Toshima (Tokyo) - Toshima (Tokyo)

Toshima (豊 島) is a district of the city of Tokyo.

To know

How to orient yourself

Neighborhoods

• 35.73526139.7083651 Ikebukuro (池袋) - the neighborhood is located just north of Ikebukuro station.
• 35.73899139.731012 Sugamo (巣 鴨) - This neighborhood is also popularly known as "Grandma's Harajuku"(obaachan no Harajuku), perhaps because most of the shops in the area seem to cater to an older clientele. The area is most lively on the 4th, 14th and 24th of each month when a street market is held.

How to get

By plane

The fastest way to get there fromNarita airport to Ikebukuro is to take a train Keisei Skyliner to Nippori and change to a train ; this takes about 60 minutes and costs ¥ 2560. The Narita Express runs many trips to Ikebukuro, but they take longer (95 minutes) and cost more (¥ 3110), although for foreigners the one-way cost can be reduced to 1500 yen by purchasing a direct ticket Tokyo N'EX. Some Narita Express trains terminate at Shinjuku and do not continue towards Ikebukuro; in this case, we suggest you exit the Narita Express at Shibuya, where you can catch a commuter train on the same platform that will take you to Ikebukuro in two stops. (Switching to Shinjuku is not recommended as you will probably have to change tracks).

The best option is to take the express line of the line Keisei Narita Airport to Nippori, and change there to the Yamanote Line (95 minutes, ¥ 1160). During the evening hours, the fastest trains Access Tokkyu Narita Airport to Nippori takes 20 minutes with an additional charge of ¥ 200.

FromHaneda airport in Ikebukuro, take the Keikyu Railway to Shinagawa and change for the line (55 minutes, ¥ 650).

On the train

• 35.730278139.7113891 Ikebukuro Station (池袋 駅 Ikebukuro-eki). This station is one of the busiest in Tokyo right after Shinjuku which turns out to be the most crowded in the world.

Trains with departures for Tokorozawa, Irumashi is They have, with trains for Kawagoe is Ogawamachi, Narita express, Odoriko leaves every morning for Atami, Itō is Shimoda, and returns in the afternoon. Metro lines  

By bus

Airport Limousine buses also run from Narita Airport toMetropolitan Hotel and the Sunshine City Prince Hotel of Ikebukuro, the latter located right next to the Sunshine 60 tower and shopping complex (about 2 hours, ¥ 3000). Limo buses from Haneda via the same hotels mentioned above (about an hour, ¥ 1200).

Connections

Ueno ← Tabata ← Sugamo ←	IS  S.	→ Takadanobaba → Shin-Ōkubo → Shinjuku
Ōmiya ← Musashi Urawa ←Akabane ←	No.  S.	→ Shibuya → Ebisu → verse → Tōkyō Teleport
end ←	OR  IS	→ Kōrakuen → Tokyo → Ginza
Kawagoe ← verse ←Kotake Mukaihara ←	OR  IS	→ Yurakucho → Tsukishima → Shin-Kiba
Tokorozawa ← verse ←Kotake Mukaihara ←	OR  IS	→ Shinjyuku 3chome → Meijijinngu-mae → Shibuya
Nishi Takashimadaira ← Shin Itabashi ←	No.  S.	→ Kasuga → Jibocho → Shiba park
Kawagoe ← Narimasu ←	No.  S.	→ end
Seibu-Chichibu ← Tokorozawa ← Hoya ←	OR  IS	→ end
Ōmiya ← verse ← Toda ←	No.  S.	→ Chiyoda
Odaiba ← verse ← Tomigaya ← Nishi-shinjuku ←	S.  IS	→ Ougiohashi → Kosuge → verse → Urayasu

How to get around

On the train

• 35.725228139.7201942 Higashi-Ikebukuro Station. Line  
• 35.733344139.7394973 Sugamo Station. Lines  
• 35.7435139.7294 Nishi-sugamo station. Line  
• 35.731439139.7286925 Ōtsuka Station. Line  
• 35.736289139.7469946 Komagome Station (駒 込 駅 Komagome-eki). Lines  

By tram

There Toden Arakawa line, the last tram line in Tokyo, crosses Toshima starting from Waseda University (just beyond the Shinjuku), passing through Zoshigaya, Ikebukuro and up to Minowa, at the northern end of Taito.

