Tokyo Walking Tour | Hidden Temple & Café Escape in Jindaiji

Tokyo Walking Tour | Hidden Temple & Café Escape in Jindaiji

Hello! Last time I visited Jindaiji in autumn for the beautiful autumn leaves.
This time, I came back to explore Jindaiji in early summer, when the fresh greenery is dazzling. Right now, the temple’s symbolic tree, the “Nanjamonja,” is in full bloom. Its fluffy white flowers sway gently in the wind, creating a dreamlike scene. Just watching it makes my heart feel lighter. By the way, “Nanjamonja” is quite a unique name, isn’t it? Some say the name “Nanjamonja” comes from people looking at the strange shape of the tree and saying,
“Nanjamonja? (What on earth is that?)” Even the name’s origin is charming, isn’t it? In the early morning, even on weekends, Jindaiji is quiet and peaceful. Surrounded by the sounds of birds and rustling trees, the atmosphere was so serene it naturally made me stand a little straighter. It seems they’ve recently introduced new types of omamori (good luck charms). This one is a cute lace-style charm. And there’s a limited-edition charm inspired by the Nanjamonja tree. I got the Nanjamonja charm! It’s so lovely—I attached it to my bag right away. Also, right now, a rare public exhibition of Gansan Daishi is taking place. Usually, this sacred image is only viewable once every 50 years,
but thanks to a major restoration since the Edo period, it’s now open to the public for a special occasion. I lined up to see it myself, and I could really feel its powerful presence—it left a deep impression on me. It felt like my heart had become more calm and centered afterward. Around this time, the temple shops start opening up. Wrapped in the fresh morning air, I took a slow walk toward— It’s a nostalgic little shop, full of the warmth of natural wood. The seating faces a quiet garden, and the view of the vivid greenery through the window is beautiful. A gentle breeze flows through, and just sitting there helps you unwind completely. It’s such a soothing place. Since the breeze was so pleasant that day, I chose a seat on the terrace. With birdsong and the sound of rustling leaves in the background, I slowly enjoyed a carefully brewed iced coffee. And another recommendation—ice cream topped with house-made adzuki beans. Creamy vanilla ice cream, topped generously with soft, plump adzuki beans. These adzuki beans are truly delicious—refined sweetness with a smooth texture that melts in your mouth. Even people who normally don’t like adzuki say, “If it’s from here, I love it,” and come back again and again. The coffee is slowly brewed, drop by drop. You can taste its richness and depth the moment you take a sip. Even when adding milk, the coffee’s flavor remains beautifully intact. With the calm greenery, gentle sweetness, and clear breeze— this one cup gave me a truly luxurious moment. Inside the café, you’ll also find a lovely selection of handmade goods. The area around Jindaiji is blessed with abundant spring water, and as you walk, you’ll hear the sound of flowing streams from all around. That sound alone creates such a soothing feeling. Right across from Manjuen is the Waterwheel Museum. The soft clatter of the turning waterwheel drifts into your ears,and it’s the kind of peaceful sound that makes you stop and take it all in. Thanks to this rich supply of clear water, there are actually around 20 soba restaurants scattered around the Jindaiji grounds. All of them are popular, and by early afternoon, you’ll often see long lines forming in front of each one. Freshly made soba is one of the main reasons people come here. By the way, in my previous video, I introduced my favorite soba shop. But this time, I decided to try something a little different— a charming café nearby. It’s a stylish little place, combining a café with thoughtfully selected goods and crafts. The café menu features gentle, carefully made dishes, with a focus on organic and pesticide-free ingredients. Honestly, I had planned to start with lunch… but this salted caramel café latte came out first. I forgot to say, “Please bring it after the meal.” I always forget to mention that. Oops! 😆 But the light touch of salt really brought out the sweetness of the caramel and milk. It had a wonderfully rich and layered flavor. For lunch, I had the dry curry. As soon as the plate arrived, the aroma of the spices filled the air… It already looked delicious even before I took a bite! Each bite brought layers of spices—flavors unfolding gently in my mouth. It was so delicious. And now, the best part after a good meal… dessert! The donut was incredibly tasty. Today, I went with the chocolate donut with cacao nibs. It wasn’t too sweet, but still so satisfying—like a grown-up chocolate donut. In that quiet space, both my heart and stomach felt full. A truly happy moment. The grounds of Jindaiji are surprisingly spacious. Just a short walk, and you’re surrounded by forest, where all you hear is wind and birdsong. Hard to believe this place is only about 30 minutes from central Tokyo— That’s how deeply immersed in nature you feel here. On weekends, you’ll see people strolling with their dogs, adding to the warm and peaceful atmosphere. When you want to escape the crowds and spend some quiet time, or feel the change of seasons with your own skin— This is the kind of place you’ll want to visit on a whim. A hidden little sanctuary for the soul. The sound of flowing water is so soothing… And the fresh greenery—it’s so beautiful. Just looking at it brings peace to the heart. Before we end, there’s one more place I’d love to visit. Today happens to be one of the rare days Gyokusendo is open. I’ve shared this shop in a past video, too! The traditional storefront reminds me of Kyoto or Kamakura— serene and timeless. It truly feels like time slows down when you’re here. The shop is run by a lovely couple who bake handmade sweets using buckwheat flour. The shop only opens in spring and autumn. Right now, it’s open only on alternate weekends, so it’s quite a rare chance to visit. This was my first visit in six months, and I’d been really looking forward to it. But when I arrived, all the baked goods were already sold out! Luckily, there were still a few buckwheat scones left— and that’s what I really wanted. So I felt incredibly lucky. I enjoyed the scone with their slow-brewed drip coffee, at a peaceful table beneath the eaves. That long-awaited scone… yes, it was just as delicious as I remembered. Simple, yet full of depth— a comforting flavor that warms the heart. It was so good… I couldn’t resist and bought another one. Haha. 😆 And the very last “Swirl Scone Mini”— I brought that home to enjoy slowly later. I spent the day relaxing at Jindaiji, surrounded by peaceful nature. Ahh… Jindaiji really is such a healing place. Delicious sweets, crystal-clear spring water, and soothing greenery— little moments of wonder unfold with each step you take. Thanks so much for watching until the end! If you’d like, please check out my previous vlog from when I visited in autumn too. I hope it felt like you came along on the journey with me ☺️ Feel free to leave a comment or subscribe— I’d love to hear what you thought! See you in the next video! 😊

