Ikebukuro Station is one of Tokyo’s largest transport hubs, located in the north-west of the city. The convenience of the station combined with well-priced accommodation, make it attractive to many visitors. The Narita Express (NEX) runs from Narita Airport to Ikebukuro Station while the Yamanote Line – a convenient loop line that circles through Tokyo – also runs to and from the station, making it an excellent base from where to explore the city. Many highway bus lines run to and from the station, making it quick and easy to get out of Tokyo, while also being located nearby the action and entertainment of Shinjuku.

The area of Ikebukuro is an extremely popular and convenient area to base your stay in Tokyo for any of the reason listed above. Using the Yamanote Line, you can reach Shinjuku station in 9 minutes and Shibuya station in 15 minutes. For those travelling to Tokyo Station, you can use the Marunouchi Line to reach it in just 17 minutes.

As for entertainment, Ikebukuro is a lively and fun area full of great shops, cafes and restaurants, and a small park. The most popular attraction has to be ’Sunshine City’. This is a large shopping and entertainment complex which is home to shops, cafes and restaurants, Ikebukuro Aquarium, Games Arcades, an indoor theme park and an observatory. If you’re looking for a rainy day activity in Tokyo, ‘Sunshine City’ is a great option! Ikebukuro is also home to the department stores of Seibu Ikebukuro and Tobu Ikebukuro, both of which are home to major brands in fashion, cosmetics and food. If you’re an anime or manga fan, Ikebukuro is one of the best areas for this. It is home to an abundance of anime and manga shops, especially ‘Otome Road’ where you will find well known anime stores such as Animate and Mandarake. Ikebukuro West Park is a serene and tranquil urban park that has a pond, art installations and walking paths so you can step outside and enjoy a small slice of nature in the middle of the city.

Ikebukuro is also a great base for exploring the neighbouring Saitama prefecture as the station is also serviced by the Tobu Toju Line. One of the star attractions of Saitama is the historic and beautiful ’Kawagoe’. We offer a day trip to Kawagoe where we meet guests inside Ikebukuro station. If you’re staying in the area, then it is the perfect opportunity to join the tour with a local guide and explore outside of Tokyo! If you’re interested in booking our ’Day Trip to Kawagoe’ tour, then click on the tour card below.

1 Day Tour

Day Trip to Kawagoe : Experience the ‘Little Edo’ of Japan
Period	All Year Round
Time	09:00 – 16:45
Meeting Place	Inside Ikebukuro Train Station
Adult Rate	¥17,800
Child Rate	¥11,000

The area around the station has some good options in terms of 3 and 4-star hotels, with plenty of other mid-range to budget accommodation on offer. If you’re going to be in Tokyo for an extended stay and want some reasonable accommodation without costing a fortune, staying around Ikebukuro Station might be a good option for you.