Tokyo/Toshima

Toshima (豊島) is a ward in northwest Tokyo, Japan. This guide incorporates Ikebukuro (池袋), a section of Toshima and one of the three major metropolitan sub-centers on the Yamanote Line, along with Shinjuku and Shibuya.

Zoshigaya-inside-april2013 - Zoshigaya Cemetery

Tokyo/Toshima Halal Travel Guide

Tourist office

Toshima Tokyo/Toshima Tourism Board Center| Notoya building 3F 1-19-7 Nishi-Ikebukuro GPS 35.73121, 139.70962 ☎ +81 3-3985-8311 +81 3-3985-8315 Opening Hours: 9:00AM Monday - 18:00PM holiday 10:00-17:00| price=

Travel as a Muslim to Tokyo/Toshima

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Buy a Flight ticket to and from Tokyo/Toshima

The quickest way to get from Narita Airport to Ikebukuro is to take a Keisei Skyliner train to Nippori and change to a JR Yamanote Line train. This takes about 60 minutes and costs ¥2560. JR's Narita Express makes many runs to Ikebukuro, but they take longer (95 minutes) and cost more (¥7110), although for foreigners the one-way cost can be brought down to ¥2500 by purchasing a N'EX Tokyo Direct Ticket (From March 2015 this ticket will only be sold in a round-trip version for ¥6000). Some Narita Express trains terminate at Shinjuku and do not continue to Ikebukuro; in this case, it's suggested to exit the Narita Express at Shibuya, where you can pick up a commuter train on the same platform that will bring you to Ikebukuro in two stops. (Switching at Shinjuku is not recommended as you will likely have to switch platforms.)

The budget option is to take the Keisei Line limited express from Narita Airport to Nippori, and change there to the Yamanote line (95 minutes, ¥2160). During the evening hours, faster Access Tokkyu commuter trains from Narita Airport to Nippori shave 20 minutes off the overall travel duration against a ¥200 additional fare.

Airport Limousine buses also make runs from Narita Airport to Ikebukuro's Hotel Metropolitan and Sunshine City Prince Hotel and the latter located right next to the Sunshine 60 tower and shopping complex (about 2 hours, ¥7000).

From Haneda Airport to Ikebukuro, take the Keikyu Railway to Shinagawa and change to the JR Yamanote Line (55 minutes, ¥650). Limousine Buses run from Haneda to the same hotels mentioned above (about one hour, ¥2200).

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Tokyo/Toshima

Ikebukuro Station - Ikebukuro Station at night

Ikebukuro is served by the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines. The Super View Odoriko (スーパービュー踊り子) Limited Express service departs each morning for Atami, Itō 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 the national park in Chichibu-Tama-Kai_National_Park|Chichibu. The Tobu Tojo Line runs trains to Kawagoe and Ogawamachi.

By subway

The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line starts here, and the Yurakucho Line for Tokyo/Ginza|Ginza, Shin-Kiba and Wakoshi stops here. The Fukutoshin Line connects Ikebukuro to Shinjuku and Tokyo/Shibuya|Shibuya, paralleling the Yamanote Line.

Both the Yurakucho and Fukutoshin subway lines offer through-runs to the Seibu Ikebukuro and Tobu Tojo lines (at Kotake-Mukaihara and Wakoshi stations, respectively).

How to get around in Tokyo/Toshima

The Toden Arakawa line and the last streetcar line in Tokyo, putters through Toshima starting from Waseda University (just across the neighborhood line in Shinjuku), through Zoshigaya, Ikebukuro, and all the way to Minowa at the northern edge of Tokyo/Taito|Taito.

What to see in Tokyo/Toshima

There is, quite frankly, very little in the way of attractions for tourists in Toshima.

Zōshigaya Cemetery - 雑司が谷霊園 Zōshigaya-reien | Minami-Ikebukuro 4-chome 35.722, 139.72 near Higashi-Ikebukuro station The final resting place of Lafcadio Hearn is about the most exciting attraction in this neck of the woods.

BanchouzanKouganji1 - Kouganji

Kōgan-ji Temple - 高岩寺 | 3-35-2 Sugamo 35.735703, 139.735647 This small temple in Sugamo is known for two statues: Togenuki Jizō, who heals sick children, and the boddhisattva Kannon, who will cure your pains if you wash themagical appropriate part of the statue. More morbidly, you can also pray to Kannon for a swift and painless death, so you will not be a burden to your relatives in your old age. Visitors pray Enmei Jizōson for their health too. The way to pray is unusual. People drink a small Japanese paper. A small picture of a stone statue of Enmei Jizōson is drawn on it.
Myōkō-ji Temple - 妙行寺 15 min from JR Sugamo station A According to legend and the grave of Lady Oiwa (Oiwa-san) in Yotsuya Kaidan, Japan's best-known ghost story and a direct inspiration for the Ring horror movies, is in this temple. In a nutshell and the beautiful Oiwa was disfigured, divorced and killed, and then comes back to haunt the people who wronged her.

