Musashino
Sourced from Wikivoyage. Text is available under the CC-by-SA 3.0 license.
![](img/2e62d6bc8af6662b9503c2ba9194c00c.jpeg)
Musashino ( Musashino-shi) is a city in western Tokyo.
Understand
Musashino was formed as the result of a merger of several nearby neighborhoods. The most notable of these, Kichijoji is in itself a destination, and has its own page. Train travel is ubiquitous, so the second hub of the city is the area near Musashisakai Station. The remainder of the city is largely residential. There are several universities in the area, including Asia University and Musashino University.
The city is roughly squarish in shape, except that the south central part of the square is a part of Mitaka, the neighboring city to the south. The JR Chūō Line, which runs east-west through Musashino, has two stops in the city: Musashisakai (in the west) and Kichijoji (in the east). Between those is Mitaka.
Get in
By train
The JR Chūō Line (中央本線) connects Musashino with Shinjuku and Tokyo Station to the east. Mitaka, one stop east of Musashisakai, is a transfer point for several other train lines.Get around
![](img/0e862e450d14e6015011e3d3b1c76fb8.jpeg)
Within Musashino, travel by foot, bus or bicycle is practical. The roads here are not so crowded, so using a car is reasonable, too.
By train
By bus
There are several bus companies that have routes in Musashino. The train runs east/west through the city, and for north/south travel, it is probably best to take a taxi or catch a bus from Musashisakai.
Do
-
Toranoyu Iwaburo
phone: +81 422-52-3029address: Yahatacho 3-1-21This is an old Japanese bath house with rock walls. There are large changing areas, men's and women's baths, a small shop, and washing machines.
Buy
The station areas at Kichijoji and Musashisakai have a fair number of shops. For a larger selection, take the Chuo Line to Shinjuku or elsewhere in Tokyo.
Eat
![](img/62dbbb9abad88ae09d871d49ffa4cb03.jpeg)
-
phone: +81 422-36-2210address: Sakai 2-14-10This Indian restaurant has several kinds of curry. Sets come with curry, rice, nan, and a salad. It also has all-you-can-drink specials. Serving staff speaks English.
-
Atom
address: Sakai 2-2-9This Italian restaurant has pizza, fried food, and a big wine list. -
Gyoza no Manshu
address: 1F M-H Bldg, Sakai 2-2-18This restaurant specializes in gyoza and also serves ramen and Chinese food. The sets are very large. -
Hana no Mai
address: Okubo Bldg 2F, Sakai 2-2-4A seafood izakaya. -
Hong Kong
address: Kichijoji Kitamachi 4-9-11This Chinese restaurant has large meals that come with a main dish, soup, rice, salad, and pickles. -
address: Asahi Freedeo B1F, Sakai 1-15-6This restaurant serves standard Japanese izakaya fare.
-
Janaki
phone: +81 422-52-0269address: Sakai 1-12-2This small Indian restaurant has many different kinds of curry. There are several different choices of nan, including a sweet chocolate nan and a very cheesy nan. The staff is very friendly. -
phone: +81 422-54-5580address: Nakamachi 1-23-13This is a small restaurant that serves multi-course "kaiseki" Japanese cuisine with an emphasis on vegetables. Along with the great flavors, the staff provide excellent explanations of the food and drink. Reservations are recommended.
-
Kouzushi
address: Sekimae 5-9-5A small and tasty sushi place with bar and table seating. -
Nakazaki
address: Nishikubo 3-11-1A Japanese shokudo with handmade soba. The house special is a katsudon set. -
Ramen Time
address: Sekimae 5-9-6This old shop serves tasty ramen and gyoza. -
RESTAURANT ELLE
address: Sekimae 4-17-10This small eatery is a good lunch option for people visiting Musashino University. The servings are large. -
Sakura Sushi
phone: +81 422-53-1006address: Sekimae 5-14-11A small sushi restaurant with a friendly and talkative chef. -
phone: +81 422-52-0033address: Sakai 2-2-3This small Chinese restaurant is often filled with the smell of tasty food.
-
phone: +81 422-38-9088address: Sakai 2-3-8This small Italian restaurant has an assortment of pasta dishes. Set menus come with a small green salad and bread. In the afternoon, sunlight shines in the windows and makes for a warm atmosphere.
Drink
-
phone: +81 422-31-5860address: Kyonancho 3-1-5This coffee roaster has a dozen kinds of beans. Order a cup, and if you like it, get a bag of beans roasted to take home.
-
Melody Hat
address: Sakai 2-2-1A bar with several Japanese and foreign brews on tap, plus several dozen in bottles, and a fairly large selection of scotch and whiskey. There is a small American-themed food menu, also. -
address: Nishikubo 3-2-4A small bar with a large selection of bourbon and obscure American oldies on the stereo. The owner is a fan of motorcycles and will happily talk about them — or music — for hours.
Sleep
Musashino is not generally a business or tourist destination, it being largely residential. What hotels do exist are unlikely to have English speaking staff. Kichijoji has many hotels, though. To the east along the Chuo Line are Nakano and Shinjuku, with plenty of places from which to choose.
-
address: Kyonancho 2-1-8A nice hotel for families or people traveling on business.
Connect
-
address: Midoricho 2-2-28City Hall has many services essential for residents. It also has information on hospitals, which could be of use to travelers.
Go next
Musashino is bordered on the west by Koganei, on the east by Mitaka, and on the north by Nishitokyo. These cities are easily accessible by bus or bicycle.
Ride the JR Chuo train for another ten or twenty minutes to reach Nakano or Shinjuku. The Chuo Line ends at Tokyo Station, the shinkansen terminus.