Ogikubo: Myoshoji & Nishiogikubo: Cars & Guitars

This next installment of "Suginami Foreigners' Walks" started from Ogikubo and went on a route into Nishi-Ogikubo, finally ending back in Ogikubo. I went with my new friend Damian who has been in Japan about 20 years. Aside from our obvious connection with Japan, we connected in that we are both guitarists and also celebrating the Boston Bruins recent victory of the Stanley Cup, the most important series of games in Hockey. I am from Boston and Damian, originally from Canada, has been a Bruins fan for most of his life. It almost felt like being home to be able to talk about a hockey team like the Bruins again.
-Greg Mudarri, U.S.A.

The most amazing thing to me about the route we took was that we both had planned to go to a lot of the same places independently of each other. Back in October I was looking for some places of interest and when I was in Nishi-Ogikubo. I found some interesting looking places including a Ferrari dealer. I thought it would be interesting for Japanese and foreigners alike. he had included a similar route and the Ferrari place! I never even mentioned it to anyone. So those destinations were a must, and also knowing our mutual love for guitars we added a vintage guitar shop to the tour, and along the way we walked along Myoshoji River and saw its namesake temple and park, as well as other places of interest along the path.

今回の「外国人の杉並さんぽ」は荻窪駅から西荻窪まで歩いて、また荻窪へ。最近友達になったカナダ人のダミアンと一緒に散歩しました。彼は20年も日本に住んでいます。私たちは日本に住んでいるから日本に興味を持つのは当たり前ですが、ギタリストであることやボストンのホッケーチーム「ブルーインズ」のファンであることも共通。とにかく、こういう話ができて国に帰ったような気分になったところから今回の散歩もスタート。

今回の散歩で一番びっくりしたことは、ダミアンと私の行きたかった所が偶然にも同じだったことです。2010年10月、西荻窪の散歩で面白い所を探していた時、憧れのイタリア車フェラーリのお店を見つけました。ここは外国人だけじゃなくて、日本人にとっても面白いのではないかと思いました。ダミアンも私と同じことを考えていました！私は珍しい車を見てみたいという話をしなかったのにです。そんなことで、この場所に行かないわけにはいきません。また共通の趣味であるギターのことも気になりヴィンテージのギターのお店にも行くことにしました。途中、妙正寺川沿いを歩いて、妙正寺公園とそのお寺にも寄りました。

We started from Ogikubo Station down Kyokai-Dori

GREG: We started from Ogikubo Station down Kyokai-Dori (kyokai-dori.com), but the first stop was Myoshoji Park. The Park has a great pond and depending on when you go, you may be able to see the large fountains running. The park also has a lot of open space to have a picnic or for kids to play. From the park the Myoshoji River starts and we walked down the river for a ways.

DAMIAN: Every time I go back to that area it is a special feeling. That is where my son spent the first 5 years of his life so I have a lot of great memories playing in Myoshoji Park with him and walking around the neighbourhood. I also used to play guitar in the park too and sometimes people would come up and talk to me, so I had a good chance to meet some local Suginami people.

荻窪駅から教会通りを歩き、妙正寺公園へ。
グレッグ：広々とした公園でピクニックや子どもの遊びに良いでしょう。そこには素敵な池があって、行く時間によって大きい噴水も見られるかもしれません。妙正寺川もここから始まるので、少し川沿いの道を歩きましょう。

ダミアン：このあたりに戻ってくると懐かしくて、特別な気持ちになります。ボクの息子はこの近くで生まれて5歳まで育ったので、妙正寺公園で遊んだりその近辺を散歩したりした良い思い出がたくさんあります。公園でギターを弾いていると、たまに人が話しかけてくれてたりして、杉並の人と出会うには、いいチャンスでしたね。

Exploring Science in Suginami

GREG: Damian mentioned a building that looked like a planetarium right near the beginning of the river so we went to go check it out. It appears to be both an observatory and a planetarium. Unfortunately, it is closed on Sundays so we could not enter. We would like to go back when it is open. It seems like a great place for kids where they can learn a lot about science. I was very interested in the silk worm farming I could see through the window.

DAMIAN: I always used to wonder what such a rare building was doing in the middle of a residential area of Suginami ward! I've always wanted to enter it but it seemed as though it was closed a lot of the time.

Suginami Science Museum
167-0033 Suginami-ku, Shimizu 3-3-13 phone: 03-3396-4391
Open Hours: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Closed: Year End/New Year's Holidays, Sundays and Holidays
http://www2.city.suginami.tokyo.jp/scied/index.asp

グレッグ：ダミアンから「妙正寺川の近くにプラネタリウムみたいなビルがある」と聞いて、行ってみようと思いました。ここはプラネタリウムと観測所のようです。残念ながら、日曜日は定休日で入れませんでした。開館時間にまた行ってみたいと思います。「杉並区立科学館」というところで、子供たちが科学のことについてたくさん学ぶ場所なのだそうです。窓越しから見える蚕棚に、興味を持ちました。

ダミアン：こんなに珍しい建物が、なぜ杉並区の住宅地にあるのかとよく考えていました。入ってみたいといつも思っていましたが、たいてい閉館していて残念でした。

杉並区立科学館
〒167-0033 杉並区清水3丁目3番13号　電話03-3396-4391
開館時間：午前 9 時～午後 5 時
休館日：年末年始、日曜及び祝日
http://www2.city.suginami.tokyo.jp/scied/index.asp

Myoshoji Temple

GREG: This was a really beautiful temple. I was really glad we ended up here after walking the river a little. The temple to me really had an "East Meets West" feel with its grassy areas, which were very verdant and pleasant. Usually we would expect many stones in place of the grass, so this is really the first temple I had seen like this. Very beautiful. In fact, Damian even remarked, "Who needs Kyoto when you have a place like this in Suginami!"

