Itabashi

Tokyo

Itabashi
Itabashi
Itabashi
Itabashi
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


Itabashi Hotel Deals

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
4 out of 5
1-19-1 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is ₩193,205 per night from May 5 to May 6
₩193,205
₩233,779 total
May 5 - May 6
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and in-room massages. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (2,967 reviews)
"The hotel is great and the staff are excellent. The hotel is in the entertainment district and is surrounded by restaurants, bars and other types of entertainment. The recruiters for the more adult types of entertainment can be very aggressive. I am glad I didn’t have my kids with me."

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025

Hotel Gracery Shinjuku
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
4.5 out of 5
2-2-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
The price is ₩523,714 per night from May 7 to May 8
₩523,714
₩662,498 total
May 7 - May 8
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 10 restaurants, and 5 bars/lounges. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
9/10 Wonderful! (2,235 reviews)
"great location"

Reviewed on Apr 23, 2025

Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo
Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main
Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main
4 out of 5
3-2-9 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Tokyo-to
Stay at this 4-star hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, 15 restaurants, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our ...
8/10 Very Good! (2,633 reviews)
"Good hotel. Wish there was more staff in the lobby. The lines were so long and there were only 2 staff doing everything."

Reviewed on Apr 23, 2025

Shinjuku Washington Hotel Main
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
4 out of 5
2-7-1 Hanedakuko, Oota, Tokyo, Tokyo
The price is ₩169,099 per night from May 6 to May 7
₩169,099
₩189,019 total
May 6 - May 7
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! (4,978 reviews)
"Good stay do airport access"

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025

Hotel Villa Fontaine Grand Haneda Airport
Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
4 out of 5
2-8-16 Shiomi, Tokyo, Tokyo
The price is ₩268,620 per night from May 6 to May 7
₩268,620
₩333,894 total
May 6 - May 7
Stay at this 4-star spa hotel in Tokyo. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the breakfast and the restaurant in ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (2,724 reviews)
"Very moder hotel and súper confortable!!"

Reviewed on Apr 23, 2025

Tokyo Bay Shiomi Prince Hotel
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 ₩96,265 per night from May 6 to May 7
₩96,265
₩116,491 total
May 6 - May 7
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! (4,400 reviews)
"Very clean inside and out, short walk to train station, very friendly helpful staff even though I don't speak a word of Japanese."

Reviewed on Apr 25, 2025

APA Hotel & Resort Ryogoku Eki Tower
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