Jindaiji – A Peaceful Summer Stroll in Chofu, Tokyo

I visited Jindaiji Temple, located in Chofu, Tokyo.
This time, I came during early summer, when the fresh greenery is at its brightest.
You’ll see the soft white blossoms of the Nanjamonja tree, the soothing sounds of spring water, birdsong,
and enjoy charming cafés and a lovely handmade sweets shop.
This is a calm and healing walk, surrounded by nature and warm-hearted people.

I hope it feels like you came along on this little trip with me ☺️

If you enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing, liking, or leaving a comment—it really means a lot!
Stay tuned for the next peaceful outing!

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【Timestamps】

00:00 Intro
00:25 Morning at Jindaiji & blooming Nanjamonja tree
02:20 Coffee time at “Manjuen”
03:50 Exploring Jindaiji: soba shops & the Waterwheel Museum
04:51 Lunch at the stylish café “park”
06:07 Quiet nature scenes around Jindaiji
07:47 Sweets & coffee break at “Gyokusendo”

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【Places featured】

◇ Jindaiji Temple (Chofu City)
https://www.jindaiji.or.jp
◇ Manjuen
https://cfo4.shinobiashi.com/coffee/
◇ Café “park”
https://thisispark.jp
◇ Gyokusendo
https://gyokusendo.tokyo

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#Jindaiji #TokyoVlog #HiddenGemJapan #CafeinTokyo #DayTripfromTokyo #JapaneseNature #SlowLifeJapan

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