Tokyo/Ikebukuro

From MaxTravelz

Asia : East Asia : Japan : Honshu : Kanto : Tokyo : Ikebukuro

Ikebukuro (池袋) is a shopping district and major stop on the Yamanote Line. It is located in Tokyo's Toshima ward.

Contents

Get in

By train

Ikebukuro is served by the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines. There is also Narita Express train and limousine bus service to and from Narita Airport. The Super View Odoriko (スーパービュー踊り子) Limited Express service departs each morning for Atami, Ito and Shimoda, and returns in the afternoon.

Two private railway lines start from Ikebukuro. The Seibu Ikebukuro Line has departures for Tokorozawa, Irumashi and Hanno, with Chichibu (ちちぶ) Limited Express trains running all the way to Seibu-Chichibu for access to Chichibu. The Tobu Tojo Line runs trains to Kawagoe and Ogawamachi.

From Narita airport you can take the limousine/bus leaving every 1/2 hour (make reservation inside the airport) directly to the Sunshine City Prince Hotel, which is right next to the Sunshine 60 tower and shopping complex.

By subway

The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line starts here, and the Yurakucho Line for Ginza, Shin-Kiba and Wakoshi stops here. Some Yurakucho Line trains continue onto either of the two private railways listed above.

Subway Line 13, currently dubbed the "Yurakucho New Line," runs from Shinsen-Ikebukuro station nonstop to Kotake-Mukaihara, where it continues onto the Seibu line. Eventually this section will extend the other way to become Tokyo's next subway line, currently under construction, which will run along the western part of the metropolis.

See

  • Sunshine 60 is the tallest building in Tokyo. The surrounding Sunshine City complex includes shops, restaurants, and an aquarium.
  • Toyota Amlux is a 5-story automotive showroom.
  • Nekobukuro is a really neat shop on the top floor of the Tokyu Hands building where you pay 600 yen entry fee to enter and pet or play with the 20+ cats that live on the premises. The building is located at the end of Sunshine-60 dori.
  • Metropolitan Art Space is located on the west side of the Ikebukuro train/subway station. Has the world's longest escalator. Various exhibits and concerts.

Buy

  • Two of Tokyo's major department store/railroad conglomerate chains, Seibu and Tobu, are based in Ikebukuro and the stores here were not long ago the largest in the world. Paradoxically, Seibu, which roughly means "west Tokyo", is on the east side of the station, while Tobu, which means "east Tokyo", is on the west side.
  • Discount retailer Bic Camera has their flagship store on the east side of the station, with several branches nearby.
  • Junkudo is a 9-story bookstore (top floor has English titles). Leave the train station by the Seibu exit, turning right and go down the street a couple of blocks until you see the tall building with a "Sushi" sign flashing on top. Junkudo is located about half a block up from that building.


Eat

  • Ghiottone, Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-27-1 (5 min. walk from west exit). Excellent pasta and salads, in portions that are ample for two. The crab spaghetti is very popular. No non-smoking tables.
  • Kaiten Sushi - a very nice "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant is located about 2 blocks from the Ikebukuro subway/train station. Take the Seibu exit, turn right and walk down the street. You will see a tall building on the left with a large flashing "Sushi" sign on top.
  • Malay-Chan is a small Malaysian restaurant on the west side of the train/subway station. It is a little hard to find. Locate the Metropolitan Art Space and the bus loop that services that area. Walk to the curve of the loop, cross the main street (Geikijo dori - map) there and walk up a little street that winds left, then right. Then walk about 2 blocks farther. There is also an Indian restaurant and a Thai restaurant (mekong) nearby.

Drink

Cafes

  • New Orleans' Cafe du Monde has a branch right outside the west exit.
  • ZOZOI, Nishi-Ikebukuro 3-22-6 (5 min. from west exit). A cozy and quiet French-style cafe located next to a small park. Light meals are served, and there's an amusing collection of French books to browse.
  • ZAO, Nishi-Ikebukuro 1-18-1. This 24-hour basement coffee shop, with an interior that probably hasn't been changed since 1975, seems to be a favorite for smoking insomniacs and college students pulling all-nighters. You'll need to order something every two hours to hang around (and don't fall asleep), but the toast and boiled eggs are free. If that's not enough, try the huge jumbo parfait (ice cream sundae), which is literally served in a fishbowl.

Sleep

Budget

  • Kimi Ryokan, 2-36-8 Ikebukuro (8 min from JR Ikebukuro West Exit), tel. +81-3-3971-3766, . This friendly if very tourist-oriented minshuku (no, it's not a ryokan) is an excellent option for first time travellers to Tokyo. It is reasonably priced (4500 yen) and has English speaking staff. A nice way to spend your first night on Tatami!

Mid-Range

  • Hotel Grand City , 1-30-7 Higashi-Ikebukuro, tel 03-3984-5121, fax 03-3984-5127 (5 minute walk towards Sunshine City). The staff doesn't speak English very well.

Get out

External links


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