Located to the west of Shinjuku on the JR Chuo Line, Nakano is one of the most densely populated places in Tokyo. It’s also served by the Tozai, Marunouchi and Oedo subway lines.
Despite the dense built-up urban environment, Nakano is full of cheap retail, hospitality and accommodation options. The long, covered shotengai (shopping street) to the north of Nakano Station is full of both cheap chain stores and shops run by locals and leads right to the entrance of Nakano Broadway a seemingly windowless 13-level commercial complex built 45 years ago and jam-packed with 350 shops selling everything you can imagine—from second hand manga through to sewing supplies.As always, you’ve got a lot of choice for foodie joints in the capital of Japan.
Another foodie option for this area is its exciting collection of food trucks. If you leave the Nakano Station using the north exit, you will hit a building complex and a large park, called Nakano Central Park. The major highlight of this area of Tokyo is Nakano Broadway, a 13-level commercial complex. This is shopping at its best, with around 350 shops all under one roof. Here you can purchase anything you can imagine from Japan, from electronics, to manga, anime merchandises, vintage goods and more—oftentimes being compared to (a better version of) Akihabara. There are a heap of things to find in this area of the city and there will always be something new to buy. So go on and release that inner geek, it deserves to have some play time here for sure—or indeed release your inner shopaholic.For a bit of relaxation, visit Kotobuki Yu, a popular onsen in Tokyo, and located just a few minutes from the station. Try one of the “medicated” baths with rotating herbs.Nakano is one of those great places to see cherry blossoms when it’s the season in Tokyo. With its wide streets, tall buildings and all that Tokyo chaotic jazz, it’s always nice and refreshing to see some gorgeous natural features—and that is exactly what you get.