Hachioji

Hachioji gained city status on September 1st, 1917. The population in 2010 was about 550,000 people.

By plane

If coming from Narita Airport, take the JR Narita Express to Tokyo station, and change for the Chuo Line for service to Hachioji (about 2 1/4 hours, ¥3670). It is a real climb all the way up to the Chuo platforms, but since Chuo line trains start at Tokyo station, odds are you will probably find a seat. The alternative is to continue on the Narita Express to Shinjuku and from there board the Chuo Line, or the less-expensive Keio Line.
If you have a Japan Rail Pass, and if the timing is right, you may be able to reserve a seat on a Kaiji or Azusa train from Shinjuku and have a more comfortable journey to Hachioji.
The Narita Express runs directly from Narita Airport to Hachioji twice in the evening (leaving Narita 19:45 and 20:44), and there are two trains from Hachioji to Narita in the morning (5:19, 5:55).
Six daily airport limousine buses run from Narita to both the JR and Keio Hachioji train stations in about 2 hours, 40 minutes (¥3700).
From Haneda Airport, the easiest way to Hachioji by train is to take the Keikyu Line to Shinagawa, from where you can take the JR Yamanote Line in either direction, to either Tokyo or Shinjuku station, to pick up the Chuo Line for Hachioji. It costs ¥1180 no matter which way you go; allow about 1 3/4 hours. Slightly faster, but requiring an extra transfer, is to travel via Yokohama.
Six daily limousine buses go from Haneda to the JR and Keio Hachioji train stations in about 1 1/2 to 2 hours (¥1700).

By train

The two main railways serving Hachioji are the JR and the private Keio railway, both of which run directly to Tokyo. The two stations, Hachioji (for the JR) and Keio Hachioji, are separated by a 10 minute walk.
The cheapest trip between Tokyo and Hachioji is on the Keio railway, taking about 50 minutes on the fastest service at a cost of only ¥350. The JR Chuo Line travels to Mitaka from both Tokyo Station (¥780) and Shinjuku (¥460). The faster Chūō Special Rapid (中央特快 Chūō-tokkai) trains run from Shinjuku to Hachioji in 35 minutes, compared to regular rapid trains which take 50–60 minutes.
JR Hachioji is also a primary stop for Azusa (あずさ) limited express trains between Tokyo and Matsumoto, and Kaiji (かいじ) limited express trains between Tokyo, Otsuki and Kofu. These trains require a surcharge on top of the regular train fare. Japan Rail Pass holders can travel on these trains for free; lucky rail pass travelers can hop onto a Kaiji or Azusa unreserved seat car in Shinjuku and get to Hachioji in as little as 30 minutes.

By car

• Chūō Express onramp and exit.
• From Akirunoshi through the number 16 road to Hachioji.

By bus

Overnight buses run into and out of Keio Hachioji station. Services run from Kyoto (Tama Bus/Keihan Bus; ¥7950 one way; ¥14310 round-trip), Osaka (Tama Bus/Kintetsu Bus; ¥8250 one way; ¥14770 round-trip) and Kanazawa (Tama Bus/Hokuriku Railroad; ¥8250 one way; ¥14850 round-trip)

City buses depart from all train stations and serve even the farthest outlying areas. Taxis can also be found at train stations. Renting a car is a reasonable option, keeping in mind that traffic can be slow and parking anywhere in Tokyo gets expensive.

Train

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East)

• Chuo Line: Toyoda, Hachiōji, Nishi-Hachiōji, & Takao stations.
• Yokohama Line: Katakura & Hachiōji-Minamino stations.
• Hachiko Line: Kita-Hachiōji & Komiya stations.

• Keiō Corporation

• Keiō Line: Naganuma, Kitano, & Keio-Hachioji stations.
• Keiō Takao Line: Keio-Katakura, Yamad, Mejirodai, Hazama, Takao, & Takaosanguchi stations.
• Keiō Sagamihara Line: Keiō-Horinouchi & minami-Osawa stations.

• Sagami LakeA popular spot to see summer fireworks.

• Imperial MausoleumThe burial site of the Shōwa Emperor Hirohito and his predecessor, the Taishō Emperor Yoshihito.

• Tric Art MuseumThis is an interesting museum. There are many unique arts and photographs.

• Trace of Hachioji CastleIt has the hard-fought field's trace of the Warring State Period, also you can see Sagami Bay from the lookout of the mountaintop.

• Sengen ShrineThere are many festivals, especially the large summer festival.

• HōkyōintōThis is grave of Matsugi Shichiro (松木七郎), a samurai during the Kamakura era.

• New Hachioji Cinema

  phone: +81 42-622-0116
  address: 13-4 Yokoyamacho
  A movie theater

• Mt. TakaoA a 600-meter peak that is easily accessible by a combination of cable car and hiking, giving a little taste of nature in Tokyo. It is popular in the fall to see the changing color of the leaves, however springtime is also a nice time because you can see many beautiful cherry blossoms. Just outside of the station a large map indicates hiking trails in the area. The first part of the main trail is steep, this can be avoided with a cable car or chairlift ride (6 min./¥470, ¥900 round trip). Once you get off the cable car, there are shops selling food and souvenirs. There is also Monkey Park, where for ¥400 yen (children ¥200) you can watch a demonstration (in Japanese) and learn about Japanese Macaques in this zoo-like exhibit. There is also a beer garden with an all-you-can-eat-and-drink course for ¥3000, a welcome reward on the return trip for a couple hours of hiking. From there, it is about a 50-minute walk to the top of Takaosan (高尾山頂). However, there are many lesser traveled routes also available that may take longer but are more scenic. On the main route (Path 1) there are shrines and more food vendors. The entire path is paved, although there are steep stairs in places. At the top of the mountain there is a visitor center, restaurant, and viewing platform where Mount Fuji is visible.

