diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e18ab7ad5c..12c8b8947f 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 * `jj workspace root` was aliased to `jj root`, for ease of discoverability
 
+* `jj git` now has an `init` command that initializes a git backed repo.
+  `jj init --git` and `jj init --git-repo` are now deprecated and
+  will be removed in the near future.
+ 
+
 ### Fixed bugs
 
 * Fixed snapshots of symlinks in `gitignore`-d directory.
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/git.rs b/cli/src/commands/git.rs
index 235414f092..2be7893f67 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/git.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/git.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ use crate::ui::Ui;
 pub enum GitCommand {
     #[command(subcommand)]
     Remote(GitRemoteCommand),
+    Init(GitInitArgs),
     Fetch(GitFetchArgs),
     Clone(GitCloneArgs),
     Push(GitPushArgs),
@@ -107,6 +108,49 @@ pub struct GitRemoteRenameArgs {
 #[derive(clap::Args, Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct GitRemoteListArgs {}
 
+/// Create a new Git backed repo.
+#[derive(clap::Args, Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct GitInitArgs {
+    /// The destination directory where the `jj` repo will be created.
+    /// If the directory does not exist, it will be created.
+    /// If no directory is diven, the current directory is used.
+    ///
+    /// By default the `git` repo is under `$destination/.jj/repo/store/git`
+    #[arg(default_value = ".", value_hint = clap::ValueHint::DirPath)]
+    destination: String,
+
+    /// Specifies that the `jj` repo should also be a valid
+    /// `git` repo, allowing the use of both `jj` and `git` commands
+    /// in the same directory.
+    ///
+    /// This is done by placing the backing git repo into a `.git` folder
+    /// in the root of the Jujutsu repo along with the `.jj` folder.
+    ///
+    /// This option is only valid when creating new repos. To
+    /// reuse an existing `.git` directory in an existing git
+    /// repo, see the `--git-repo` param below.
+    ///
+    /// This option is mutually exclusive with `--git-repo`.
+    #[arg(long, conflicts_with = "git_repo")]
+    colocated: bool,
+
+    /// Specifies a path to an **existing** git repository to be
+    /// used as the backing git repo for the newly created `jj` repo.
+    ///
+    /// If the specified `--git-repo` path happens to be the same as
+    /// the `jj` repo path (both .jj and .git directories are in the
+    /// same working directory), then both `jj` and `git` commands
+    /// will work on the repo, with the exception that changes from `jj`
+    /// will not be auto-exported to the git repo.
+    ///
+    /// Auto-exporting from `jj` to `git` is only enabled for new repos.
+    /// See `--colocated` above.
+    ///
+    /// This option is mutually exclusive with `--colocated`.
+    #[arg(long, conflicts_with = "colocated", value_hint = clap::ValueHint::DirPath)]
+    git_repo: Option<String>,
+}
+
 /// Fetch from a Git remote
 #[derive(clap::Args, Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct GitFetchArgs {
@@ -317,11 +361,17 @@ pub fn git_init(
     ui: &mut Ui,
     command: &CommandHelper,
     workspace_root: &Path,
+    colocated: bool,
     git_repo: Option<&str>,
 ) -> Result<(), CommandError> {
     let cwd = command.cwd().canonicalize().unwrap();
     let relative_wc_path = file_util::relative_path(&cwd, workspace_root);
 
+    if colocated {
+        Workspace::init_colocated_git(command.settings(), workspace_root)?;
+        return Ok(());
+    }
+
     if let Some(git_store_str) = git_repo {
         let git_store_path = cwd.join(git_store_str);
         let (workspace, repo) =
@@ -349,7 +399,7 @@ pub fn git_init(
             return Err(user_error_with_hint(
                 "Did not create a jj repo because there is an existing Git repo in this directory.",
                 format!(
-                    r#"To create a repo backed by the existing Git repo, run `jj init --git-repo={}` instead."#,
+                    r#"To create a repo backed by the existing Git repo, run `jj git init --git-repo={}` instead."#,
                     relative_wc_path.display()
                 ),
             ));
@@ -361,6 +411,26 @@ pub fn git_init(
     Ok(())
 }
 