Honmyoji temple sugamo - |Honmyoji temple

Honmyōji Temple - 本妙寺 | 5-35-6 Sugamo 35.739659, 139.735108 10 min from JR Sugamo station - This temple is known for a fire called Meireki-no-Taika, an inferno 400 years ago which killed over 100,000 people. It is said that this fire broke out in Honmyōji. There are also some tombs of famous people in this temple. A Japanese swordman Chiba Shūsaku and a political office leader Tōyama Kinshirō, for example.
Hōmyōji - 法明寺 | 35.724361, 139.71375 3-18-18 Minamiikebukuro ☎ +81 3-3971-4383 - A Famous Japanese temple built in 810. Features the statue of Kishimojin (鬼子母神像) who is a Japanese God of fertility. Visitors go to Hōmyōji to pray for their children's birth, growth and security. The Kishimojin figure typically take the form of the devil, but this statue holds a baby, and the figure is beautiful. In this temple the Oeshiki-Taisai festival (御会式大祭) is held from October 16 to October 18 every year.
Sunshine 60 | Ikebukuro GPS 35.72935, 139.71821 - Sunshine 60 was once the tallest building in Japan and it remains the most prominent building within the Sunshine City complex. The surrounding Sunshine City complex includes shops, restaurants, an aquarium, and an observatory at the top of the Sunshine 60 building. The observatory is closed until Spring 2016 for renovations.

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Nekobukuro | - Ikebukuro 35.72988, 139.71650 A unique shop on the top floor of the Tokyu Hands building where you pay ¥600 entry fee 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 | on the west side of the Ikebukuro train/subway station 35.729722, 139.708056 - Has the former world's longest escalator and offers various exhibits and concerts.
Tokyo Shaheed Minar | - Ikebukuro at the west side of Ikebukuro train/subway station, in the Nishiguchi (West Gate) park, in front of Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space A beautiful monument, symbolizing love to the mother language. It is based on the mother language movement, that originated in Dhaka,Bangladesh in 1952, followed by the UNESCO declaration of International Mother Language Day (21 February). It was a present fromBangladesh to the Japanese people, in 2005, recognizing Tokyo Boishakhi Mela (Bangladesh New Year Festival), organized every year in mid April, by Japan Bangladesh Society.

What to do in Tokyo/Toshima

Ikefukuro | - Ikebukuro 35.726910, 139.711505 A statue of an owl near the east exit. Many people use this as a meeting spot.
Namja Town - ナンジャタウンホーム | Ikebukuro 35.728917, 139.720120 in Sunshine 60 on 2 & 3F Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00 The Namja Town has many attractions. For example there are some Japanese style haunted houses, interactive 1964 shooting games, egg-raising game(the whole process is quite similar to raising a child, where you will need to take the egg to toilets, restaurants, and hospitals, until after a certain point. Then you can take the eggs to play games. This is quite a 'couply' game to do). And there are big food shops – the gyoza stadium and the ice cream city, and the dessert empire of Tokyo. If clients buy the 3,900 yen(3,300 yen for under 18) "Namja Passport" tickets and they can enjoy 14 attractions and visit food shops. Night passport, which you can get for 2,500 yen(2,000 yen for under 18), is available after 5pm. But if you want to visit the food shops only, you buy the 300 yen "Namja Entry" tickets. The attractions range from 600 yen to 1000 yen in price each}}.
Namja Town is not very friendly to non-Japanese speakers. English translations are only present in few places and most of the game require you to answer a few questions, totally in (Japanese). To fully enjoy this unique theme park, proficiency in Japanese language is very important. That being said, you definitely can still have fun even if you only speak English.

Manten - 満天 | Ikebukuro 35.728883, 139.720185 10 min from JR Ikebukuro station - 1000-1300 yen There is a planetarium called Manten in the Sunshine city. This planetarium shows three types of programs and repeats them in a 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 Japanese famous musicians. The CG Planetarium Program shows some science programs, for example the mystery of black hall. The Healing Program shows programs relax people. Some aromas are changed when scenes are changed. These programs are changed regularly.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Tokyo/Toshima

Animate | - Ikebukuro next door to K-Books, down the street from Mandarake, and across the highway from the Sunshine 60 - Lots of new anime/manga-related merchandise.
K-Books | - Ikebukuro next door to the Animate, down the block from Mandarake, across the highway from the Sunshine 60 - Good selection of anime, manga, and posters.
Mandarake | Lions Mansion Ikebukuro B1F, 3-15-2 Higashi-ikebukuro Not far from the Sunshine 60 - One of the newest in the Mandarake chain of used anime/manga goods stores and the Ikebukuro branch specializes in doujinshi, in particular doujinshi for girls.