• Fujimidai ParkThe largest park near this station. On weekends a lot of families come to picnic and someone play catch ball. And someone come to this park with dogs. In spring, a lot of cherry blossoms blossom. It is very beautiful so this park is famous as a good park to see cherry blossoms.

• Nagaike Park

  address: Bessho 2-58
  This park is so big and it has a lot of green. You can enjoy it and the song of birds. On weekends many people visit here. Moreover, there are Japanese rice fields (tanbo) and a water mill. There is a big pond named "nagaike" in this park. This has a sad legends that a princess who lived 100 years ago died in this pond because her husband died in war. Once there were a custom that when a husband dies, his wife dies too in Japan.

Festivals

• Hachioji Icho FestivalThere are about 770 maidenhair trees (ichou) in autumn, those colors change and it is very beautiful.

• Hachioji FireworkA fireworks festival.

Hachiōji is home to over 20 universities and technical schools. There are 10 public senior high schools, 37 public junior high schools, many elementary schools and a fair amount of private schools and universities.

• Hakubi Kyoto Kimono Gakuin

  phone: +81 120-370-893

• ABC Cooking Studio

  phone: +81 42-643-8450
  address: Asahicho 9-1

• KAWAI Music School

  phone: +81 42-626-4844
  address: Asahicho 7-1

Various large corporations have factories, branches, and head offices in Hachioji.

Scattered within 10 minutes from JR Hachioji Station's North Exit and Keio-Hachioji Station, there are about 10-15 different used clothing and vintage shops, often 1/4 the price of those found in the more popular shopping districts such as Kichijoji and Harajuku.

• Senseless Records

  phone: +81 42-623-8488
  Japanese and import punk records, CDs, and domestic and imported beer.

• Tokyu SquareDepartment store and shopping mall.

• Tama Green WalkA shopping mall. You maybe able to buy anything you want ;-P

There are many restaurants along the Tama Newtown street. For example, Sushi, Fast foods, Udon, and Chinese noodles. Especially, this region is famous of Chinese noodle. There are a lot of Chinese noodle shops.

Budget

• Yanawarabaxa

  address: Sennicho 1-6-1
  A Japanese woman runs the place by herself and serves traditional Japanese fare. Sets change by day and include a main dish and two sides, fruit, rice, miso soup, and coffee. Eat in and take out available.

• Waketagami

  phone: +81 426-74-7460
  A noodle shop. The base of this noodle is tonkotsu (pork bone). The noodles are thin. This shop has many kinds of interesting and unusual toppings: cheese, umeboshi, soft-boiled egg, and more.

• Tsukinoshizuku

  phone: +81 42-620-3920
  address: Hachioji Twin Tower 9F, Asahimachi 2-5
  A Japanese tofu restaurant.

• Tokube

  phone: +81 42-644-9098
  address: Owadacho 4-15-6
  A soba restaurant.

• Azigen

  phone: +81 426-27-9043
  address: Misakicho 5-12
  A ramen shop.

Mid-range

• Torattoria Campagna

  phone: +81 426-27-1201
  address: Misakicho 1-5
  An Italian restaurant.

Splurge

• Ukai Toriyama

  phone: +81 42-661-0739
  address: Minami Asakawa 3426
  The food doesn't challenge the non-Japanese palate too much — mostly chicken and sashimi, and to order you just pick one of three dinner sets. The great thing about this restaurant is the ambience. The restaurant comprises a number of traditional cottages situated within a beautifully maintained garden. Reservations are required. It's good to arrive early — give yourself time to walk around the garden. If possible, go in a group of at least four people. The restaurant is open for lunch, but if you go for dinner, you can enjoy the lanterns lighting the grounds.

• Sherlock Holmes Pub

  phone: +81 426-27-4869
  address: Misakicho 4-1
  For once, a pub in Tokyo that's English, not Irish.

• Bane Bagus

  phone: +81 426-46-9631
  address: 12-15 Higashicho
  This is a darts bar.

Budget

There are many love hotels close to JR and Keio Hachioji Stations, and can even be found in less populated and mountainous areas. Normally love hotels operate on an hourly/bi-hourly system, but are also known to have a cheaper overnight charge. If you want to walk around western areas of Tokyo such as Hachioji and Machida, consider lodging near Tama Center Station or at Tachikawa Station.

Mid-range

• Keio Plaza Hotel Hachioji

  phone: +81 426-56-3111
  address: Asahicho 14-1

• Hotel Gran Spa

  phone: +81 42-648-5111
  address: Nakamachi 2-1
  A hotel and spa. The spa, Yasuragi no Yu, has a hot-spring, restaurants, Karaoke rooms, an amusement space, rock bathing, Internet cafe, and exercise rooms.

Splurge

• aprecioAn internet cafe. You can use computers, read books and you can play darts and billiards. A drink bar is included.

You'll feel closer to nature when you visit to Nagaike Park and Renshoji Park.