What see

• 35.722222139.7194441 Zōshigaya Cemetery (雑 司 が 谷 霊 園 Zōshigaya-reien), Minami-Ikebukuro 4-chome (Close to Higashi-Ikebukuro station ). This cemetery is an attraction in itself, being very different from the western one.  

• 35.735703139.7356472 Kōgan-ji Temple (高 岩寺), 3-35-2 Sugamo (Sugamo Station ). This small Sugamo temple is known for two statues: Togenuki Jizō, who cures sick children, and the bodhisattva Kannon, who cures pains if the appropriate part of the statue is washed; you can also pray Kannon for a quick and painless death, so as not to be a burden on relatives in old age. Visitors pray Enmei Jizson also for their health. The way of praying is unusual: people drink from a small Japanese card. A small image of a stone statue of Enmei Jizson.  

• 35.743247139.7311543 Myōkō-ji Temple (妙 行 寺), 4 Chome-8-28 Nishisugamo, Toshima-ku (Nishi-sugamo station , Tram stops Nishigahara-Yonchome or Shin-koshinzuka), ☎ 81 3-3915-1263. According to legend, the tomb of Lady Oiwa (Oiwa-san) in Yotsuya Kaidan, Japan's most famous ghost story and a direct inspiration for horror films The Ring, comes from this Buddhist temple. In short, the beautiful Oiwa was disfigured, divorced and killed, and then returned to haunt the people who had offended her.  

• 35.739659139.7351084 Honmyōji Temple (本 妙 寺), 5-35-6 Sugamo (10 minutes from Sugamo Station ). This temple is known for a fire called Meireki-no-Taika, a 400-year-old hell that killed more than 100,000 people. This fire is said to have broken out in Honmyōji. There are also some graves of famous people. For example, a Japanese man Chiba Shūsaku and a political leader Tōyama Kinshirō. 

• 35.724361139.713755 Hōmyōji Temple (法 明 寺), 3-18-18 Minamiikebukuro (Higashi-Ikebukuro Station and Toden-Zoshigaya tram stop ), ☎ 81 3-3971-4383. This famous Japanese temple was built in 810. Inside it features the statue of Kishimojin (鬼子母 神像) who is a Japanese god of fertility. Visitors go to Hōmyōji to pray for the birth, growth and safety of their children. The figure of Kishimojin typically takes the shape of the devil, but this statue holds a child and the figure is beautiful. In this temple the festival Oeshiki-Taisai (御 会 式 大 祭) takes place from October 16 to October 18 each year.  
• 35.729583139.7177786 Sunshine 60, 3 Chome-3-1 Higashiikebukuro, 豊 島 区 Toshima-ku (Higashi-Ikebukuro Station ), ☎ 81 3-3989-3331. Mon-Sun 10 am-8pm. Sunshine 60 was once the tallest building in Japan and remains the most prominent building within the Sunshine City complex. The surrounding complex includes shops, restaurants, an aquarium and an observatory at the top of the building.  

• 35.730232139.7087077 Tokyo Shaheed Minar (On the west side of Ikebukuro Station, in Nishiguchi Park (west exit), opposite the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space). A beautiful monument, which symbolizes the love for the mother tongue. It is based on the mother tongue movement, which originated in Dhaka, in Bangladesh in 1952, followed by UNESCO's declaration of International Mother Language Day (February 21). It was a gift from Bangladesh to the Japanese people, in 2005, recognizing Tokyo Boishakhi Mela (Bangladesh New Year Festival), organized annually in mid-April by the Japan Bangladesh Society. 
• 35.72691139.7115058 Ikefukuro (い け ふ く ろ う). An owl statue near the east exit of Ikebukuro station. Many people use this as a meeting place. 

