Tokyo Apartment Guide: Overview and Rental Prices in Ikebukuro
What Kind of Neighborhood is Ikebukuro?
Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo's major commercial and cultural centers, highly popular among foreigners. Ikebukuro Station is one of the busiest stations in Tokyo, with multiple lines intersecting, including the JR Yamanote Line, Tokyo Metro, and Fukutoshin Line. This excellent transportation network makes it easy to access various parts of Tokyo, making it convenient for commuting and studying.
Another attraction of Ikebukuro is its diverse shopping areas and entertainment facilities. With numerous large department stores, shopping malls, cinemas, and restaurants, you can find everything you need for daily life in Ikebukuro. The "Sunshine City" complex, which includes an observation deck and an aquarium, is perfect for family outings or hanging out with friends.
Furthermore, Ikebukuro is known as a place for cultural exchange, with established communities of foreigners, especially from China and Southeast Asia. There are many multinational restaurants, allowing you to enjoy familiar tastes from abroad. For foreigners living in Japan for work or study, Ikebukuro offers an attractive blend of convenience and diversity.
However, the cityscape around Ikebukuro Station varies depending on the direction. Let's take a look at the different areas around each station exit.
Ikebukuro's Cityscape
East Exit Area
The east exit of Ikebukuro Station is the busiest area. The iconic "Sunshine City" complex, with its aquarium and observation deck, is very popular among tourists and families. The area is also packed with leisure facilities like game centers and bowling alleys, bustling with people even on weekends and at night. This gives the east exit area a strong impression of being a place for entertainment and shopping.
However, there are also residential areas suitable for living near the east exit. For example, the area around Kasuga Street behind Sunshine City is lined with mid-rise apartments and is relatively quiet. In 2020, "Toshima Kids Park" opened, featuring a mini steam locomotive, making the area more family-friendly.
The southern side of the east exit is crowded with shoppers visiting Seibu Department Store and one of Tokyo's largest bookstores, Junkudo. However, if you move a bit away from this area, you'll find quiet residential neighborhoods. This area is close to Mejiro, known as an upscale residential district, characterized by its quiet and sophisticated atmosphere.
Furthermore, South Ikebukuro is home to public facilities such as the Toshima Ward Office and Community Center, serving as an administrative service hub. It's known for its quiet residential areas and is popular among families.
West Exit Area
The west exit of Ikebukuro Station has a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the east exit, but it's still a bustling area with many restaurants and karaoke shops near the station. However, nearby you'll find the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and Ikebukuro West Gate Park. As you move towards Rikkyo University, residential areas spread out. The further you get from the station, the less crowded it becomes, giving the area a somewhat leisurely atmosphere.
Also, the northern area of Ikebukuro Station's west exit is filled with entertainment facilities like restaurants and karaoke shops. Particularly, the area known as "Ikebukuro Chinatown" is popular for its concentration of authentic Chinese restaurants.
Access and Convenience in Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro Station is a transportation hub that offers direct access to Tokyo's major stations. Not only trains but also numerous bus routes make it easy to access any place in Tokyo.
Train Information for Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro is served by 8 lines: JR Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line, Tobu Tojo Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Yurakucho Line, and Fukutoshin Line. This makes it convenient to access not only within Tokyo but also areas in Saitama and Kanagawa prefectures. Particularly, you can reach major stations like Shinjuku and Shibuya in about 10 minutes, making it ideal for commuting and studying.
Bus Information for Ikebukuro
The area around Ikebukuro Station is well-served not only by trains but also by bus routes. The main operators are Kokusai Kogyo Bus, Toei Bus, and Seibu Bus. Using buses allows you to conveniently access areas that are not directly accessible by train from Ikebukuro Station. For example, you can reach places like Akabane, Oji, Ueno Park, and Tokyo Dome City. Depending on where you live, using a bus might be more convenient than using Ikebukuro Station.
Additionally, an electric bus called "IKEBUS" operates at 20-minute intervals, circulating around spots near Ikebukuro Station. The fare is 200 yen for adults per ride. It travels from the west exit to the east exit of Ikebukuro, making it convenient for sightseeing and shopping.
7 Points on the Livability of Ikebukuro
1. A Wide Variety of Shops for All Your Shopping Needs
The area around Ikebukuro Station is lined with large department stores like Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store and Tobu Department Store, fashion buildings like PARCO and LUMINE, and large electronics retailers like Bic Camera and Yamada Denki. There's also a 24-hour Don Quijote store, convenient for late-night shopping.
Furthermore, Sunshine City houses specialty stores offering a wide range of products from fashion to household goods and books. With such shopping spots concentrated around the station, you can satisfy almost all your shopping needs in the Ikebukuro Station area, from daily necessities to luxury items. This rich shopping environment is one of Ikebukuro's major attractions.
2. Supermarkets and Drug Stores for Daily Necessities
The area around Ikebukuro Station is well-equipped with supermarkets and drug stores essential for daily life. For example, "Kodawari Ichiba" in Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store offers organic products, foreign seasonings, and spices for those who are particular about their ingredients. Also, "Niku no Hanamasa", a wholesale supermarket known for its large portions and low prices, is located about a 6-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station in South Ikebukuro and is recommended for meat shopping.