+fn cmd_git_init(
+    ui: &mut Ui,
+    command: &CommandHelper,
+    args: &GitInitArgs,
+) -> Result<(), CommandError> {
+    let cwd = command.cwd().canonicalize().unwrap();
+    let wc_path = cwd.join(&args.destination);
+    let wc_path = file_util::create_or_reuse_dir(&wc_path)
+        .and_then(|_| wc_path.canonicalize())
+        .map_err(|e| user_error_with_message("Failed to create workspace", e))?;
+
+    git_init(
+        ui,
+        command,
+        &wc_path,
+        args.colocated,
+        args.git_repo.as_deref(),
+    )
+}
+
 #[tracing::instrument(skip(ui, command))]
 fn cmd_git_fetch(
     ui: &mut Ui,
@@ -1097,6 +1167,7 @@ pub fn cmd_git(
     subcommand: &GitCommand,
 ) -> Result<(), CommandError> {
     match subcommand {
+        GitCommand::Init(args) => cmd_git_init(ui, command, args),
         GitCommand::Fetch(args) => cmd_git_fetch(ui, command, args),
         GitCommand::Clone(args) => cmd_git_clone(ui, command, args),
         GitCommand::Remote(GitRemoteCommand::Add(args)) => cmd_git_remote_add(ui, command, args),
diff --git a/cli/src/commands/init.rs b/cli/src/commands/init.rs
index 9fd7a36e44..84cb6b02ee 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/init.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/init.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,11 @@ pub(crate) struct InitArgs {
     /// The destination directory
     #[arg(default_value = ".", value_hint = clap::ValueHint::DirPath)]
     destination: String,
+    /// DEPRECATED: Use `jj git init`
     /// Use the Git backend, creating a jj repo backed by a Git repo
     #[arg(long)]
     git: bool,
+    /// DEPRECATED: Use `jj git init`
     /// Path to a git repo the jj repo will be backed by
     #[arg(long, value_hint = clap::ValueHint::DirPath)]
     git_repo: Option<String>,
@@ -53,13 +55,21 @@ pub(crate) fn cmd_init(
         .and_then(|_| wc_path.canonicalize())
         .map_err(|e| user_error_with_message("Failed to create workspace", e))?;
 
+    // Preserve existing behaviour where `jj init` is not able to create
+    // a collocated repo.
+    let collocated = false;
     if args.git || args.git_repo.is_some() {
-        git::git_init(ui, command, &wc_path, args.git_repo.as_deref())?;
+        git::git_init(ui, command, &wc_path, collocated, args.git_repo.as_deref())?;
+        writeln!(
+            ui.warning(),
+            "warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+Use `jj git init` to create git repos"
+        )?;
     } else {
         if !command.settings().allow_native_backend() {
             return Err(user_error_with_hint(
                 "The native backend is disallowed by default.",
-                "Did you mean to pass `--git`?
+                "Did you mean to call `jj git init`?
 Set `ui.allow-init-native` to allow initializing a repo with the native backend.",
             ));
         }
diff --git a/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap b/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
index 34e15a0fbc..61e7207e83 100644
--- a/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
+++ b/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ This document contains the help content for the `jj` command-line program.
 * [`jj git remote remove`↴](#jj-git-remote-remove)
 * [`jj git remote rename`↴](#jj-git-remote-rename)
 * [`jj git remote list`↴](#jj-git-remote-list)
+* [`jj git init`↴](#jj-git-init)
 * [`jj git fetch`↴](#jj-git-fetch)
 * [`jj git clone`↴](#jj-git-clone)
 * [`jj git push`↴](#jj-git-push)
@@ -764,6 +765,7 @@ For a comparison with Git, including a table of commands, see https://github.com
 ###### **Subcommands:**
 
 * `remote` — Manage Git remotes
+* `init` — Create a new Git backed repo
 * `fetch` — Fetch from a Git remote
 * `clone` — Create a new repo backed by a clone of a Git repo
 * `push` — Push to a Git remote
@@ -835,6 +837,28 @@ List Git remotes
 
 
 