What to do

• 35.72988139.71651 Nekobukuro, Toshima-ku, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome − 28−１０ 東 急 ハ ン ズ 池袋 店 8F, ☎ 81 3-5953-5628. Mon-Sun 10 am-8pm. A unique shop on the top floor of the Tokyu Hands building where you pay 600 ¥ entrance and pet or play with the cats that live on the premises. The building is located at the end of Sunshine-60 dori. 
• 35.7297139.7082 Tokyo Metropolitan Theater (on the west side of the Ikebukuro train / subway station). It has the longest escalator in the world and offers various exhibitions and concerts.  
• Namja Town (ナ ン ジ ャ タ ウ ン ホ ー ム), Sunshine City, Ikebukuro (at the Sunshine 60 on the 2nd and 3rd floors). 10:00-22:00. Namja Town has many attractions. For example there are some Japanese style haunted houses, interactive shooting games from 1964, egg games (the whole process is similar to raising a child, where you will have to take the egg to bathrooms, restaurants and hospitals, up to at some point where you can bring the eggs to play). And there are great grocery stores: the gyoza stadium, the city of ice cream and Tokyo's empire of sweets. If customers purchase 3,900 yen "Namja Passport" tickets (3,300 yen for under 18s), they can enjoy 14 attractions and visit grocery stores. The night pass, which you can get for 2,500 yen (2,000 yen for under 18s), is available after 5pm. But if you only want to visit the grocery stores, buy the 300 yen "Namja Entry" tickets. The attractions range from 600 yen to 1000 yen each.

This place is not very friendly to non-Japanese speakers. English translations are only available in a few places, and most games require answers to some questions in Japanese. To fully enjoy this unique theme park, knowledge of the Japanese language is very important. 

• Maintain (満 天), Sunshine City, Ikebukuro. 1000-1300 yen. There is a planetarium called Manten in the city of Sunshine. This planetarium shows three types of programs and repeats them in one day. These three types of programs are called The Planetarium Program, The CG Planetarium Program, The Healing Program. The Planetarium program shows some themes of programs with famous Japanese musicians. The Planetary CG program shows some science programs, for example the mystery of the black room. The healing program shows programs that relax people. These programs are changed regularly. 

Shopping

• 35.726851139.7122841 Junkudō, 2 Chome-15-５ Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku (leave the train station at the Seibu exit; turn right and go down the street a couple of blocks - Junkudo is half a block from the tall building with an A), ☎ 81 3-5956-6111. Mon-Sun 10: 00-22: 00. A 9-story library (the top floor has titles in English). 
• 35.736649139.7333712 Maruji (丸 治), Sugamo 4-21-11, ☎ 81 3-3910-1409. Mon-Sun 10 am-7pm. Arguably Sugamo's most famous and successful shop, Maruji specializes in one thing: "red underwear" (赤 パ ン ツ aka-pantsu ). 

Anime and manga

• 35.73123139.7155023 Animate (ア ニ メ イ ト 池袋 本店), 1 Chome-20-７ Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku (next to K-Books, under Mandarake Road, and across the highway from Sunshine 60), ☎ 81 3-3988-1351. Lots of new anime / manga related articles. 
• 35.731253139.7185214 K-Books, Toshima-ku, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome − 15−１４ ク レ ー ル 東 池袋 1F (next to Animate, under Mandarake Road, and across the highway from Sunshine 60), ☎ 81 3-3980-6464. Good selection of anime, manga and posters. 
• 35.730914139.718015 Mandarake, Lions Mansion Ikebukuro B1F, 3-15-2 Higashi-ikebukuro (Not far from Sunshine 60), ☎ 81 3-5928-0771. One of the newest in the Mandarake chain of used anime / manga stores, the Ikebukuro branch specializes in doujinshi, specifically doujinshi for girls. 

Shopping centers

• 35.728862139.7118336 Seibu, 1 Chome-28-1 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, ☎ 81 3-3981-0111. 10:00-21:00. Shopping center 
• 35.729726139.710287 Tobu, 1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, ☎ 81 3-3981-2211. Mon-Sun 10 am-8pm. 
• 35.731628139.7130118 Bic Camera, 1 Chome-41-５ Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, ☎ 81 3-5396-1111. Mon-Sun 10: 00-22: 00. The largest store is located on the east side of the station, with several branches nearby. 
• 35.729852139.7164579 Tokyu Hands, 1-28-10 Higashi-Ikebukuro (Near Sunshine 60), ☎ 81 3-3980-6111. Mon-Sun 10 am-9pm. A crazy 7-story "do-it-yourself" shop with tops of kitchen utensils, bathroom accessories, paper items, scrap supplies, tools, hardware, exotic woods, travel supplies, toys, pet supplies and Nekobukuro on the top floor. This is a place where you can find, for example, lava lamps next to a shark suit or a Gundam model. 

