JR Koenji Station

Koenji Station is one of the smaller local train stops on the JR Rail line. I believe there are three different rail companies serving most of Japan. And, during my stay in Osaka, I was forced to use all three. However, in Tokyo, you can often just stick with the JR rail lines and get to most major locations. Like all Japanese rail stations, Koenji is efficient and the chiming sounds can be heard any time of the day.
If you have been taking the lines for a while and never stopped in Koenji, then I definitely recommend stopping by sometime, if it is convenient for you during your travels. Koenji is a hidden gem of a neighborhood, located in the Suganami prefecture, and is known for;
1. Live music scene. There are many local bands that play at bars in the area.
2. Central Park. When you exit the station, take a left and walk straight across the street into the park. Late at night on the weekends, there will be Japanese Anarco punks hanging out in the area singing punk songs loud and late into the night until they pass out from exhaustion.
3. Cute little boutiques and shops along Central Avenue. There are many different types of clothing boutiques and some really weird places, like a shop with all cat themed merchandise.
4. Karaōke places. The guesthouse we stayed at in the area was where five karaōke places converged into our little window. The howling was hilarious.
5. Saving the best for last… the izakaya restaurants and bars… there are so many that are hidden in alleys and on various floors throughout the district. Try to find and visit them all.
6. Older buildings condensed together with old aesthetic as well as electrical wiring. When sleeping at the guesthouse in Koenji, we were clearly warned to be careful with electrical appliances due to compact fires in the area that can easily take out an entire block of these old structures.
To find; Note and read the archway marquis above the streets for the name of popular streets. To get to this street specifically, take a left out of the station, another left, and walk straight to see the marquis for Central Avenue.
Since Koenji is so condensed, you don’t have to walk far to find anything that you may need or want. Within a square block, you can find a grocery store, bookstore, retailers, bars, mini mart, all types of restaurants, dry cleaner, laundry mat, and even an onsen.
If you are familiar with Manhattan (NYC), Koenji is similar to St Marks Place 8^th Street between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues.