Nishi Ogikubo

They are days where you attract people and situations. It’s quite interesting to observe such dynamics as they unfold. As a solo traveler in a foreign country everything is so different. They is no reference point in such case. Somedays you might feel low and lonely , some other days it is the opposite. Your own openness and positive state of mind actually create nice situations and unplaned meetings. Today was a day like that. Easy , flavorsome, rich and beautiful.

Let’s go to a nearby neighborhood: Nishi Ogikubo , which is within walking distance from my guesthouse (30 min).

Nice sunny morning in the narrow street of Tokyo.

Starting my day was pretty fun as I bumped into two old Japaneses people. 91 and 80 years old , man , they is so much aged people in this country. I just catched the old grandma doing her morning walk. Fun talk with limited English.

Arriving in Nishi Ogikubo

Nishi Ogikubo is a quaint little neighborhood along the Chuo line , located just one station away from the busy Kichijoji. It has the reputation of having many indie stores , cafés , craftstores and art spaces. I love to discover such places as they are quite off the beaten track. Life just slowly unravel , in an organic way. In human scales areas there is often different proximity with the locals. Actually I didn’t met any tourist during my stay there. Let’s have an easy walk to get the feel of that “town”.

Station

Most shops and bars are located around the train station in Tokyo. So people will often indicate there own name station as a reference point.

Izakaya (bar) area. Of course it was 12 so everything was closed but it should be a nice little area to hang out at night.

Shopping street.

Small river along the way.

After walking there for 30min I am starting to get a little feel which feels nice. They seems to be a lot of small independent stores , hip tea houses , cool cafés and antique stores. It’s actually a harmonious blend with a young and artsy vibe which reminded me the spirit in Koenji (only 2 stations away from here). I loved it.

“Second Story” , a freshly opened Coffee roastery.

This Nebraskan originated owner , Bryan , opened this store 6 months ago. He used to work in Shizuoka (near Mount Fuji) beforehand. His place is selling top quality coffee beans to get a good fix of caffeine. He lives in Japan with her wife for the last 15 years. So interesting to meet a foreign face in the back streets of this random area of Tokyo. And very inspiring too ! He told me how difficult it was for youngsters to open such indie places. The weight of society and education being pretty strong here , indeed it can be challenging to follow your dreams in a society where company based job are solicited and encouraged to do , but it seems like Nishi Ogikubo have more of these independant places. People are learning not to listen their parents to much and follows their dreams , whatever they might be. Nice meeting you Bryan.

Continuing my stroll in the streets , I’m seeing quite a few Indian / Nepali curry type restaurant. I had this craving for lunch and I find a place that seemed attractive to me.

Welcome to “Clove” , a cool indie Curry run by a Nepali guy.

Cool design inside. Just like an antique boutique with old items from the past. It seemed quite popular as many people passed by.

Veggie curry , fresh naan bread and lassi. I have to say that this curry was one of the best I ever had. The curry was perfect ! Tasted garlic , ginger and lentils , for a well balanced flavor. The naan was fluffy and slightly sweet , loved it. And it was not expensive either. Expect to pay 1100 yen (charge included) , so around 9 euro for a delicious meal which is very reasonable for such good quality.

Okay after this good meal I felt on nine cloud , I had another place to tick off the “bucket list”. A place that I couldn’t wait to discover !
But first some more cruising around the laidback neighborhood.

Chuo line from the distance.

Modern architecture in the backstreets. This was a trendy cafe / co-working space.

After a short walk I finally reached my destination. I like this area of Tokyo , it’s much slower and human scale than other places I’ve been so far. On the long run living here should be nicer than busy area , and cheaper too !

Satèn Japanese tea.

The place I am going to introduce you is a big favorite of mine. This place has the reputation of serving top quality Matcha and other Japanese tea in a Hip and cool atmosphere. Let’s check this out.

Minimalistic and well-balanced design inside. I am falling in love with the Japanese way of arranging spaces. It’s hard to explain but they seem to use raw materials , discreet colors in a harmonious way. Raw concrete walls seems to be the trend nowadays in the trendy shops in Japan.

“Chasen” used to whipe the Matcha tea.

The Barista prepares every drink in front of you which is quite pleasant to watch. You can follow each steps of preparation for the different tea. All in Japanese way so very precise and calm.

Hojicha (roasted green tea) and a Matcha pudding.

The Hojicha tea was excellent , smokey and nutty , just the way I love it. For dessert I experience the speciality of the House , the Matcha pudding. And this piece of art was just outstanding. The balance between the bitter and grassy Matcha and the sweet was perfect. The texture was also great and not too heavy for the stomach. I simply loved it !!
Also eating this dessert with the roasted green tea gave interesting contrasts. I payed 900 yen for the set (7,5 euro) which is a fine price as it was a good quality and service.

This Satèn Japenese Tea House is a really cool place. You can feel the blend of older traditional Japan fusioning with the arsty / creative , modern and young energy of Tokyo. It’s so nice to see such blends. This tea house is a hidden gem in an almost unknown neighborhood. If you love fine products with a good dose of coolness , Satèn should please your five senses. I definitely recommend this place for those who will read this article.

So there you have it , an unpretentious day in a cool and human scale area of Tokyo.
I have only seen a fraction of Nishi Ogikubo but I simply loved it. I met nice people with different views. Many inspiring indie stores all around. Nishi Ogikubo is one of these place where you feel home. A place that breath authenticity and creativity in a simple way , nothing crazy but rather , down to earth and cool.