Nerima (練馬), Itabashi (板橋), and Kita (北) are a trio of suburban wards in north and northwestern Tokyo, bordering Saitama and outer Tokyo's Tama region. All three lie well beyond the central Yamanote line – nearby Ikebukuro is as close as it gets.
Get in
Nerima is accessible on the Toei Oedo subway line from many points in the city, and on the Seibu Ikebukuro and Seibu Shinjuku (going to stations in the Southern part of Nerima-ku) Railway lines from Ikebukuro and Seibu Shinjuku stations respectively. The Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line branches in two at Kotake-Mukaihara station with some trains going on to Wako-shi in Saitama Prefecture then continuing along the Tobu Tojo line and others continuing to Nerima then running through to the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.
Itabashi is best covered by the Toei Mita line and a small portion of the Tobu Tojo line. Itabashi Station on the JR Saikyo line is at the far southeastern corner of the ward, barely in Itabashi at all.
JR East serves Kita. The Keihin Tohoku JR Line stops at Tabata, Kami Nakazato, Oiji, Higashi-Jujo, and Akabane stations, while the Saikyo JR Line stops at Itabashi, Jujo, Akabane, Kita Akabane, and Ukima Funado stations.
See
- Akasuimon (赤水門), 5-41 Shimo, Kita-ku (Namboku subway line to Akabane-Iwabuchi; wander north through small streets), 35.7856°, 139.7336°. The Red Floodgate may be of little interest to the casual tourist, but involves a pleasant walk in a riverside park. Tokyo is low-lying, and depends on floodgates and levees to avoid inundation. The historic red flood gate is no longer used, replaced by the larger (but less attractive) blue gates to the east.
- Asukayama Park (飛鳥山公園), 1-1-3 Oji (1 min from JR Ōji station), 35.750556°, 139.738889°, +81 3-3908-9275. Asukayama Park is the first park in Japan. It has about 650 sakura trees, planted by the Japanese political leader Yoshimune Tokugawa (1684-1751). People drink and eat under them when the cherry blossoms bloom in spring. There are also some museums in the park. The paper museum shows the history of paper and has a library. The Shibusawa museum is about the famous Japanese industrialist Eiich Shibusawa (1840-1931), who played an important role in the development of Japan.
- Hakusan shrine (白山神社), +81 3-3948-1096. shrine is the place to worship Japanese God. There is a big portable shrine, a big box and the Japanese believe that Japanese God rides to it while Japanese festival is holding. Every fall there is a festival where Japanese carry the big portable shrine through the city, by walking. It a very ancient tradition. You can see this festival. And Hakusan shrine famous for zelkova tree.there are two zelkova trees. These trees are 800 years old. It is a natural monument in Japan.
- Kyū-Furukawa Teien (旧古川庭園), Nishigahara 1-chome (15 min from Rikugien along Hongo-dori), 35.742972°, 139.746694°. Probably Tokyo's best-preserved early Edo-era Western-style mansion, designed by English architect Josiah Condor. The rose garden here is also well-known and blooms twice a year in May–June and Oct-Nov, and there's a Japanese garden to round out the set. ¥150
- Market of the cock (酉の市). It is the Japanese traditional festival that have continued from Edo period. And it is held in November on the day of the cock by Ootori shrine In Nerima. There are many kinds of booths. For example, Chinese foods, grilled chicken, apricot candy, big cotton candy and so on. You can eat those foods and enjoy this traditional atmosphere.
- United cinema Toshimaen (ユナイテッドシネマ豊島園), 4-15-20 Nerima nerima-ku (It takes 2min from Coshimaen station), +81 3-5912-9400. This cinema has 9 screens and special seats that have more beautiful sound than normal seats.It can accommodate about 2372 spectators. There are some shops, you can buy foods, for example, popcorn and ice cream, drinks and goods of movies. Prices are ¥1800 for adults, ¥1500 yen for university and high school students, ¥1000 for junior and senior, ¥900 for infants (from 3 years old).
Do
- Toshimaen (としまえん), 3-25-1 Koyama, Nerima-ku (at Toshimaen Station on the Ōedo Line; also served by a tiny spur of the Seibu Ikebukuro Line: board a train bound for Toshimaen, or change trains at Nerima), 35.745°, 139.64528°, +81 3-3990-8800 (Japanese only). Hours vary, see web site; most often 10:00-16:00 or 18:00, closed most Tu and W. An amusement park aimed at children with a merry-go-round, small roller coasters, other carnival-type rides, and seven swimming pools with water slides. ¥1000, ¥500 children, plus ¥400 per ride; a free pass for all the rides is ¥3800 for adults and ¥2800 for children. Admission to the water park is ¥4000 for adults and ¥3000 for children
- Niwa-no-yu (庭の湯), 3-25-1 Kouyama, Nerima-ku, 35.744083°, 139.647972°, +81 3-3990-4126 (Japanese only). 10:00–23:00. A large, upscale sento adjacent to Toshimaen which features indoor and outdoor baths, Roman steam rooms, Finnish saunas, a large indoor pool (bring your bathing suit), and an upstairs area with food, drinks, massages, and relaxation chairs (food, drinks, and massages cost extra). Children not permitted. ¥2250 before 21:00, ¥1260 after
- Hikarigaoka Park (光が丘公園), 4-1 Hikarigaoka, Nerima-ku (north of Hikarigaoka Station, Oedo Line), 35.766667°, 139.629167°. One of the larger parks in Tokyo. It was left over land from a U.S. military base. The park has extensive open, grassy areas for picnics, frisbee and the like. There is also a large public pool, and a gym, a bird-watching center, a small water play area, tennis courts, archery, a baseball diamond and other facilities. A number of festivals and flea markets and special events are often held in the park (or near it) year round as well.
- Karaoke and live stage (カラオケアンドライブステージ), 4-15-15 Nerima, Nerima-ku (1 min from Toshimaen station by walking), 35.766667°, 139.629167°, +81 3 3557-5771. A karaoke box in Toshimaen. When you enter the room, choose your favorite songs and sing it. If you look for song and put it's number to karaoke machine, music without voice is being played so you can sing with music. And you can eat many kind of foods and drink.
Buy
- Jūjō-Ginza (十条銀座), Kami-jūjō 2-chome, Kita-ku (Jūjō Station on the Saikyō Line, across from the west entrance), 35.7610396°, 139.7214049°. This covered shopping street is as good a way as any to see how every-day people shop and what they buy.
Eat
A Japanese radish, called Nerima radish.(練馬大根) It is long and the length is about 1 meter.
Its taste is spicy so when you eat it, you should eat it for spice. You can buy it at supermarket in Nerima city.
Drink
- Cartagena, 4F, 7-1-1 Shakujii-cho, Nerima-ku (beside the first railroad crossing west of Shakujii-koen station), +81 3-5372-0103. Su-Th 19:00-00:00, F Sa all night. A cozy and friendly spot where you can dance and drink. It is probably the first Latin bar in Nerima. The owner is a lady who once lived in Colombia; she speaks English and Spanish. There is a salsa event on weekends. Beer, rum and others start at ¥500
Sleep
Few options. Consider the more plentiful choices near Ikebukuro, or in Bunkyo for closer access to Kita.
Connect
Go next
Related Wikipedia article: Nerima, Tokyo
Related Wikipedia article: Itabashi, Tokyo
Related Wikipedia article: Kita, Tokyo