Kagurazaka: Where Japanese Tradition meets French Chic

Photo © AC Photo

This is a small stylish neighbourhood close to Shinjuku which was once a lively geisha district. These days, with cobbled streets, chic shops, French schools and French restaurants, Kagurazaka is better known as Tokyo's little Paris. Stroll the quiet backstreets and you'll still find signs of the area's geisha heritage.

Explore Kagurazaka

Neighbor to bustling Shinjuku, head to Kagurazaka and discover the discreet charms of one of Tokyo's oldest neighborhoods. Lined with traditional craft and souvenir shops, restaurants and sellers of Japanese confectioneries, the area's main sloping street once marked the outskirts of Edo Castle. Kagurazaka is a former prominent geisha entertainment district and remnants of this fascinating culture exist in its cobbled backstreets today.

General Tips

• To navigate its cobbled pavements and sloped streets, comfortable shoes are a must
• Kagurazaka boasts the largest concentration of French restaurants in Tokyo
• Visit the area at dusk and you may be lucky enough to see a geisha

1) Your journey begins here
Kagurazaka Station
Reach Kagurazaka Station via the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and head to Exit 2.
1 min

2 Design is holy
Akagi-jinja Shrine
Kengo Kuma's touch is also apparent at this Shinto holy site, which the architect modernized in 2010. Pay your respects and admire the latticed wood and steel-plate roofing that mimics traditional yamato-buki tiling before heading off for some lunch.
3 mins

3) Where European charm and Japanese culture meet
French dining
Home to much of the French expat community, Kagurazaka is one of the best places in Tokyo to dine francais. You'll find everything from French pastries to backstreet bistros, along with Japan's first creperie and Michelin-starred restaurants.
3 mins

4) A taste of Kyoto's Gion in Tokyo
Kakurenbo Yokocho
Especially alluring at dusk, Kagurazaka's cobbled backstreets speak of the area's past. Wander this winding alleyway, lined with discreet high-end restaurants, to capture the essence of this former geisha district.
2 mins

5) A symbol of the neighborhood
Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple
Veer back to the main street of Kagurazaka and you'll see the commanding red pillars of Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple in your sights. Founded by shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa and relocated to its current location in the late 18th century, this temple is a Kagurazaka hub.

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