Jiyugaoka

Known for its perennial Sunday afternoon atmosphere, ubiquitous sweets cafes, and ever-changing boutiques; while the neighborhood of Jiyugaoka sports a heftier price tag than other areas of the city, its ambiance makes it worth every yen.

Jiyugaoka’s true claim to fame is its sweets. You can hardly walk half a block without seeing a bakery, cafe, or other speciality shop serving up everything from soufflé pancakes to cakes and pastries to Japanese-style jelly and purin (pudding). Many of these places are only found in Jiyugaoka. A prime example is the famous Sweets Forest, a sweets theme park where you can try sweets from eight different shops made fresh by each shop’s “super patissiers.”

If you prefer to make your own sweets, be sure to check out Cuoca, located next door. The chain is one Tokyo’s premier baking shops and the main branch in Jiyugaoka has three floors filled with everything from ingredients to bakeware to speciality kitchen tools. Plus, you can enjoy the unique-to-this-location chocolate cellar, a room dedicated to high quality baking chocolate from around the world.

Other well-known areas of Jiyugaoka are Marie Claire Street, a shopping street that features high-end boutiques and salons aimed towards women, and Green Street, which runs parallel to Marie Claire Street a block south. Green Street is lined with cafes, restaurants, and lifestyle and clothing shops, but the main draw is the benches nestled under the trees that run down its center.

This space is what sets the tone for Jiyugaoka’s easy-going attitude. It is an avenue made for strolling. When the weather’s good, you can always spot people kicking back with a drink and a book, chatting with friends, or enjoying some people-watching or hanami when the cherry blossoms are in season.

The neighborhood often hosts local festivals and events, so the area remains lively despite its slower Sunday tempo. If you’re looking for a change of pace, come to Jiyugaoka and do as the locals do: grab a seat, a coffee, and a sweet and watch the world go by.