Hachioji Area Guide

Although Hachioji City is surrounded by Mt. Takao and Mt. Jinba, living in the area doesn’t have to resemble roughing it in the mountains. You’ll find plenty of city-life amenities close to the station, while also just being a quick trip away from a trek in the mountains. Located almost 50 km to the west of downtown Tokyo, Hachioji Station straddles the line between city and nature. Keep on reading to find out if this is the neighborhood for you!

Details

Trainline(s)
Hachioji Station is located on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid), JR Yokohama Line, and JR Hachiko Line.
Access
From Hachioji Station on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) Special Rapid Service:
-- 37-min direct to Shinjuku Station
-- 50-min direct to Tokyo Station
-- 48-min to Shibuya Station (1 transfer)

Contents

You’ll find tall buildings in Hachioji, but not to the point where they’ll block out a view of the sky! Photo: Scott Kouchi

Hachioji at a glance

Hachioji Station itself is surrounded by department stores – the same as any large station within Tokyo. However, once you begin to drift away from the station, you might find yourself amidst a wealth of flora and fauna. If you choose to live in this area, you’ll be just minutes away from Mt. Takao (a popular day-hike destination for Tokyoites) – the great outdoors are at your doorstep in this neighborhood.

Looking down the street extending from the North Exit of Hachioji Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Transportation

You have access to a few different lines from Hachioji Station: JR Chuo Line, JR Yokohama Line, and Hachiko Line (a local line that runs north-south through Saitama to Gunma). As this does give you some options for moving around the area using public transportation, the fact of the matter is that this station is still quite a ways away from downtown Tokyo. If that doesn’t bother you, then you might find that the conveniences located around the station are more than sufficient.

You also have access to the Keio Line at Keio-Hachioji Station, which is only a five-minute walk from Hachioji Station. Similar to the Chuo Line, this can take you all the way to Shinjuku Station; giving you multiple options for transportation.

You’ll find platforms for the JR Chuo Line (Rapid), JR Chuo Main Line, and JR Yokohama Line at Hachioji Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Rent

Rent is rather affordable in the Hachioji area. This can prove to be a steal if your work or school is also located nearby.

  • Studio/1K ¥56,300/month (About $530 assuming an exchange rate of ¥106/US dollar)
  • 1LDK/2DK/2K ¥88,400 (About $830)
  • 2LDK/3DK/3K ¥118,400 (~$1110)

On Real Estate Japan, you can find much less expensive options than the average numbers mentioned above.

For example, rent for some 1K apartments near Hachioji Station starts at around ¥26,000 per month.

A look down a residential road very close to Fujimori Park – a large outdoor athletic park with tennis courts and playgrounds. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Apartments for rent in the Hachioji area

To see current listings, please click on the links below.

Looking south of Hachioji Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

 

Ease of living

Around Hachioji Station, you’ll find many stores that are common sights throughout the larger stations within Tokyo. For example, there is a CELEO department store, Tokyu Square department store, and Bic Camera all quite close to the station. 

Right around the North Exit of Hachioji Station you’ll find a variety of department stores, making it seem quite city-like for being almost 60 minutes away from downtown. Photo: Scott Kouchi

These provide plenty of shopping options, and in addition, there are a few supermarkets for when you need to grab ingredients for dinner. 

There’s a variety of gyms in the area as well, so you should be able to find a location that fits your workout schedule.

Looking at the South Exit of Hachioji Station. Just out of frame is a large Bic Camera store and the Super ALPS shopping mall. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Hachioji is closer to the great outdoors and beautiful scenery than it is to the energy and excitement of downtown Tokyo. This can either be a blessing or a curse depending on your personal preference!

The Asakawa River runs just north of Hachioji Station, and it’s accompanied by a lot of open green space beside it. There’s also a convenient bike path parallel to the river for most the way close to the station. Photo: Scott Kouchi.

With that said, you’ll still be able to find a mix of restaurants and shops near the station – but it’ll take you a bit of time to hoof it into the city if you want to explore downtown Tokyo.

Hachioji City is home to the famous Mt. Takao – a beloved day-hike location for Tokyoites. There’s a chairlift that can bring you up to enjoy the view! Photo: mono

Hachioji: A Unique Corner of Tokyo

There are countless regional takes on ramen that you can find all over Japan. It just so happens that Hachioji lays claim to a type of ramen that uniquely incorporates chopped onions in a pork-bone and soy sauce based broth.

In Hachioji, you can find the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, the Takao 599 Museum, and the Hachioji Yume Art Museum. You’ll be able to get your fill of artistic expression within Hachioji city limits!

Hachioji is also home to an annual Ginkgo Festival. Held around November, this festival celebrates the 4 km stretch of ginkgo trees lining a stretch of road in Hachioji! Find more information here https://www.ichou-festa.org/about/

Takao is well-known for its beautiful fall colors, and Hachioji Station is only a few minutes away from the great views of nature in Tokyo! Photo: mono

Around the same time in November, you can experience the Classic Car Parade in Hachioji. Collectors gather together to showcase their rare and unique cars!

Who is this area ideal for?

Ever had spaghetti Napolitan? It’s a Japanese creation mixing spaghetti noodles with a ketchup-based tomato sauce. This restaurant (Piapia) in Hachioji specializes in these Japanese-style pasta dishes! Photo: Scott Kouchi

If you are going to be spending the majority of your time in west Tokyo, Hachioji has a lot to offer. While some choose to commute from Hachioji to downtown Tokyo, the ~55-minute commute (each way) can wear you down after a while. On the flip side, if you are a weekend warrior who needs to be close to the mountains and rivers, Hachioji provides a balance between the city and the outdoors that can’t be beat.

Lead photo: Scott Kouchi

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