Nishiogikubo Station is about 17 minutes by JR Chuo Line/ Sobu Line from Shinjuku Station. The participants for this Town Walking Tour were people from Nepal, Philippines, and Vietnam. It was the first time for all of them to come to Nishiogikubo. At the end, they had a great time looking around attractive antique stores and sweets shops.
Going towards Kotto-dori Street from the North exit of Nishiogikubo Station, they first stopped at “Northwest-antiques,” an old-established antique shop in business for 30 years.
Items and goods from the good old days, including antiques, retro items, vintage goods, and Japanese and Western-style furniture, were collected beyond generations and borders to be there. The participants were quite enamored of the unique items.
The next shop they visited was “Rakuda.” With a history of more than 30 years, it sells Wa-glass (Japanese glass), Japanese furniture, lamps, and stained glass.
The element of “Wa” (Japanese) that the store owner always values attracted the foreign participants.
Turn on the corner further down from “Rakuda,” you can find “Iogi Kaikan.” This hall hosts Nishiogikubo Kotto-zuki Matsuri (Nishiogi Antique Festival) in spring and autumn. The festival is busy with antique shops in Nishiogikubo and people who love antiques and curios.
They went back along Kotto-dori Street to go to “Kies,” a hand-made sweets shop. The participants had a difficult but fun time to choose their favorite ones from a variety of sweets with seasonal flavors. You can eat in, but they decided to take a photo outside with their cookies with the cute exterior of the shop!
The last shop they visited was “Boite,” a select shop of French goods and items. Inside the shop with a stylish interior, which makes you feel like you are on a trip to Paris, there are antique goods and items and accessories carefully chosen and collected from all over France.
At the end of the tour, the participants were very happy about how they could find another attractive aspect of Tokyo they never knew
There are lots more attractive shops and stores in Nishiogikubo. Visit Nishiogikubo and you should find out for yourself.