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.

Bic Camera | Ikebukuro - This discount retailer's flagship store on the east side of the station, with several branches nearby.
Junkudō | Ikebukuro leave the train station by the Seibu exit; turn right and go down the street a couple of blocks - Junkudo is half a block up from the tall building with a A 9-story bookstore (top floor has English titles).
Tokyu Hands | 1-28-10 Higashi-Ikebukuro next to Sunshine 60 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8PM A crazy 7 story 'DIY' store with floors of kitchenware, bath accessories, paper goods, scrap-booking 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 next to a Gundam model.
Sugamo - 巣鴨 35.73899, 139.73101 On the JR Yamanote and Toei Mita lines - Popularly known as "Grandma's Tokyo/Harajuku|Harajuku" (obaachan no Harajuku), and indeed most shops in the area do seem targeted towards an older clientèle. For the (rare) tourist, however, this means a plentiful supply of tea, pottery, kitchen implements and clothes in styles that went out of fashion 50 years ago. The area is at its liveliest on the 4th, 14th and 24th of each month when a street market is held.
Maruji - 丸治 | Sugamo 4-21-11 and three other outlets nearby ¥800 and up Probably the most famous and successful shop in Sugamo, Maruji specializes in one thing: red underwear (赤パンツ aka-pantsu). By energizing a pressure point below your navel, Maruji's crimson panties, boxers and long-johns will keep you warm and fill you with vigor — or so they say.

Halal Restaurants in Tokyo/Toshima

Konaya - 古奈屋 | Sugamo 3-37-1 Opening Hours: Open for lunch only daily except Monday The original shop of restaurant chain renowned for its Curries udon noodles. The Noodles are cut by hand and the special Curries stock is brewed for two days, and ¥1050 will get you some mighty fine tasting udon.
Akebono Sushi | 1-9-23 Minami-Ikebukuru ☎ +81 3-3984-4936 -
Fight Gyoza - ファイト餃子 | 3-7-3 Nisisugamo ☎ +81 3-3917-6261 Japanese gyoza is boiled ordinally. But the fight Gyozas are hoisted after boiled. It is a very famous restaurant for gyoza. So many people stand in a line in front of the restaurant.
Souten - 蒼天 | Otsuka 3-39-13 35.729629, 139.727369JR Otsuka South Exit, cross the tram line, walk past the shrine, left then right. If you get to the junior high school, you've gone too far ☎ +81 3-5944-8105 - From ¥7,000 High-end yakitori. Five stick set from around ¥1,600. Do try the Chicken sashimi--outside the comfort zone for many visitors, but you may be pleasantly surprised. Extensive selection of nihonshu featuring Kozaemon.
Tobu and Seibu basements | - Ikebukuro - Urban Japanese keep their grocery stores beneath their department stores. If you go to the B1 and B2 levels of the massive stores flanking the Ikebukuro station, you will find endless acres of raw and prepared food. Buy a bunch and take it back to your hotel fridge.
Shakey's Pizzas | - Ikebukuro - Down Sunshine-Dori on the way to Sunshine 60, on the left and there's a Shakey's Pizza. There are lunchtime buffets with great pizza the way only Japanese like to serve it.
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 | - Ikebukuro about 2 blocks from the Ikebukuro subway/train station - take the Seibu exit, turn right and walk down the street to the tall building on the left with a large flashing A very nice "conveyor belt" sushi restaurant
Malay-Chan | - Ikebukuro 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) there and walk up a little street that winds left and then right. Then walk about 2 blocks farther A small Malaysian restaurant on the west side of the train/subway station that is a little hard to find.
Mutekiya | - Ikebukuro on the east side of Ikebukuro, opposite Junkudo Bookstore - Good ramen.
Al-Flah | Ikebukuro on the righthand-side of the Royal Hotel in Ikebukuro, on the 4th floor A halal supermarket and restaurant that sells halal food, including Vegetarian curries. The store also conveniently has a bollywood-movie section.
Namja Town | Ikebukuro in Sunshine 60 on 2 & 3F Opening Hours: 10:00-22:00 Namja Town has some big food shops in Sunshin City– the gyoza studium and the ice cream city, and the dessert empire of Tokyo. Gyoza is a kind of Japanese food. The gyoza stadium collects gyozas of many famous gyoza restaurants in Japan. The ice cream city collects many kinds of ice creams in the world. The dessert empire of Tokyo collects some famous cakes. And it has events regularly. For example many kinds of pudding were collected before. Namja Town is exhilarating but incomprehensible if you don't speak (Japanese). In the ice cream section, for example and there is a shop selling over 100 varieties of ice cream in single-serving cups, almost none of which have a single non-Japanese word on the label. Still, it's easy to try various gyoza by pointing at picture menus.
Mama's Philippine Store & Restaurant | Toshima-ku Ikebukuro 2-5-4 Ichi Bldg. 3F ☎ +81 3-3590-1291 A "Feel at home place" when Filipinos miss their native foods, or want to introduce their friends to the cuisine! Authentic Filipino food served by warm, informative, attentive staff. Also sells Filipino grocery items, health and beauty products.

