Kokubunji

Kokubunji (国分寺市 Kokubunji-shi) is a city in western Tokyo.

Tonogayato Garden

Understand

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in

By train

Kokubunji is on the JR Chūō Line (中央線). Chūō trains depart from Tokyo Station (40 minutes, ¥540) and from Shinjuku (20 minutes, ¥380). Fast trains designated Special Rapid, including Chūō Special Rapid (中央特快 chūō-tokkai), Ome Special Rapid (青梅特快 ōme-tokkai), and Commuter Special Rapid (通勤特快 tsūkin-tokkai), stop at Kokubunji.

Kokubunji is also terminal of the Seibu Kokubunji Line (西武国分寺線) and Seibu Tamako Line (西武多摩湖線).

Get around

• Bun Bus (ぶんバス). This is a community bus run by the city and has six routes all over the city area. ¥100. 

See

• Tonogayato Park (殿ヶ谷戸庭園) (a few minutes from the south exit of JR Kokubunji Station). A beautiful Japanese garden. It is a perfect place to take a walk with someone special. (updated Jan 2016)
• Musashi Kokubunji Park (武蔵国分寺公園). There are many kinds of trees; for example, cherry trees, zelkova trees, and maidenhair trees. You can see a fountain, a waterfall, and pond. (updated Jan 2016)
• Sugatami Pond (姿見の池), Near Nishi-kokubunji station, along the Chuo Line. A beautiful Japanese pond. Many rare birds come to this pond, and birdwatchers come for the birds. Sugatami means a large mirror; ladies used the calm pond for checking their appearances. (updated Jan 2016)

Buy

Marui and Celeo

• Marui (OIOI) (next to Kokubunji Station). 10:00-20:30. The local branch of the famous fashion mall, with countless small shops on the 2nd through 5th floors. There are also food shops on the first basement floor. The shopping building is actually shared by Marui and Celeo Kokubunji, run by JR. (updated Jan 2024)
• Mezurashiya. A CD shop specializing in rare items, as the name suggests. There are three shops in Kokubunji. 

Eat

• Panas (a 3-minute walk from the north exit of Kokubunji Station). This restaurant serves a variety of good Indian food and drinks. They also incorporate a small bar and offer several Indian and Nepalese brews. (updated Jan 2016)
• Supuun (すぷーん) (a five-minute walk from the north exit of Kokubunji Station). A special curry shop. Be sure to order the weekly special curry. The store has a relaxed and congenial atmosphere (updated Jan 2016)

Drink

• 1 Bunraku (文楽), Honcho 2-8-4. A perfect place to drink bottled beer with friends. (updated Jan 2016)
• 2 Ikkyu (一休), ☏ +81 42-328-0819. This chain izakaya (Japanese-style pub) is one of the cheapest in Tokyo, so if you want to drink economically, this is perfect. (updated Jan 2016)
• Rubber Soul (ラバーソウル), Minamicho, 2-16-14 (a 3-minute walk from the south exit of JR Kokubunji Station), ☏ +81 42-328-4421. A Beatles-themed bar with a very friendly staff. They often have live bands. (updated Jan 2016)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Mets Kokubunji, Minamicho 3-20-3 (Adjacent to Kokubunji Station.), ☏ +81 42-328-6111. 74 guest rooms. Attached to a child care. 

Contact

• At café. A comic café. This café has a massage chair. It has smoking area, no smoking area, and open area. All PC have big screens. (updated Jan 2016)

Go next

• Kunitachi
• Tachikawa
• Hino
• Fuchu
• Koganei
• Kodaira
• Higashiyamato
• Akishima
• Hachioji

Routes through Kokubunji

Hachioji ← Kunitachi ←	W  E	→ Musashi Sakai → Mitaka → Kichijoji
Minami Urawa ← Higashi Tokorozawa ← Shin Kodaira ←	N  E	→ Fuchu Honmachi
Tokorozawa ← into ← Higashimurayama ←	N  S	→ END
Seibu Yuenchi ← Hitotubashigakuen ←	N  S	→ END