Kichijoji Walking Guide — 7 Spots from the Four Temples to Inokashira Pond

Around Kichijoji Station there are 7 walking spots, ranging from temples and a shrine to a park and a zoo. Four of them make up the "Kichijoji Four Temples," all of which moved here from the Kanda area after the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657. What makes walking here interesting is that the bustle of the shopping streets and the waterside of Inokashira Park — opened in 1917 — sit within walking distance of each other.

A good order is to follow the temples out from the shopping street on the north side of the station, then head south down to the pond: Gessoji Temple → Anyoji Temple → Kosenji Temple → Musashino Hachimangu Shrine → Inokashira Park → Daiseiji Temple (Inokashira Benzaiten) → Inokashira Park Zoo. The scenery shifts naturally from town noise to waterside quiet.

Gessoji Temple

[Gessoji Temple](/en/spot/a0de5698-5bfe-4827-9cad-b3f7a62e5795) stands along Sun Road shopping street at the north exit of Kichijoji Station — a Soto Zen temple and one of the Kichijoji Four Temples. It relocated here from Kanda after the Great Fire of Meireki. Its main gate opens right beside a shopping street crowded with shoppers, so it catches your eye naturally as you walk. Start here to see how a temple can be embedded in a town.

Anyoji Temple

[Anyoji Temple](/en/spot/c9c6f4ce-224a-4582-9ac6-4cf223a336ba), also one of the Kichijoji Four Temples, sits near Kichijoji Station. It was moved here when residents from around Kanda relocated after the Great Fire of Meireki in 1657. Though it stands right beside the liveliness of the shopping street, the grounds are quiet and calm. The pleasure is in that gap — the sound changes after only a few dozen meters.

Kosenji Temple

[Kosenji Temple](/en/spot/9e89410c-92f4-4b1f-a49c-e5a512ece42c) is a temple near Kichijoji Station and another of the Kichijoji Four Temples. It too has a history of moving here from the Kanda area following the Great Fire of Meireki. Tucked just off the busy streets in front of the station, it offers a quiet moment mid-walk. Visiting the four temples in sequence gives the town's origins a clear shape.

Musashino Hachimangu Shrine

[Musashino Hachimangu Shrine](/en/spot/3ab81232-89ab-46a7-b525-6f10bfee0c56) is the tutelary shrine of Kichijoji, long cherished by local residents. It sits beyond the shopping street from Kichijoji Station, and is said to have been founded by people who relocated from Kanda after the Great Fire of Meireki. Large trees fill the grounds, and the air is calm, away from the noise in front of the station. It's a fitting place to slow down after the run of temples.

Inokashira Park

[Inokashira Park](/en/spot/635da321-d089-4f6f-b7d7-5abb74cb5cfb), a short walk from Kichijoji Station, is a historic park that opened in 1917. Inokashira Pond at its center is one of the sources of the Kanda River, and the water is framed by cherry blossoms in spring and fresh greenery in early summer. Take a boat out or walk a full loop around the pond — it's a place to spend time however you like. Time moves differently from here, so allow some margin.

Daiseiji Temple

[Daiseiji Temple](/en/spot/ac77db78-2d3a-4e47-aada-f9adadbdc168) sits along the way from Kichijoji Station to Inokashira Park. Inokashira Benzaiten, standing at the edge of the pond, has drawn worshippers since long ago as a hall managed by this temple. Stop in as part of your park stroll and offer a prayer amid the quiet of the water. It falls naturally into your path as you circle the pond.

Inokashira Park Zoo

[Inokashira Park Zoo](/en/spot/0dd5bd1b-2e2b-47a7-8310-9ac705c736e5) is a zoo inside Inokashira Park. It opened in 1942, and inside you'll find small animals, birds, and a corner gathering sculptures. It is also known for Hanako, the elephant who lived here for many years. Paired with a walk through the park, it's a relaxed place to spend time among living things.

One last tip. Six of the 7 spots are temples, a shrine, and parkland, and none of the spots list a budget. With time to spare, walk the route in reverse — from the pond back to the four temples by the shopping street. The same path becomes an entirely different walk.