+## `jj git init`
+
+Create a new Git backed repo
+
+**Usage:** `jj git init [OPTIONS] [DESTINATION]`
+
+###### **Arguments:**
+
+* `<DESTINATION>` — The destination directory where the `jj` repo will be created. If the directory does not exist, it will be created. If no directory is diven, the current directory is used
+
+  Default value: `.`
+
+###### **Options:**
+
+* `--colocated` — Specifies that the `jj` repo should also be a valid `git` repo, allowing the use of both `jj` and `git` commands in the same directory
+
+  Possible values: `true`, `false`
+
+* `--git-repo <GIT_REPO>` — Specifies a path to an **existing** git repository to be used as the backing git repo for the newly created `jj` repo
+
+
+
 ## `jj git fetch`
 
 Fetch from a Git remote
@@ -937,11 +961,11 @@ If the given directory does not exist, it will be created. If no directory is gi
 
 ###### **Options:**
 
-* `--git` — Use the Git backend, creating a jj repo backed by a Git repo
+* `--git` — DEPRECATED: Use `jj git init` Use the Git backend, creating a jj repo backed by a Git repo
 
   Possible values: `true`, `false`
 
-* `--git-repo <GIT_REPO>` — Path to a git repo the jj repo will be backed by
+* `--git-repo <GIT_REPO>` — DEPRECATED: Use `jj git init` Path to a git repo the jj repo will be backed by
 
 
 
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_init_command.rs b/cli/tests/test_init_command.rs
index 4e994705bd..34a2aaa2d7 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_init_command.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_init_command.rs
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ fn test_init_git_internal() {
     let (stdout, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(test_env.env_root(), &["init", "repo", "--git"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "repo"
     "###);
 
@@ -113,6 +115,8 @@ fn test_init_git_external(bare: bool) {
         Working copy now at: sqpuoqvx f6950fc1 (empty) (no description set)
         Parent commit      : mwrttmos 8d698d4a my-branch | My commit message
         Added 1 files, modified 0 files, removed 0 files
+        warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+        Use `jj git init` to create git repos
         Initialized repo in "repo"
         "###);
     }
@@ -183,6 +187,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Done importing changes from the underlying Git repo.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
 
@@ -231,6 +237,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated_gitlink() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Done importing changes from the underlying Git repo.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(read_git_target(&workspace_root), @"../../../.git");
@@ -267,6 +275,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated_symlink_directory() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Done importing changes from the underlying Git repo.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(read_git_target(&workspace_root), @"../../../.git");
@@ -306,6 +316,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated_symlink_directory_without_bare_config() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Done importing changes from the underlying Git repo.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(read_git_target(&workspace_root), @"../../../.git");
@@ -347,6 +359,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated_symlink_gitlink() {
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Done importing changes from the underlying Git repo.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(read_git_target(&workspace_root), @"../../../.git");
@@ -407,6 +421,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated_imported_refs() {
     let (_stdout, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(&local_path, &["init", "--git-repo=."]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Done importing changes from the underlying Git repo.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(get_branch_output(&test_env, &local_path), @r###"
@@ -428,6 +444,8 @@ fn test_init_git_colocated_imported_refs() {
     The following remote branches aren't associated with the existing local branches:
       local-remote@origin
     Hint: Run `jj branch track local-remote@origin` to keep local branches updated on future pulls.
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(get_branch_output(&test_env, &local_path), @r###"
@@ -451,6 +469,8 @@ fn test_init_git_external_but_git_dir_exists() {
     );
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @"");
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    warning: `--git` and `--git-repo` are deprecated.
+    Use `jj git init` to create git repos
     Initialized repo in "."
     "###);
 
@@ -479,7 +499,7 @@ fn test_init_git_internal_must_be_colocated() {
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&workspace_root, &["init", "--git"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
     Error: Did not create a jj repo because there is an existing Git repo in this directory.
-    Hint: To create a repo backed by the existing Git repo, run `jj init --git-repo=.` instead.
+    Hint: To create a repo backed by the existing Git repo, run `jj git init --git-repo=.` instead.
     "###);
 }
 
@@ -497,7 +517,7 @@ fn test_init_local_disallowed() {
     let stdout = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(test_env.env_root(), &["init", "repo"]);
     insta::assert_snapshot!(stdout, @r###"
     Error: The native backend is disallowed by default.
-    Hint: Did you mean to pass `--git`?
+    Hint: Did you mean to call `jj git init`?
     Set `ui.allow-init-native` to allow initializing a repo with the native backend.
     "###);
 }