ITABASHI-KU

Shop, eat and play in the suburban district of Itabashi

Itabashi Ward is a quiet and relaxed residential neighborhood with lots of cultural charm, located alongside the beautiful Arakawa River. Located within 50 minutes from Tokyo Station, it’s a peaceful respite from the bustling big-city scene.

Itabashi offers quaint shopping areas, lots of nature, and fun museums, making it a popular area to live. In contrast to the glamor and glitz of Tokyo’s more urban areas, Itabashi gives visitors a glimpse of a more down-to-earth and humble way of life. It’s the perfect neighborhood to come home to after a long day of working in the city.

For shopping, dining, and entertainment, Itabashi’s residents head to Happy Road Oyama, a long, covered shopping street that’s bursting with old-school charm. It features 200+ shops and both chain and family-owned restaurants. From food stalls to izakaya bars, there’s no shortage of cheap yet delicious options for every meal. And it’s a great place to spend rainy days.

Itabashi is famous for its impressive fireworks festival every August, shooting off approximately 12,000 fireworks for an awe-inspiring show. It’s also a great place for cherry blossom viewing in the spring.

During the rest of the year, people enjoy the lush greenery of the spacious and well-maintained Johoku Chuo Park for jogging and other outdoor activities. There are fields and courts for baseball and tennis, and a running track.

Another attraction is the country’s third-largest Buddha statue, housed within the beautiful Jorenji Temple grounds in Itabashi. Because it’s rarely ever crowded, visitors can experience the massive and awe-inspiring statue in peace and quiet.

Itabashi has some nice museums as well—the Itabashi Art Museum may be small, but it’s an important part of history as one of Tokyo’s earliest modern art museums. And for science lovers, there’s the Itabashi Science and Education Museum.

Fantastic Japanese language schools in Itabashi

Urawa International School offers small group lessons with experienced and supportive instructors who provide guidance on an individual basis. Fun activities and school excursions give students a chance to have fun and learn about Japanese culture to supplement their language studies.

Another wonderful school is Kokusho Japanese Language School, featuring multicultural instructors who support students in a variety of ways outside of language learning. This includes job hunting and guiding students on daily life issues. Kokusho also offers a manga/anime course, preparing students for a career as a professional manga artist.

Cosmos Academy of International Language is another great option, located near beautiful Ukima Park, where students can participate in volunteer activities as part of their education. Cosmos Academy strives to help its students attain certification (N1 through N3) and to prepare them for entrance examinations for colleges and universities in Japan.

 Enjoy the charm Itabashi has to offer

The SAKURA HOUSE apartments in Honcho, Hasune, and Motohasunuma are ideal for solo travelers, families, and students. Each apartment is located in a convenient location near a subway station with direct access to central Tokyo. Residents can enjoy the many shops, restaurants, bars, and other establishments nearby.
There is an additional Muslim-friendly apartment in Hasune that is exclusive to Muslims and perfect for students and families coming to Japan.

The Itabashi Motohasunuma guest house is conveniently located just 3 minutes on foot from Motohasunuma Station on the Toei Mita Line, which allows residents direct access to central Tokyo areas such as Sugamo, Jimbocho, Otemachi (Tokyo Station), Mita and Meguro.
The five-story building features two separate common areas for visitors to relax, cook or simply converse with one another, and each room is fully equipped with free Wi-Fi and other basic amenities.