How to have fun

• 35.731193139.7062971 club BED, Toshima-ku, Nishiikebukuro, 3 Chome − 29−9 福利 ビ ル B1, ☎ 81 3-3981-5300. One of the few nightclubs in Ikebukuro. 
• 35.72952139.7164832 Nekorobi (Cat Cafe ね こ ろ び), 3rd floor Tact T.O Building Higashi-Ikebukuro, ☎ 81 3-6228-0646. ¥ 1,000 for the first hour, then ¥ 300 for 15 minutes. On weekends you can choose to go for 3 hours for ¥ 2,500. Mon-Sun 11: 00-22: 00. This café is decorated in wicker and burlap and boasts a Nintendo Wii and cats, most of which were once stray or moved to shelters by their owners. You can use anything in the room you enter, including laptop, drink dispenser, cat toys and Wii. Make sure you take off your shoes, wash your hands, and be kind to cats. 

Where to eat

Moderate prices

• 35.735764139.7351381 Konaya (古 奈 屋), Sugamo 3-37-1. The original restaurant chain store renowned for its curry noodles. The noodles are hand cut, the special curry broth is prepared for two days, and for ¥ 1050 you can enjoy a powerful and refined udon. They only accept cash. 
• 35.737259139.7338032 Fight Gyoza (フ ァ イ ト 餃子), 3-7-3 Nisisugamo, ☎ 81 3-3917-6261. It is a very famous restaurant for gyoza. So you are very likely to find many people waiting in line for the seat. Accept cash only. 
• 35.729674139.7143613 Shakey's Pizza, 大 和 ビ ル Ｂ1Ｆ, 1 Chome-11-４ Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku (Going down to Sunshine-Dori on the road to Sunshine 60, on the left), ☎ 81 3-3983-4818. 11:00-23:00. There are lunchtime buffets with great pizza as only the Japanese like to serve. 
• 35.733209139.7096594 Al-Flah, ２ 丁目 -41-2 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku (On the right side of the Royal Hotel in Ikebukuro, on the 4th floor), ☎ 81 3-3985-9784. Mon-Sun 11: 00-23: 00. A halal supermarket and restaurant that sells halal food, including vegetarian curries; it also has a Bollywood film section. 
• Namja Town (at Sunshine 60 on the 2nd and 3rd floors). 10:00-22:00. Namja Town has some great grocery stores in Sunshin City, gyoza studium, ice cream city and Tokyo's sweets empire. Gyoza is a kind of Japanese food. The gyoza stadium collects gyozas from many famous gyoza restaurants in Japan. The city of ice cream collects many types of ice cream in the world. Tokyo's Sweets Empire collects some famous sweets. And it has regular events. 
• 35.730439139.7061255 ZOZOI (ゾ ゾ イ), Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-22-6 (5 minutes from the west exit of Ikebukuro), ☎ 81 3-5396-6676. Mon-Sun 12: 00-22: 00. A cozy and quiet French style café located next to a small park. Light meals are served and there is a fun collection of French books to browse. 
• 35.73354139.7085766 ^{[link not working]}Sakura Cafe Ikebukuro, 2-40-7 Ikebukuro (6 minutes walk from Ikebukuro station), ☎ 81 3-5391-2330, @[email protected]. open 24 hours. Opened in 2008, one of the largest open-air terrace cafes in Tokyo, in a relaxed style, located on the 1st floor of the "Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro" which welcomes guests from over 110 countries every year. International atmosphere with 60 beers from all over the world. 

