Let the stroll begin at Jiyugaoka

Jiyugaoka – a place I heard a decade ago but never set foot on. I remember thinking it sounds like a name that would appear in a popular drama series, a magazine or a novel. A trendy place filled with relaxing atmosphere, cafes and fashionable apparels. Even though the natural course of my life didn't take me there, this place has always sparked my curiosity. Finally, I'm venturing into this place I have painted a fantasy based on its name alone. It's a little scary. What if it's just an ordinary town?

Here I am following my instinct and randomly taking a direction to start my adventure upon arrival. I come to a railway crossing and there are a lot of people. A lively town! Seems like I'm heading towards the right direction?

The first shop I stop by is a fair trade, Eco-friendly shop! How cool! There is a variety of collections from apparel to chocolate. The product that makes an impression on me are wallets made of cacti and corks! Cactus! I would never have imagined it!

What a good start to an adventure!

The bookshop right next to it is interesting too. It's a vintage bookstore. Most of the collections are art related and they have some English books too. The way they display them is clever - 2 big racks filled with books and magazines for under 500yen on the outside, another 2 at the door, slowly luring you into the shop. Knowing that this is probably their tactic, I still go into the shop willingly and happily following those racks.

A fancy restaurant.

A bread shop with a variety of savoury and sweet fillings to choose from!

Fashionable apparel tucked away on a quiet street.

Discovering this grocery delivery shop is a surprise because this is no ordinary grocery shop but one that prevents food loss! It's an online membership-based delivery, naturally the items to be purchased on the spot are limited (or maybe I've come too late?) - they are placed inside the blue box and 2 boxes of chips on the table behind the pillar. Since the expiry date is shorter, they are at a cheaper price. There is a piece of cardboard with a list of items and prices. Inside the shop is the warehouse for delivery items. It's good to see shops like this opening in Tokyo :)

A fancy dessert shop filled with subtle sweet fragrance from the desserts, both western and Japanese. The Japanese dessert in the picture is Yomogi mochi – Yomogi (mugwort) flavoured rice cake filled with red bean paste. The yomogi fragrance is more prominent as they use hand-picked fresh yomogi shoots that grow naturally around Yatsugatake Mountains. The sweetness of the mochi is subtle compared with the ones from supermarkets, allowing one to enjoy more of the actual flavour of the ingredients.

This well-paved street connects to the residential area which an nursing home is also located.

A popular patisserie with a long queue. Can't get inside but it looks good.

A Spanish and Italian pottery shop.

Residential area. Just like its name, 丘 (oka), which means 'hill' in Japanese, you'll find slopes here.

Lunch time! I order a pasta lunch set – Antipasti, GONZO Bolognese and hot tea. The pasta has sufficient amount of meat just as advertised on the menu – 'Popular classic menu! Meat sauce with meat all over'. The temperature is warm enough that the pasta stays warm until the last bite even though I am sitting outside in the cold. Having your stomach filled with warm delicious food in winter is such a bliss💗

A miscellaneous goods shop with collections from Finland and the Baltic countries.

Other shops.

By the evening, I come to the other side of Jiyugaoka. What surprises me is that there are more shops on this side! Most of them are fancier with glittering lights and I just can't stop looking!

As oppose to my initial worries, Jiyugaoka is not just another ordinary town, luckily! It's a wonderful shopping area with lots of local businesses ranging from apparels to eateries! Even just window shopping is inspiring! I'm glad that I have come here and would definitely visit again!