The 24-hour supermarket "Sunshine Seiyu" near Sunshine City is known as the largest supermarket in Ikebukuro and caters to late-night shopping needs. At Sunshine Seiyu, you can shop for not only groceries but also daily necessities.
Moreover, the area around Ikebukuro Station has a wealth of drug stores. Major chain stores like Welcia and Matsumoto Kiyoshi have many outlets. These major drug stores offer not only medicines but also a wide range of daily necessities and cosmetics.
3. A Wide Variety of Restaurants
The area around Ikebukuro Station is known as one of Tokyo's premier gourmet spots. It offers a wide range of dining options, including Japanese, Western, Chinese, and ethnic cuisines. It's particularly famous as a competitive area for ramen, with many unique and popular ramen shops like "Menya Hulu-lu", "Chisou Men Tanuki Ana", and "Tontin Ikebukuro Main Store".
Additionally, commercial facilities like Ikebukuro PARCO and Sunshine City have restaurant areas with a variety of casual dining options.
Thus, Ikebukuro offers restaurants suitable for various occasions. For food lovers, it's an attractive environment where you can explore new restaurants every day.
4. Enjoyment of Art and Culture
Ikebukuro is also a hub for art and culture. One example is the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre located at the west exit of Ikebukuro. The Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre offers various genres of performing arts, including classical music concerts, plays, and dance performances.
Also, "Hareza Ikebukuro", located about a 4-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, is a new landmark in Ikebukuro. Hareza Ikebukuro houses a cinema, a cultural arts theater, a live theater, and multipurpose halls, offering diverse entertainment options.
Toshima Ward, where Ikebukuro is located, promotes itself as a "theater city where the whole town is a stage and everyone can be a star", indicating that diverse cultures and arts are deeply rooted in this area.
5. A Holy Land for Manga and Anime
Ikebukuro is also famous as a holy land for manga and anime fans. Particularly noteworthy is "Otome Road", located about a 5-minute walk from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. Otome Road is concentrated with shops dealing in manga and anime goods aimed at women, making it a popular spot visited by many fans.
At the center of Otome Road is the Animate Ikebukuro Main Store. Known as the world's largest anime shop, it reopened after renovation in March 2023. The renovated Animate Ikebukuro Main Store not only offers manga and anime-related goods but also features new additions like the Animate Theater and exhibition spaces, providing a more enriched experience.
Around Otome Road, there are also many unique shops like "butler cafes" where you can experience the world of anime and manga. Furthermore, the "Pokémon Mega Center Tokyo" in Sunshine City is another must-visit spot for anime fans.
In this way, Ikebukuro functions as a hub for anime and manga culture, providing an environment where anime and manga enthusiasts can fully enjoy their hobbies.
6. Parks Near the Station
Amidst the urban bustle around Ikebukuro Station, there are also several lush parks. Particularly notable is the Minami-Ikebukuro Park, which reopened after renovation in 2016. Minami-Ikebukuro Park features a large grassy area and is loved by many as an oasis in the city. It also has a cafe offering organic menu items, where you can relax while enjoying the greenery.
At the west exit of Ikebukuro, there's the Ikebukuro West Gate Park, which was renovated in 2019. The Ikebukuro West Gate Park is characterized by a large monument called "GLOBAL RING" and is a venue for various events.
In the Higashi-Ikebukuro area, there's the Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park, which provides a quiet green space. Also, a bit away from Ikebukuro Station, there's the historic Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan building, and the surrounding park is known as a famous spot for cherry blossoms.
With many parks in Ikebukuro, residents can enjoy weekend picnics or use them as daily walking courses, serving as places of relaxation. The coexistence of urban convenience and nature is one of Ikebukuro's great charms.
7. Ongoing Redevelopment for Future Growth
Source: Ikebukuro Station West Exit District Urban Planning (Draft)
A large-scale redevelopment centered on the "Ikebukuro Station West Exit District Redevelopment Plan" is underway around Ikebukuro Station. Scheduled to be implemented from 2027 to 2043, it's expected to significantly change Ikebukuro's cityscape. Of particular note is the construction of three ultra-high-rise mixed-use buildings. These buildings are planned to integrate various functions including commercial facilities, offices, hotels, and residential spaces.
With this redevelopment, Ikebukuro is expected to evolve into a city with more advanced urban functions. There are also plans to improve access from the station to the city, including the development of pedestrian networks and the construction of new deck passages connecting the east and west sides of Ikebukuro Station.
Furthermore, the redevelopment goes beyond just constructing buildings; it's also advancing city planning based on the "International Art and Culture City Concept". This is expected to create new urban attractions centered around art and culture, further strengthening the cultural aspects of Ikebukuro.
Apartment Rent Prices in Ikebukuro
Here are the average apartment rent prices around Ikebukuro Station and its neighboring stations, Otsuka Station and Mejiro Station:
The average rent prices around Ikebukuro Station are relatively affordable compared to other major stations in central Tokyo, but they tend to be slightly higher than the surrounding areas. Also, since the atmosphere of the neighborhood varies depending on the direction from Ikebukuro Station, there may be differences in rent prices for similar layouts depending on the location.
Please note that the above apartment rent prices are just averages. For more detailed information, it's best to inquire directly with real estate agencies.
Sep 29, 2024