Visit Japan Web Koenji
Visit japan web invites you to explore Koenji. The liberal and bohemian Koenji neighborhood in western Tokyo emerged from Japan’s radical student movements of the 1960s. Today, it serves as a center for alternative music culture and a shopping district. There are bars, restaurants, vintage clothing shops and thrift stores that appeal to the local community.
As the sun sets, one can enjoy a drink at one of the numerous izakaya bars and attend a live performance at a venue like 20000 Den-Atsu. Additionally, the Koenji Awa Odori is a well-known summer tradition, being the second largest Awa Odori dance festival in Japan.
The shrine inside the Koenji Station South Exit, Ginzan Shrine, is the only meteorological shrine in Japan. Established in 1938, it was burned down during an air raid in April 13rd, 1945, and was rebuilt after the war. Afterwards, the former Army Meteorological Department members decided to apply to the United States Armed Forces Religious Survey Bureau to purchase and relocate the shrine to its current location in compliance with the “Shinto Directive” issued by the General Headquarters of the Allied Forces in Japan (GHQ). In addition, there is the Koenji Tenzu Shrine in Ichimachi.
The “Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori” is held in front of JR Koenji Station every late August. Due to its long-standing tradition, its popularity has been increasing, and Awa Odori teams from Tokushima Prefecture and other areas participate in the event. The number of spectators reaches 1.2 million people, surpassing even the main event in Tokushima. Approximately 10,000 people dance together, making it a seasonal traditional event at the end of summer in Tokyo.
