Musashino City in Tokyo, attracting many anime creators Enjoy Kichijoji, with places recommended by professionals in the manga and anime industries and a film festival.

Musashino City is home to many manga and anime professionals

Located in the western part of Tokyo, Musashino City has not only more than 15 anime production companies but also a publisher that has produced several masterpiece manga series, making it a city where manga and anime are created. As an example, the TV anime series “SHIROBAKO,” which is a story about an anime production company in Musashino City, has made Musashino City famous. The Japanese restaurant called “Matsutei,” which appears in the “SHIROBAKO” series, is a real place reportedly favored by the series’ director, Tsutomu Mizushima. In the restaurant, you can see many posters and items related to the series, which were brought by fans.

Kichijoji International Animation Film Festival

Musashino City has been hosting various anime-related events, in collaboration with many anime production companies. One such event is the “Kichijoji International Animation Film Festival,” which will mark the 20^th anniversary in 2025. Launched in 2005, this anime-specific film festival has been serving as a place to discover young and energetic talents and turn out anime creators who are recognized internationally. The festival offers a screening and awards ceremony of nominated films from Japan and abroad, talk shows with famous creators, and a special screening of films, attracting many anime fans (admission free).

Festival dates: Feb. 21 (Fri) to 23 (Sun), 2025

Venue: Musashino Kokaido (2 min walk from Kichijoji Sta.)

“Gallery Zenone,” a center for manga culture

Opened in April, 2024 in Kichijoji, this flagship gallery has a mission to spread the world of Japanese MANGA to the world. As it is under the management of COAMIX Inc., a publisher that has produced some great manga works, such as “City Hunter,” “Fist of the North Star,” and “Record of Ragnarok,” the gallery exhibits a number of precious original manuscripts, which wouldn’t have been available if not with a publisher. It also features a 3D presentation and hands-on exhibition area in line with the exhibitions. The souvenir shop also attracts visitors with lots of original goods and items. The cafe in the gallery serves original dishes in collaboration with a featured series.

* The merchandise at the shop and the anime collaboration featured at the café vary depending on the timing.

From February 1 (Sat) to 24 (Mon), 2025, a special exhibition of “Kodoku no Gourmet” and “Wakakozake” is being held. Based on the fusion of these two representative series under the theme of “solo gourmet,” this truly special exhibition is only available at this gallery!

https://gallery-zenon.jp/exhibitions/gurume2025/

Attractive aspects of Kichijoji, beloved by people in the manga and anime industries

In addition to “Gallery Zenon,” there are many spots around Kichijoji Station that are closely linked with creators, especially of manga and anime. One of the reasons that Kichijoji has many manga artists, creators, and editors is that they choose to be based in Kichijoji because it is conveniently located only about 15 minutes by train from Shinjuku and Shibuya Stations, while at the same time being a comfortable city for living with abundant greenery. Kichijoji is home to many favorite spots—both past and present—where creators go to unwind from work and find inspiration. While the area around the station has casual shotengai shopping streets, such as Kichijoji SUNROAD and Daiya-gai, the station building and department stores also have numerous trendy cafes and restaurants. At night, the narrow “Harmonica Yokocho” alley, which is packed with small eating and drinking places and bars, attracts lots of people. Walk around the city, and you many come across manga artists and anime creators having a meeting or after-party.

Some editors of COAMIX Inc. recommended some restaurants they actually go to. Working at a publisher means you are always busy, often have extended meetings, and have to work really late just before deadlines. So, according to them, when staff members get together to eat, they choose a restaurant that serves delicious energy-boosting dishes. Health is wealth for editors and creators! Especially when they want to care for their health, they tend to choose a place where they can savor dishes with delicious “yakumi” condiments. In Japan, people have a culture of eating “yakumi” (literally, “medicinal”) condiments, such as negi leek and ginger, together with meat and fish. It is said that “yakumi” are effective in improving physical condition and have a bactericidal effect on food. The section below introduces two such restaurants in Kichijoji, where hard-working manga editors can boost their energy and enjoy unique and delicious Japanese dishes!

1. Waragamo

Located close to “Gallery Zenon,” this restaurant serves various duck dishes. Savor the wonderful combination of duck meat and negi spring onion as yakumi condiment. The specialty dish, “Warakun kamo-shabu,” is a shabu-shabu style hotpot dish with chunks of negi in a dashi soup as well as julienne strips of negi, which are put into the soup later with duck meat. Bite into the duck meat together with the negi, which has developed a sweetness after being cooked in the dashi broth, and you will be amazed! As the restaurant offers varieties of red wine which go well with duck meat, you can also enjoy a nice dinner with wine after work as a treat for yourself.

http://waragamo.jp/
https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1320/A132001/13187638/

2. Syogaya Kurobe

You can find this restaurant quickly when you come out of the south gate of Kichijoji Station and go down to the underground level. With various dishes, the restaurant is characterized by using abundant ginger with their dishes, as the name suggests (syoga is ginger in Japanese). In addition to ginger already in dishes, a container of ginger is placed at each table so that customers can add ginger to their dishes as much as they like. It is said that ginger has a bactericidal effect and is effective for warming up the body. Whenever the staff members of COAMIX Inc. feel that they may be catching a cold, this restaurant comes to their minds! For editors, whose job requires them to meet people on a frequent basis, making them extra mindful of taking care of their health condition, the presence of this restaurant must be very reassuring!

https://syogaya-kurobe.jp/
https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1320/A132001/13193236/

Kichijoji Walking Tour

If you want to know more about Kichijoji, how about joining a guided tour? Musashino City Tourism Organization offers a guided tour called “Musashino City Walking Tour: Let’s Explore Kichijoji, Hidden Gem of Tokyo!” The two-hour course includes visiting Kichijoji SUNROAD Shotengai shopping street, the zen temple “Gessoji Temple,” and enjoying yakitori and drinks at the Harmonica Yokocho alley at the end. As you can go around with an English-speaking guide, you won’t have to worry about anything when you walk around Kichijoji for the first time.

For details on the tour, tour schedule, and how to make a reservation, please access:
https://www.tripadvisor.jp/Attraction_Products-g1060900-d26778065-Musashino_city_urban_tourism_corp-Musashino_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html