Today, I wandered around Okubo Station. I don’t know when the shift happened, but this place has been totally drenched in foreign vibes. It used to be known as Korea town, with lots of foreigners around, but now it’s a melting pot of various cultures. While in Japan, why not soak up some international flavor on the side?
A. Start Walking Okubo / Town of Boy Detective Conan:
Today’s starting point is JR Shin-Okubo Station (marked as A on the map). In Okubo, there are both JR Shin-Okubo Station and JR Okubo Station, with Shin-Okubo Station being on the JR Yamanote Line.
Once you step out of the station, take a moment to look around. If you’re a fan of Boy Detective Conan, you might find something that rings a bell. The station building has been reconstructed, so the resemblance may have faded, but this place served as the model for Beika Station, Conan’s hometown.
PR
If you want to stay near Okubo, Onsen Ryokan Yuen Shinjuku, Japanese taste rooms, is available:
PR
If you want to stay near Okubo, APA Hotel Shinjuku Gyoemmae is available:
B. Hit-the-Jackpot Shrine/Kaichu Inari Shrine:
The first stop is Kaichu Inari Shrine (marked as B on the map), located just to the right of the station. The name of the temple translates to “Hit-the-Jackpot Shrine” in English.
In this area, during the Edo period, there were samurai groups dealing with firearms, and there’s a local legend that praying at this shrine guarantees a bullseye every time. If you’re into gambling or lotteries, it might be worth a little visit!
Okubo Main Street:
If you start walking the other way, you’ll find yourself surrounded by Korean idol goodies, cosmetics from Korea, standing-eating stalls, and ethnic food joints. There are quite a few Korean-themed establishments, and it seems like many customers are visitors from Korea. It’s a bit curious that people would come all the way from Korea to Japan’s Korea Town. Well, without thinking too much about it, it might be nice to casually check out stores selling Korean goods, K-POP-related goodies, cosmetics, and the like.
C. Memory of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn) Memorial Park:
A little further away, let’s visit Koizumi Yakumo Memorial Park (marked as C on the map) dedicated to a foreigner who played a significant role in Japan over a century ago. Known in Japan as Koizumi Yakumo and born as Patrick Lafcadio Hearn, he came to Japan as an English teacher in the early Meiji period when Japan was just beginning to open up to the world. He married a Japanese woman and passed away in this Okubo neighborhood.
His name is remembered among the Japanese for being a pioneer of modern times who introduced Japan to the world, translating Japanese literature and presenting folktales in English such as “Kuwaidan (Ghost Stories)”. Let’s go to the park commemorating him and the place where he spent his final days.
D. Final Resting Place of Koizumi Yakumo (Lafcadio Hearn):
Right near the park is the place where he lived his final days. Since it’s just outside the park, it might be worth stopping by for a quick look. Unfortunately, aside from the memorial stone, there’s nothing left to remind us of the past.
Detour Point ❶: Shin-Okubo Asia Food Stall Village
Well, there are plenty of food stalls and eateries around here, so I think anywhere is fine. However, if you’re not a fan of spicy Korean flavors, this Food Stall Village might be a good choice. They offer not only Korean dishes but also various cuisines from East and Southeast Asian countries.
The restaurant is quite spacious, so it seems like you can always find a seat, and it’s conveniently close to Shin-Okubo Station. Additionally, the seats along the wall have electrical outlets. It could be helpful for those whose devices are running out of battery. Just remember that the outlets are Japanese-style, so don’t forget to bring a charger that fits.
Now that you’re here, you could either head back to the lively JR Shin-Okubo Station area, where you can enjoy various ethnic cuisines in a Food Stall Village, or it’s just a quick trip to Shinjuku area. It seems like a very appealing place, especially for young people, particularly women.
I kinda like this town. There are loads of standing eateries, selling all sorts of ethnic dishes, and careless folks dropping food on the streets. Well, I’m not much of a street snacker, but hey, it’s not Japan, so why not. Coming this town, the mix of various spices might mess with my nose a bit, but, you know, that’s not too shabby either.