Personally, I don’t know who would actually buy some of the things they were selling, but then I had the urge to buy something whilst in the store, so maybe this is the kind of store that caters to people who like to collect random things.

I know I’m a bit odd. Most people think I’m like the most cheerful happy-g0-lucky person on earth, but then those who know me well know that I like the more darker & melancholic art (such as songs and paintings, etc). So this store totally made me morbidly happy.

Not in picture: the shop owner (or at least the person minding the shop) was wearing what to me looked like a leprechaun outfit. Green top hat with green suit and all. It’s beyond hipster.

Bookstores, bookstores everywhere!

To all the secondhand book stores in Koenji, thank you for looking so gorgeous.

This particular book store really made me want to live in it.

There are also plenty of books sold outside the stores, in boxes or shelves. Koenji is the place to go to if you’re looking for a second hand Japanese book. Or just photos of people looking at old books. Amazing.

Koenji’s shōtengai (商店街)

As with a lot of places in Japan, Koenji also has an undercover shopping street filled with shops, restaurants, and random coolness.

We chose a Korean restaurant for our dinner and had some yummy dishes like teokbokki, bulgogi, and green pancakes. I can’t remember the restaurant name, and I mean, if you really want authentic Korean restaurants, Shin-Okubo is probably the way to go anyway, so just enjoy the photos and move on! ;)

We walked around the shōtengai, but I didn’t take as many photos here, because the atmosphere isn’t as cool as the rest of Koenji.

Village Vanguard (ヴィレッジヴァンガード)

The stuff they sell in here will be a collector’s dream. There are a few Village Vanguard stores around Tokyo, and I’ve been to probably three now (in Koenji, Shimokitazawa, and Kichijoji; yup all around the hipster neighbourhoods). I love every single one of them, as long as I don’t get dizzy due to over-stimulation of colours, products, and just madness.

I didn’t take as many photos in this particular store, because I was too busy exploring, but they’ve got some omoshiroi food stuff.

And my favourite from the Koenji store when we visited? These badges with super kawaii girls and one of them was eating the other’s face. Meccha kawaii…

Other random things

As we walked around the area, it is clear to me that Koenji is for everyone. We see plenty of old people, but also some young families and many artsy-type youngsters trying to make a living by selling some of their artworks.

There are seriously so many things to see in Koenji. I can’t wait to show you more interesting shop fronts and streets around the hipster neighbourhood. I mean, even KFC’s Colonel Sanders dresses differently when around Koenji…

I’d definitely return to Koenji one day, maybe during the Awa Odori festival. That’d be cool.

If you love vintage shopping or just the hipster vibes, then you’ll love Koenji. Not many typical tourists roam around this area, so it’s not overcrowded and still retains its uniqueness.