Itabashi

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 Park near 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


Itabashi Hotel Deals

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 NT$1,715 per night from Dec 1 to Dec 2
NT$1,715
NT$2,129 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 1 - Dec 2
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the pool in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (3,268 reviews)
"Where do I begin. APA hotels are by far one of my favourite places to stay at. The accommodation: clean! The staff: cordial! It is very comfortable and the self check-in option is super easy to use. After my stay in an APA hotel in Osaka, I knew I had to stay in another. I will definitely stay at ..."

Reviewed on 2024/11/1

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 WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,298 reviews)
"Staff is very attentive and professional. We stayed on the Godzilla floor and it was interesting to see all of the Godzilla history items. Very good view of Tokyo from the upper floors."

Reviewed on 2024/11/1

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 WiFi, 2 restaurants, and hot springs on site. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9/10 Wonderful! (3,696 reviews)
Very handy for terminal 3
"Nice hotel very handy for terminal 3 at Haneda. We arrived in the evening and it was only a short walk to the hotel. It was an auto check in but the staff were helpful. There was also a Lawson's close by. The foyer was spacious, the room not so. We booked a double bed and the bed was up against the ..."

Reviewed on 2024/10/31

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 NT$3,864 per night from Dec 1 to Dec 2
NT$3,864
NT$5,015 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 1 - Dec 2
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (4,459 reviews)
"Excellent airport hotel"

Reviewed on 2024/10/31

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
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NT$2,608 per night from Nov 24 to Nov 25
NT$2,608
NT$3,216 total
includes taxes & fees
Nov 24 - Nov 25
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, an outdoor pool, and a full-service spa. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (1,145 reviews)
Good memories
"Great area to stay. Enjoyed the onsen and the breakfast."

Reviewed on 2024/10/31

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 NT$4,116 per night from Dec 1 to Dec 2
NT$4,116
NT$5,116 total
includes taxes & fees
Dec 1 - Dec 2
Book a stay at this family-friendly hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 5 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the bar in ...
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 2024/11/1

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.

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Itabashi