Edoya Towards south exit

Omamori near Shin-Otsuka metro station

}} Ikebukuro has an extensive assortment of places to drink and get drunk, detailed in that article. For sampling sake, JR Otsuka station has a number of good choices:

Cafes

Cafe du Monde | - Ikebukuro right outside the west exit - The Tokyo version of the New Orleans cafe.
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.
Sakura Cafe Ikebukuro | @.asia 2-40-7 Ikebukuro 6 min walk from Ikebukuro station ☎ +81 3-3971-2237 | Opening Hours: Open 24/7 Opened in 2008, one of Tokyo's largest open-air-terrace cafes with easy-going and relaxed style located at 1st floor of "Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro" which welcomes guests from over 110 countries every year. International atmosphere with 60 organic juice from around the world from 550 yen, monthly changing Snacks and meals from 300 yen also from a wide variety of countries, and coffee for 180 yen.

Bars/Clubs

Bed | Ikebukuro - One of the few late night restaurants in Ikebukuro.

Cat Cafes

Nekorobi | 3F Tact T.O Building Higashi-Ikebukuro ☎ +81 3-6228-0646 | Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 11PM ¥2,000 for the first hour and then ¥700 per 15min. In the weekends you can choose to go for 3 hours for ¥2,500 This café is decorated in wicker and burlap and boasts having a Nintendo Wii as well as cats. Most of the cats at this café were once strays or given to shelters by their owners. You can use anything in the room you'll be entering, including laptop, drinks dispenser, cat toys and the Wii. Be sure to take off shoes, wash hands, and be gentle with the cats.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Tokyo/Toshima

Tokyo/Toshima - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Tokyo/Toshima, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Tokyo/Toshima. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Tokyo/Toshima and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Tokyo/Toshima. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Tokyo/Toshima. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inTokyo/Toshima: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Tokyo/Toshima.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Tokyo/Toshima: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Tokyo/Toshima, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Tokyo/Toshima.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Tokyo/Toshima, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Tokyo/Toshima, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Tokyo/Toshima and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Tokyo/Toshima, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Tokyo/Toshima, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Tokyo/Toshima without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Tokyo/Toshima is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Tokyo/Toshima.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Tokyo/Toshima is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Tokyo/Toshima, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Tokyo/Toshima Media: info@ehalal.io

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

Sakura Hotel Ikebukuro | @otel-ikebukuro.com 2-40-7 Ikebukuro 35.73342, 139.70758 6 min walk from Ikebukuro station ☎ +81 3-3971-2237 - Single 6,800yen, Dormitory 3,200yen Various rooms are good for groups and private. All staff speak English.
Kimi Ryokan | 2-36-8 Ikebukuro 8 min from JR Ikebukuro West Exit ☎ +81 3-3971-3766 - This friendly if very tourist-oriented minshuku (no, it's not a ryokan) is an excellent option for first time travelers to Tokyo. It is reasonably priced (4500 yen) and has English speaking staff. A nice way to spend your first night on a tatami.

Mid-range

Crowne Plaza Metropolitan - Tokyo | 1-6-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro ☎ +81 3-3980-1111 +81 3-3980-5600 A short walk away from Ikebukuro station, a decent 4-star hotel with nice, clean rooms and friendly staff who mostly speak fluent English. Limosine bus services are available to both Narita and Haneda airports.
Dai-ichi Inn Ikebukuro | 1-42-8 Higashi-Ikebukuro ☎ +81 3-3986-1221 +81 3-3982-4128 A 1 minutes walk from the station (take East Exit), right across from the back of Parco. In-room broadband internet, private massage service, 24-hour convenience store, and many other amenities. TV channel list includes CNA (Channel News Asia). Some of the staff speak near-fluent English, others not so much. Internet reservations can greatly reduce room rates.
Hotel Grand City | 1-30-7 Higashi-Ikebukuro 5 minutes walk towards Sunshine City ☎ +81 3-3984-5121 +81 3-3984-5127 The staff don't speak English very well.
APA Hotel Tokyo Itabashi | 4-47-1 Kami-Ikebukuro ☎ +81 3-5974-8111 Checkin - 3PM / Check-out: 11AM This three star hotel offers a convenient location near the Itabshi Station, 3 min to Ikebukuro and 8min to Shinjuku.