DAMIAN: Myoshoji is a lovely little temple located about 20 minutes on foot from Ogikubo station, not far from Myshoji park. It's peace and tranquility was a welcoming change from the hustle and bustle of nearby Kanpachi Dori, and worth a trip up to see.

Myoshoji Temple
Suginami-ku, Shimizu 3-5-10

グレッグ：妙正寺は本当に綺麗なお寺でした。妙正寺川のルートを歩いて、妙正寺に行って良かったです。気持ちが良くて緑いっぱいの芝があったので、本当に東西の繋がりがあるという感じでした。芝の代わりは大抵の場合、石でしょう。日本の伝統的な場所で芝を見たのは初めてです。ダミアンが「杉並区にこんなところがあるのなら、京都に行く理由もない！」と言ったくらい綺麗でした。

ダミアン：妙正寺は妙正寺公園の近くで、荻窪駅から歩いて約20分かかります。ここは環八通りの喧騒とは打って変わって、平和で静かなので、行く価値があると思います。

妙正寺
東京都杉並区清水3-5-10

Horse Power Galore in Suginami.　Vintage Guitars in Suginami.

GREG: I walked by Prancing Horse before, and marveled at the Ferraris and Porsches through the glass. When Damian told me he had been there with his son and the owner was happy to let them look around, I thought we must check it out.

We talked a lot to the owner, Mr. Endo. He was a very nice man and told us a bit about the shop. He started the business here in 1996. Before that it was a convenience store! He started with his own 12 cylinder Ferrari hobby car and now his dealership attracts many car lovers in their 40's and 50's who always dreamed of having these cars but could never afford it before. He mainly sells Ferrari, Porsche, and Mercedes and also offers maintenance and parts.

DAMIAN: This is a very rare and interesting shop in Suginami. How often does one come across a Ferrari shop??? I took my junior high school son and two of his friends who were into cars to check out the cars, and the owner was very friendly and informative about his unique collection.

Prancing Horse
Suginami-ku, Imagawa 4-1-17
03-5310-5577 / FAX 03-5310-1722
Hours: 10:30am - 7:00pm (closed on Sundays)
Owner: Akihito Endo
http://www.p-horse.com

GREG: When Damian suggested we check out a guitar shop, of course I was all for it! Since we are both serious players, it seemed like a perfect stop on our walk. The place was really cool with lots of great vintage guitars and amps. The owner started it in 1984 and chose the location because there is a great venue nearby as well as other music and related stores. Guitars Market specializes in vintage guitars and amps, and also does repairs. The kind owner, Mr. Terada, is also a musician and knows how to help out a lot of musicians.

DAMIAN: I have been walking to and from my home in Mitaka to work in Ogikubo over 10 years, and so I must have passed by this guitar shop hundreds of times. Unfortunately, the day I pass by it is on a Wednesday when they are closed. But I was finally able to check it out on my Suginami walk and was impressed with their collection of classic Gibson and Fender electric guitars as well as a few rare guitars. The owner was friendly and informative.

Guitars Market
Suginami-ku Nishiogi Minami 4-27-9
03-3334-5566 / FAX 03-3334-5567
Hours: 12:00pm - 8:00pm (closed Wednesdays)
Owner: Kazuhito Terada
http://www.wood-corp.com

After Guitars Market, we made our way back to where we started, Ogikubo Station, although Nishi-Ogikubo Station is arguably closer. You can decide which way to go based on the station that is more convenient to you.
Greg Mudarri, U.S.A.

杉並に馬力がいっぱい
グレッグ：以前の西荻窪散歩で、プランシングホースのフェラーリとポルシェをガラス越しに見て驚きました。ダミアンから、息子さんと一緒に行った時にオーナーが親切に見せて下さった話を聞いて、今回の散歩で行きたいなと思いました。

オーナーの遠藤さんと、たくさんお話ししました。親切にお店のことをいろいろ聞かせて下さいました。この店の創業は1996年。その前はコンビニだったそうです。ご自分の12気筒エンジンのホビーカーから始め、現在はこんな車をずっと夢みていた40代や50代の車愛好家のお客さんが多いそうです。特にフェラーリ、ポルシェ、メルセデスの販売やメンテナンス、パーツ関係の仕事をしているそうです。

ダミアン：プランシングホースは、杉並区でもとても珍しくて面白いお店の1つです。フェラーリのお店はあまりないでしょう？　車に興味を持っていた中学生の息子と、彼の2人の友だちを連れて車を見に行きました。オーナーはとても親切で、ユニークな車についてよく教えて下さいました。

プランシングホース
東京都杉並区今川4-1-17　03-5310-5577 / FAX 03-5310-1722
営業時間：10:30～19:00（日曜定休）
店長：遠藤 昭彦
http://www.p-horse.com

ギターズマーケットの後は、西荻窪駅の方が近いかもしれませんが、出発点の荻窪駅まで歩きました。行ってみたい方は、どうぞご自分の便利な出発点から行ってみてください。
執筆：Greg Mudarri（アメリカ）