Kōenji Station 高円寺駅 and around

9 Nov 2025
Koenji shopping streets were largely filled with vintage clothes. There were few small independent record shops and a sake bar in the area. Sounds sufficient for a day out.
Koenji shopping streets was largely filled with vintage clothes. Bought some whisky barrel-aged coffee beans from a local roaster and found some small back lane cafe to chill.

Original plan was to visit 2 independent record stores in that area and also a craft sake bar there. One of the record shop was closed for the week.,

Stumbled upon Be-In Records. While I did not manage to buy anything from them, it is about the most complete Beatles collection in a single place. There was an entire section with shelves cataloged by album name. Super impressive collection which you need to expect matchingly impressive prices. Serious collectors will find what they want here.

The craft sake bar was holding a private event.
The restaurant next door looks decent, so why not. Turns out to be some pretty interesting modern fusion izakaya dishes, daikon with salt truffle whip, grilled caramel corn, oyster in capsicum, which of course paired with some modern styled sake.