Average prices

• 35.729629139.7273697 Souten (蒼天), Otsuka 3-39-13 (JR Otsuka South Exit, cross the tram line, pass the shrine, left then right. If you get to middle school, you've gone too far.), ☎ 81 3-5944-8105. ¥5,000. 17:30-22:00. High-end yakitori. Five sticks around ¥ 1600. Try the chicken sashimi, you might be pleasantly surprised. Large selection of nihonshu with Kozaemon. 
• 35.730958139.7073188 Glutton, Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-27-1 (5 minutes. walk from the west exit), ☎ 81 3-3985-4178. Mon-Sun 11: 30-15: 30, 17: 00-22: 30. Great pasta and salads, in large portions. Crab spaghetti is very popular. There are no non-smoking tables. 
• 35.729516139.7154489 Kaiten Sushi, Unnamed Road, 1 Chome-22, 1 Chome-22 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku (About 2 blocks from Ikebukuro station - take the Seibu exit, turn right and walk down the street to the tall building on the left with a large flashing light). A nice sushi restaurant on "conveyor belt" 
• 35.73048139.70619410 Malay-Chan, 3 Chome-22-6 Nishiikebukuro, 豊 島 区 Toshima-ku (In the space of the Metropolitan Art and the bus circuit that serves that area. Walk up to the bend in the ring, cross the main road (Geikijo dori) and take a small road that winds to the left, then to the right. Then walk about 2 blocks further), ☎ 81 3-5391-7638. A small Malaysian restaurant on the west side of the station a bit difficult to find. 
• 35.726939139.71164511 Mutekiya, Toshima, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome − 17−１ 崎 本 ビ ル 1F (On the east side of Ikebukuro, opposite Junkudo Bookstore), ☎ 81 3-3982-7656. Mon-Sun 10: 30-04: 00. a good ramen 

Where stay

Moderate prices

• 35.73342139.707581 Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro, 2-40-7 Ikebukuro (6 minutes walk from Ikebukuro station), ☎ 81 3-3971-2237, @[email protected]. Single 6,800 yen, dormitory 3,200 yen. Various rooms are good for groups and individuals; all staff speak english. 
• 35.73346139.7075452 Kimi Ryokan, 2-36-8 Ikebukuro (8 minutes from JR Ikebukuro West Exit), ☎ 81 3-3971-3766. This minshuku very friendly and tourist oriented (not a ryokan) it is an excellent option for first time traveler to Tokyo. It is reasonably priced (4500 yen) and has English speaking staff. A nice way to spend your first night on a tatami. 

Average prices

• 35.732005139.7127883 Dai-ichi Inn Ikebukuro, 1-42-8 Higashi-Ikebukuro (1 minute walk from Ikebukuro station (take the east exit), just in front of the back of Parco), ☎ 81 3-3986-1221, fax: 81 3-3982-4128. In-room broadband internet, massage service, 24-hour convenience store and many other services. The TV channel list includes CNN. Some members speak English almost fluently, others not so much. Internet bookings can significantly reduce room rates. 
• 35.73129139.7165024 Grand City Hotel, 1-30-7 Higashi-Ikebukuro (5 minute walk to Sunshine City), ☎ 81 3-3984-5121, fax: 81 3-3984-5127. The staff don't speak English very well. 
• 35.744981139.7194635 APA Hotel Tokyo Itabashi (ア パ ホ テ ル 東京 板橋 駅 前), 4-47-1 Kami-Ikebukuro (3 minutes from Ikebukuro and 8 minutes to Shinjuku.), ☎ 81 3-5974-8111. Check in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. This three-star hotel offers a convenient location near Itabashi Station. 

High prices

• 35.728411139.7079856 Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro Hotel (ホ テ ル メ ト ロ ポ リ タ ン), 1-6-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, ☎ 81 3-3980-1111, fax: 81 3-3980-5600. Walking distance from Ikebukuro station, a decent 4-star hotel with nice, clean rooms and friendly staff who speak English fluently. Limosine bus services are available to Narita and Haneda airports. 

How to keep in touch

Useful information

• 35.73121139.709627 Toshima Tourist Information Center, Notoya building 3F 1-19-7 Nishi-Ikebukuro, ☎ 81 3-3985-8311, fax: 81 3-3985-8315. 9: 00-18: 00, holidays 10: 00-17: 00. 

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Usable : the article respects the characteristics of a draft but in addition contains enough information to allow a brief visit to the district. Use i correctly listing (the right type in the right sections).