Tokyo Weekender - November 2017

IT'S PERFECT
FOR FISHING,
PICNICKING
OR PEDALING
AWAY ON
THE SWAN
PEDALOS
fanatics, couples and kids, the
park area, roughly a five-minute
walk from the station, is breathtaking.
It’s a perfect spot for fishing,
picnicking or pedaling away on the
swan pedalos which are available
beside the pond areas.
SHRINES, MUSEUMS AND
MANSIONS
There are some very quaint Shinto
shrines dotted around the park
as well as a huge amphitheater,
which hosts concerts and performances,
and is an ideal spot for
relaxing or reading a book. It’s
a beautiful spot overlooking the
pond and a lovely getaway from the
hustle and bustle of central Tokyo
life. It’s an area of culture too, with
nearby Makino Memorial Garden
and Museum, and Nerima Shakujiikoen
Furusato Museum which
are well worth a visit if you find
yourself in the area. One of the most remarkable
aspects of the area are the houses and buildings
that surround both lakes. “Mansion” simply
means “family apartment” in Japanese, but these
are mansions in terms of the English definition of
the word. “Opulent” doesn’t really do them justice.
If you love peeking at other people’s abodes, then
Shakujii Koen is the perfect spot.
EATS AND TREATS
At the furthest end of the pond nearest the station
you will find the legendary bakery Peater Pan.
It’s a celebrated bakery around the Kanto area
and holds lots of culinary treasures for locals and
visitors alike. Near the station you’ll come across
Mujirushi Ryohin and Seijo Ishii stores which
will satisfy your simple yet
stylish sartorial needs, and
also offer an abundance of
globally imported foods
and drinks.
It may not
be Daikanyama or Nakameguro
with their pennyfarthing-riding,
tattooed
hipsters, but Shakujii Koen
is an ideal getaway for a few
hours or even a wee day
trip. Beautiful, surrounded
by nature and vibrancy, it’s
an excellent location for a
relaxing stroll on a sunny
autumnal day. Forget the supercilious
central Tokyoites,
and circumvent Kichijoji
and its faux bohemianism,
and instead explore a part
of Tokyo where real people
indulge in real hobbies in a
real natural environment.
TOKYO WEEKENDER | NOVEMBER 2017 | 9