Living in Hachioji is like standing in a doorway between two Japans. One foot can still feel the pulse of Tokyo with its busy trains, coffee chains, and shopping streets. The other steps into something slower and softer, where mountain ridges frame the skyline. Nature leans in close. The air carries the scent of the forest and river, and at night, it feels as if you're sleeping at the edge of the woods.
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I never expected to stay this long when I first moved here, but now, I find it hard to imagine ever leaving. If you plan to visit Hachioji – just an hour and a half by train from Tokyo – here’s where to go.
For a calm and inviting start to your day, I recommend heading to Tokyo Farm Village, where genuine working farm life meets casual dining. Find a table overlooking the grazing cows and watch the flocks settle in for the day. Order their beef stroganoff, tender meat and mushrooms bathed in a creamy sauce served over rice, and the pour-over coffee – a clean and fragrant accompaniment to the food.
As you sip, you can watch the farm come to life: milking carts rolling by, sheep bleating their good mornings, and curious cows lifting their heads to eye every movement. It’s a simple, satisfying experience that will ground you in Hachioji’s gentle rhythms.
After breakfast, embrace a local’s ritual with a trip to Mount Takao, the perfect way to connect with the landscape. A 20-minute drive from the town centre through quiet neighborhoods will take you to the parking lot near the trailhead.
Lace up your hiking shoes and step onto the path, where you’ll notice the city noise fading instantly, replaced by the crunch of pine needles underfoot and the stir of leaves overhead.
Ancient cedars tower above, moss blankets the stones, and statues of Jizo (the guardian deity of children) stand watch beside the trail. The hike to the lookout takes about two hours, and the reward is immense. On clear days, Mount Fuji appears beyond the ridges, a silent, distant, and stirring presence. It’s a moment to pause and breathe deeply, letting the mountain’s quiet fill you in a way no city routine could.
Credit: Tokyo Farm Village
By late afternoon, you'll be ready for a well-earned meal back in town. I suggest you find Café Chouchou, a small spot with warm wooden interiors, lace curtains, and soft lighting. It’s exactly the sort of peaceful pause one craves after the trail.
Go for their white bun burger, made with locally baked bread, a thick patty and crisp veggies, served with a side of French fries and refreshing iced lemonade. Each bite is juicy and satisfying. Around you, couples might be sharing soft laughter, and friends sipping cold beers.
To fully unwind, a visit to Ryusenji no Yu, a local onsen tucked into a peaceful neighbourhood, is a must. The exterior is simple, but inside, you'll find carbonated baths, saunas, and steam rooms, all part of Tokyo’s popular super sento experience – large public bathing facilities with a bumper crop of features.
After checking in and leaving your shoes behind, tread across the cool tiles. You can begin indoors, move through the sauna, take a plunge into the cold water, and finally unwind in the open-air bath.
As the sun dips behind the trees, let the warm, mineral-rich water envelop you. It’s a magical moment when both your muscles and mind let go.
Credit: Markus Winkler
A perfect end to the day is a meal at Ramen Kaede, a cozy, standalone shop just off Hachioji Station. Inside, you’ll find just a few counter stools and a single booth, creating a quiet space perfect for soothing the senses.
Here, the springy noodles come in a savoury, well-balanced soy-sauce-based broth, and the first slurp never fails to warm and comfort – making it easy to see why Hachioji ramen draws people from across Tokyo.
I also highly recommend ordering a side of tamago kake gohan, a humble dish of steamed rice topped with a raw egg and a splash of soy sauce. Crack the yolk, swirl it into the rice until it becomes creamy and shimmering, and alternate bites between the ramen and the rice.
This is simplicity at its best: two homey flavors that perfectly capture why Hachioji is considered a ramen lover’s town.
From farm mornings and mountain air, to relaxed lunches, warming onsen baths, and humbly delicious bowls of ramen, this itinerary follows the gentle rhythms of Hachioji. It doesn’t shout with neon lights or crowded attractions, but that is precisely its charm. The beauty here lives in simplicity, in soft routines, and in the quiet meeting of city edge and mountain calm.
