Itabashi Travel Guide

Tokyo
Itabashi
Admire the Great Buddha of the Jōrenji Temple and see how families and students have made this corner of Japan’s sprawling capital their own.

Itabashi is a residential ward in Tokyo’s far north, where the metropolis meets the Saitama Prefecture. Home to a wide range of parks, shops, cinemas, hospitals and temples, and serviced by several major public transportation lines, Itabashi is one of the best places to raise a family in the Japanese capital. While still mostly a concrete jungle, it’s a homey concrete jungle, a place you can easily love.

Dodge the throngs of commuters who are heading into the city as you leave the subway to explore Itabashi in the early morning. As you walk the streets, see how the locals stop at small neighborhood shrines to pray and burn incense as offerings.

Ask the way to the Happy Road in Oyama, a covered pedestrian street that functions as an indoor market. A more stylish indoor shopping venue is the Aeon Mall near Tōbu-Nerima Station.

Home to the campuses of four Japanese universities, Itabashi is a place where students and young families dictate the fashion, the streetscape… and the prices. This makes Itabashi one of the city’s most affordable places to eat, shop and stay. The shops and cafés sell a range of weird and wonderful gadgets and the kind of sweet treats currently favored by students.

If you are on a tight budget yourself, bring a picnic to Johoku Chuo Parknear the Shakujii River. Each summer the spectacular Itabashi Fireworks Festival by the river wows the crowds. This unforgettable show has its roots in the Edo Era. There are also a few art and folk museums that are free or cheap to visit.

You can’t miss the district’s huge bronze statue, known as the Tokyo Daibutsu. This Buddha is 43 feet (13 meters) tall and sits serenely on a lotus flower pedestal in the Jōrenji Temple complex. You may spot the deities of Kōmokuten and Tamonten standing guard by the Sanmon (the entrance gate) that leads to the Buddha. If you have a life decision to make, don’t forget to consult the Wisdom Granting Bodhisattva, almost hidden among the foliage. The lush temple complex is close to the Akatsuka Botanical Garden.

To end your day in Itabashi, visit one of the district’s indoor spas to soothe your tired legs in a hot tub.


Popular places to visit

Things to do


Top hotels in Itabashi

APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
3 out of 5
1-11-10 Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo, Tokyo
The price is ฿2,097 per night from 1 Dec to 2 Dec
฿2,097
฿2,537 total
includes taxes & fees
1 Dec - 2 Dec
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,106 reviews)
"Smaller than i thought but it's a great clean place and in a convenient location 👌"

Reviewed on 1 Nov 2024

APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
4 out of 5
1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,290 reviews)
"If you want a property right in the middle of downtown locals and tourists chaos, this is the hotel for you haha. My husband and I's first time in Tokyo so we wanted to try it out, and it was pretty fun! Really easy to get around, staff were super nice and accommodating, great energy from everyone. ..."

Reviewed on 30 Oct 2024

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
4 out of 5
2-7-1 Hanedakuko, Oota, Tokyo, Tokyo
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 2 restaurants and hot springs on-site. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,692 reviews)
"Very convenient hotel for an overnight stay if you are flying from Haneda Airport. Large and clean spa area and dinning option at the shopping mall downstair. Recommend."

Reviewed on 31 Oct 2024

Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3
The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3
4 out of 5
2-6-5 Haneda International Airport, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is ฿3,881 per night from 3 Dec to 4 Dec
฿3,881
฿5,104 total
includes taxes & fees
3 Dec - 4 Dec
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in their ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,154 reviews)
"The interior is starting to show age with worn carpet. Love the location within the airport international terminal. Good service and great breakfast buffet. Will stay here again."

Reviewed on 1 Nov 2024

The Royal Park Hotel Tokyo Haneda Airport Terminal 3
APA Hotel & Resort Nishishinjuku Gochome Eki Tower
APA Hotel & Resort Nishishinjuku Gochome Eki Tower
3 out of 5
3-14-1 Honmachi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo
The price is ฿2,899 per night from 1 Dec to 2 Dec
฿2,899
฿3,507 total
includes taxes & fees
1 Dec - 2 Dec
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, an outdoor pool and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in their ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,152 reviews)
Good memories
"Great area to stay. Enjoyed the onsen and the breakfast."

Reviewed on 31 Oct 2024

APA Hotel & Resort Nishishinjuku Gochome Eki Tower
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
Shinagawa Prince Hotel
4 out of 5
4-10-30 Takanawa Minato-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is ฿4,326 per night from 4 Nov to 5 Nov
฿4,326
฿5,378 total
includes taxes & fees
4 Nov - 5 Nov
Stay at this family-friendly hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, 5 restaurants and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in their ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (3,671 reviews)
"Great stay! The hotel was clean, conveniently located near the train station, and in a safe area. The rooms were comfortable and well-equipped, making my stay easy and enjoyable. Highly recommended"

Reviewed on 1 Nov 2024

Shinagawa Prince Hotel
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Other neighbourhoods around Itabashi

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Ikebukuro

You might appreciate the shopping and restaurants in Ikebukuro, and if you're interested in seeing more of the area, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and The Sunshine 60 Observatory are just a few notable stops.

Ikebukuro
Shinjuku showing night scenes, a city and nightlife

Shinjuku

Known for its fantastic nightlife and popular shops, there's plenty to explore in Shinjuku. Check out top attractions like Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and Hanazono-jinja, and jump on the metro at Shinjuku-sanchome Station or Shinjuku-nishiguchi Station to see more of the city.

Shinjuku
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Ueno

Travellers choose Ueno for its ample dining options. Hop aboard the metro at Ueno-okachimachi Station or Ueno-hirokoji Station and check out top sights like Ameyoko Shopping District.

Ueno
Akihabara Electric Town showing signage, street scenes and a city

Chiyoda

Enjoy the popular shops in Chiyoda. Nippon Budokan is a worthwhile stop, and you can jump on the metro at Kudanshita Station or Takebashi Station to see more of Tokyo.

Chiyoda
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Akihabara

While you're in Akihabara, take in top sights like Akihabara Electric Town and jump on the metro at Suehirocho Station to see more of the city.

Akihabara
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Taito

Travellers love Taito for its popular shops, and you can see more of Tokyo by jumping on the metro at Iriya Station or Tawaramachi Station. You might spend time checking out top sights like Sensoji Temple and Hanayashiki Amusement Park.

Taito

Itabashi Travel Guide