Italian shops and restaurants in Kichijoji (Tokyo) - DVJ - Italian Dolce Vita in Japan 〜日本におけるイタリアン・ドルチェ・ヴィータ

This area of Kichijoji reminds me of the atmosphere of Koenji or Shimokitazawa, a bit underground, with independent shops.

We spent an afternoon here and we loved it. Unless it was a quite cold day of January there were pretty much people around! Tourism is not completely restored yet because of Covid (The moment I am writing these lines is January 2023) but there were some couples of foreigners (resident or visitors, I don’t know) and a big group of French travelers. Otherwise many Japanese people were scrolling along the streets.

Lunch – GONZO

We first went to lunch in the Italian restaurant “Pizzeria & Trattoria GONZO”. The atmosphere was relaxed, there were couples, families with kids and on the terrace you can keep your dog with you (the waiter asked if it was ok with us when the owners asked to sit next to our table). We first ate a mix of antipasti like frico (potatoes and cheese tarte from Friuli), carpaccio and a particular caprese with kaki instead of tomatoes, good. We drank a glass of red wine and we shared a very good pizza with melanzane (aubergine/eggplant), salamino and ricotta. They brought peperoncino olive oil to add, a very good point. At the end an espresso and we went away.

The restaurant is part of a chain, there are some dishes arranged to the Japanese taste but it was ok. Especially for the pizza that was cooked in a real pizza oven.(I would have tried pasta, but not the risotto).

This is a cashless restaurant.

Link: https://www.jillion-gonzo-kichijouji.com/

Murano glass shop – Venetian Bazaar

After lunch we went for a walk. There is a very nice shoutengai with vintage shops, ceramics, handmade cute stuff, pretty cafes and especially the Petit Mura one that looks like coming out from a Ghibli movie.

Walking a little bit further we came across Venetian Bazaar, a shop with Venetian decorations like masks and paintings, but also many beautiful jewels made with Murano glass. They also sell individual pearls so that you can make your own earrings, bracelets, necklaces and so on. The interior is small and cute with am Italian style tiled floor and at the entrance two lion statues welcome the guests.

Link: https://www.venetianbazaar.co/　

Ancient paper shop – Giovanni

Few steps later there was a shop called Giovanni, with a Renaissance, Florence vibe. They sell sealing stamps, ancient-looking ink pens, prints, paper and leather products.

Definitely lovely. I took some pictures but I was asked not to, I felt a bit embarrassed because in the other shops they mark if it is not allowed and here there is no indication at all inside nor outside. So be careful.

Link: https://www.giovanni.jp/　

Final thoughts

I really like this area and I want to come back to see the famous park and to enjoy some izakaya at the yokocho.

As I final note I also found some handmade bags with an Italian tag on them and the Italian Passo carrabile sign, but as we entered it was a mix of French, Italian, British fabrics and tags, so I am not sure it was really Italian.

And when we entered Uniqlo we found some items in collaboration with the Italian brand Marni! 100% silk foulard at 1900¥, some boys bought 2 or 3 each for their girlfriends, such a good taste, guys.