{"id":9012,"date":"2018-11-18T18:01:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-18T10:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/?p=9012"},"modified":"2018-12-07T18:17:16","modified_gmt":"2018-12-07T10:17:16","slug":"japan-travel-harmonica-yokocho-in-musashino-tokyo-hidden-treasure-trove-of-food-and-nightlife","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/2018\/11\/18\/japan-travel-harmonica-yokocho-in-musashino-tokyo-hidden-treasure-trove-of-food-and-nightlife\/","title":{"rendered":"JAPAN TRAVEL: Harmonica Yokocho in Musashino, Tokyo \u2014 Hidden Treasure Trove of Food and Nightlife"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Harmonica Yokocho in Musashino, Tokyo  | Philippine Primer Travels\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/29MOhvl8NJs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><b>Harmonica Yokocho<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Alley) in Tokyo contrasts nicely with the fancy neighborhood that it resides in.\u00a0Places like this are called <i>yokocho <\/i>in Japanese, a set of alleyways where some of the city&#8217;s most precious gems are safely sheltered\u2014small shops, modest restaurants, teeming ramshackle pubs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9020\" src=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-5.jpg 800w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-5-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Harmonica Yokocho is located in Kichijoji, a quaint yet hip and modern district in Musashino City. The district encompasses shopping streets, fancy dining attractions, and lovely boutiques, which make this part of the city radiantly attractive especially for young people. I<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">f you&#8217;re simply walking along the north side of Kichijoji Station, you probably would not realize that there is a place like Harmonica Yokocho in this otherwise trendy community of Tokyo.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9021\" src=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-3.jpg 800w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-3-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Before it became the dining and drinking hub that it is today, Harmonica Yokocho used to be a flea market that operated after World War II. Now, there are still small cozy stores and snack shops open during the day, but it is at night that you can see Harmonica Yokocho fully come to life, when the small signages and red lanterns flicker softly and the narrow alleys start to be filled with people.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9025\" src=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-2.jpg 533w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-2-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Harmonica Yokocho is not that big, but the first entry may be a bit intimidating\u2014you transition from a hip and radiant district to a\u00a0claustrophobic warren of dimly lit alleys\u2014especially when you are not familiar with getting around its intersecting pathways. However, that feeling is easily overcome by an air of inclusiveness and anonymity. It&#8217;s\u00a0a welcome breath of fresh air\u2014everyone is a stranger, no one is scrutinized.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9022\" src=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Also read:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/cuisines\/japanese\/japan-travel-yakitori-tecchan-in-musashino-tokyo-unglamorous-yet-charming-local-nightlife-spot\/\" target=\"_blank\">Yakitori Tecchan in Musashino, Tokyo: Unglamorous yet Charming Local Nightlife Spot<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">Harmonica Yokocho is not just a place for a round of alcoholic drinks. There are also delicious yet cheap restaurants and snack shops to explore. The bars and restaurants are a mix of tight and stuffy spaces and cozy ones. If you want to mingle with other people, grab a chair at one of the buzzing pubs. If you want a laidback dining, enter an enclosed restaurant.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9024\" src=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-4-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-4-1.jpg 533w, https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2018\/11\/Harmonica-Yokocho-Philippine-Primer-4-1-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Also read:\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/primer.com.ph\/food\/cuisines\/japanese\/japan-travel-apron-in-musashino-tokyo-get-to-know-a-hot-pot-dish-called-oden\/\" target=\"_blank\">Apron in Musashino, Tokyo: Get to Know a Hot Pot Dish Called Oden!<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you&#8217;re going, go with the expectation of mixing with locals and sitting (or standing) closely with other diners. The environment is not fancy, but<\/span>\u00a0it is surely one of the best places to experience modest local living and tradition so well preserved.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>How to get there<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">\u2022 Nearest Station: Kichijoji Station on the Chuo Line (approx. 30 minutes from Tokyo Station)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\">\u2022 Harmonica Alley is just a 1 to 2-minute walk from the North Exit of Kichijoji Station.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-size: 14pt\"><strong>General Information<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Address: 1-2 Kichijoji-Honcho, Musashino, Tokyo<br \/>\n<\/span>Website: <a href=\"http:\/\/hamoyoko.jp\/\" target=\"_blank\">hamoyoko.jp<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify\"><em>Written\u00a0by Rei Lea\u00f1o<br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 10pt\">This first appeared in Philippine Primer English magazine\u2019s Vol. 32 \u2013 November issue.\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Harmonica Yokocho is not just a place for a round of alcoholic drinks. There are also delicious yet cheap restaurants and snack shops to explore. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":9019,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[562,565,1465,71,342,1504],"tags":[1468,1474,1525,1526],"class_list":["post-9012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","category-japan-international","category-tokyo","category-tourist-spot","category-travel-guide","category-tokyos-hidden-charms-2018","tag-tokyo-spots","tag-activities-in-tokyo","tag-harmonica-yokocho","tag-where-to-eat-in-tokyo"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9012"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9012\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9257,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9012\/revisions\/9257"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/primer.com.ph\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}