Location: Toshima
Top Things to do in Toshima
Top 10 Things to do in Toshima, Japan
Toshima (豊島区, Toshima-ku) is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the eight central wards of the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Located in the northern area of Tokyo, Toshima is bordered by the wards of Nerima, Itabashi, and Kita wards, in the north, and Nakano, Shinjuku and Bunkyo in the south.
Restaurants in Toshima
1. Rikkyo University Ikebukuro Campus
Overall Ratings
4 based on 151 reviews
Reviewed By ワンケディ - Fukaya, Japan
The red brick buildings crept with ivy of the University of Saint Pauls are really beautiful and this place is a hidden hitorical spot in Ikebukuro. The curry rice of school cafeteria is worth trying, too. The ceiling of cafeteria reminds me something like the abbey of the Middle Ages. Although this is not my alma mater, I like visiting here as a tourist.
2. Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 368 reviews
Reviewed By mat_mak - Tokyo Prefecture, Japan
This Japanese garden was landscaped by renovating from an old wealthy Japanese politician's house. It is now the site of a five star hotel, and the garden is open to the public for all people at admission free. Seasonal flowers and trees are planted, and each season has different scenery. Especially when the cherry blossoms bloom from the end of March to the beginning of April, we can see more wonderful scenery.
3. Former Fukukawa Gardens
Overall Ratings
4 based on 248 reviews
Reviewed By hfot2 - Vermont
Many visitors’ attentions seemed to be focused on the big house for which the Gardens were built. The house was designed by an English architect in what is called English architecture style in a brochure. Actually it’s a rather humdrum but imposing pile of depressingly dark brown stone in a late Victorian/early Edwardian style, apparently built for a Japanese family.
Immediately beneath the house was a rose garden with very many roses in full bloom in the first week of December. A great many photographers were spending quite a lot of time on the house and rose garden.
We were far more interested in the Japanese garden beyond and below, down a long flight of stairs behind a gazebo. It was separated from the Western garden by a range of momiji, mostly in fine color. Below was a pleasantly laid out array of pond, with island and lanterns and hill and all the usual accoutrements. There were pine trees ready to be strung up for winter snow protection. There also were very odd cylinders of straw wrapping with bristly topknots around a sort of palm.
We were just about getting ready to head back to the entrance to leave when we discovered a side path. This led into a glen requiring a climb up and around and showing us a teahouse and two other small out buildings, plus a huge building of the same same brown stone, described in the brochure as a stable but it looks more like a kura to us. We next completed the loop around the glen, then we went down to the pond again to get some final photos and then we again made the climb up and out.
When we arrived the ticket seller kindly told us there was to be a concert at noon on the upper lawn and we were welcome to attend. We didn’t, but the music softly wafted over the garden during our entire visit. Happily it was peaceful Japanese music and not a rock concert!
Visitor’s tips:
The discount coupon from our Tokyo map worked here and we were in for only ¥50 each.
Ask for a bus time table and the location of the closest bus stop before you enter, so you can plan your time accordingly.
There is a men’s and women’s rest room hidden in a back corner of the garden on the lowest level.
4. Seibu Ikebukuro Main Store
Overall Ratings
4 based on 164 reviews
Reviewed By d h - San Francisco, California
Every time I'm in Ikebukuro I always make a stop into Seibu. Eight plus floors of retail goodness! While I'm not into luxury brands, you need not spend a lot of money to enjoy your time here. If you're American, just marvel at the formality and graciousness of the UNIFORMED staff... The level of service provided to each customer... The orderliness of the displays and attention to detail of each retail section. Also note the brands we don't generally see here in specialized sections like Fred Perry (located in the adjacent Parco building) or concepts like Loft which focuses on furniture and household goods. Once you've developed an appetite head to the Spice restaurant floors (12-13) for a bite to eat. Here, there are many choices ranging from Japanese to Western foods. I should note there is a very popular "kaiten sushi" (sushi conveyor belt ) place called "Umegaoka" that is quite popular. I didn't go here but my cousin and sister both went and they can attest to it's high reviews - good quality at a good price. Be prepared to wait during peak times, however. That being said, there are other dining options should you desire not to wait. Lunch time (12-1400) usually has the best deals where you can get set meals (meal plus salad or soup or drink) for 800-1000 yen. Also to note, Uniqlo has a branch here on floors 10-11 and Muji is on the ground floor facing the main street. So, there is something for everyone at all price points!
5. Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By malupit - Manila, Philippines
The park is a great place to view the cherry blossoms if you're traveling when they are in full bloom. Large open spaces where children can run, picnics allowed on the grounds.
6. Koishikawa Korakuen Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 502 reviews
Reviewed By Barbara W - Utah
I was not as enamored as many other reviewers. The garden has a very interesting history and design, and the area around the lake had some beautiful maples, but much of the rest of the garden was a disappointment. The famous waterlily pond on the west end was a dismal mire under renovation and the plum orchard on the east was just bare trees. I suspect this garden is glorious in spring when the wisteria and iris are blooming, and I would like to visit it then. But I would not make this an autumn leaves destination for a foreign tourist.
7. Kishimojindo
Overall Ratings
4 based on 172 reviews
Reviewed By Crocodee - Singapore
This temple is worth a quick look if you're in the neighborhood. The bright orange pathway and lovely sculptures make it very beautiful. It is an active temple where many people came to pray. There were three monks there at the time of my visit. It's not far from the Ikebukuro Station. Make sure to have a map as it's not right on a main road. Some kind policemen helped me find it.
8. Rikugien Garden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 742 reviews
Reviewed By jenny2222 - Sydney, Australia
We planned to visit the Rikugien Garden while it was still illuminated on it's very last night of display, 7th December. I hardly expected that it would still be Autumnal, but it was and it was beautiful.
Take a camera that can manage night shots. And go early, as the illuminations finish at 9pm with the last admissions to the park being at 8.30.
Entry fee is 300 yen each, and worth it.
It was absolutely freezing cold (for us Sydneysiders) but we were rugged up with gloves and hats and jackets and managed well. It was easy for us to get there from Shinjuku, we took the Yamanote line from Shinjuku station to Komagome station, no changes. Walk 4-5 minutes to the park and enter by the closest gates.
There are toilets at the entrance if required.
There's no need to wonder where you're going, you follow a set path, past lovely lit waterways, underlit maples, and other spectacular foliage. We spent a lovely 1.5 hours walking and could hardly stop snapping off pictures.
It was a unique and different experience to walking through the lovely Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden with is divine. I enjoyed it immensely as did my older teenagers.
A great before or after dinner activity for all the family.
We went on it's last day, 7th December, and confirmed online the dates it was on.
9. Samurai Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Urban entertainment museum centrally located in the Kabukicho district of Tokyo's Shinjuku ward. Displayed under dramatic lighting are more than 70 examples of samurai armor, kabuto helmets and weapons gathered here from Japanese and foreign collections. Detailed descriptions for each display are given in English, Chinese and Korean so that foreign visitors can easily understand and appreciate the artifacts. The Samurai Photo-Shooting corner where you can take your picture wearing armor and helmet is super popular with visitors from overseas. The museum also offers a full range of original Samurai gift items for sale.
Reviewed By Trev M - South Korea
A small but fantastic museum full of some of the coolest stuff you will ever see. Take the guided tour and try not to squeal like an excited schoolgirl when they let you try on the replica helmet and katana. The samurai demonstration followed by...Morehello. thanks for visited museum and gave us highest rating. i hope you could enjoy enough our museum. please stop by museum when you come to Japan again. thank you very much.
10. Sugamo Jizo-dori Shopping Street
Overall Ratings
4 based on 492 reviews
Reviewed By yasumi999 - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
My mom has super small feet, and has trouble buying shoes in most countries. We are talking about kid-sized sneakers type of small.
Even in Japan, where small sizes are available, she can't find her size everywhere. Department stores, for example, usually start from 22cm or 22.5.
But this shopping street is her shoe paradise! We visited two stores, and both had many choices of footwear starting from 21.5 or SSS!
She left there happy. And if you have such small feet, please go there ...
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