Iidabashi Northwest Tokyo (Chapter)

Home , Ichigaya, Iidabashi, Iidabashi Station, Kagurazaka, Koishikawa, Takadanobaba

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 139

Iidabashi & Northwest Tokyo IIDABASHI | IKEBUKURO | TAKADANOBABA | KAGURAZAKA | KŌRAKUEN

Neighbourhood Top Five 1 Passing under the giant 3 Relaxing in the splen- 5 Slurping some of the torii (gates) at the contro- dour of a classic Japanese best miso rāmen in Tokyo versial Yasukuni-jinja (p 141) garden at Koishikawa at Kururi (p146 ). and viewing the fascinat- Kōrakuen (p 143 ). ing armaments at its war 4 Cheering on the museum. Yomiuri Giants baseball 2 Wandering the old-world team at Tokyo Dome alleys of Kagurazaka (p 142), (p143 ). an old geisha quarter with enticing shops and bars.

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For more detail of this area, see Map p 299 A 140 Lonely Planet’s Top Tip Explore Iidabashi & Northwest Tokyo In spring, the Sotobori Moat From gardens to spas, the mixed sights in this large west of Iidabashi Station swathe of Tokyo are scattered among smaller districts. and the groves in Yasukuni- Start at Kudanshita and walk through the grand torii of jinja explode with cherry Yasukuni-jinja shrine, a controversial tribute to Japan’s blossoms. These are prime war dead. The history museum on the grounds is well spots for hanami (blossom worth an hour or two, especially for its vintage Mitsubi- viewing), afternoon and shi Zero ﬁ ghter planes and other armaments. evening picnic parties where Next, make your way over the old outer moat for revellers drink until they’re lunch in the Iidabashi and Kagurazaka area; Kururi is pinker than the petals. an excellent rāmen shop not too far away or you could try Canal Café on the moat itself. Kagurazaka makes for some atmospheric shopping and strolling, though the Best Places Koishikawa Kōrakuen gardens to the east are a better 5 to Eat place to stretch your legs. You can relax at the grand

IIDABASHI & NORTHWEST TOKYO & NORTHWEST IIDABASHI La Qua spa near Tokyo Dome, or try to catch a baseball  Kururi (p 146 ) game if the Yomiuri Giants are playing.  Kado (p147 ) From here, the subway can take you to the farther-  Mucha-an (p 148 ) ﬂ ung sights in this chapter, such as the excellent  Namco Namjatown Chinzan-sō and Rikugi-en gardens, the Takadanobaba (p 143 ) student area with its myriad ethnic restaurants, or Ike- For reviews, see p 146 bukuro’s Namjatown, a theme park devoted in part to A Chinese dumplings and ice cream. Don’t bother count- ing those calories. Best Places 6 to Drink Local Life  Beer Bar Bitter (p 148 )  Canal Café (p 147 )  Drinking Beer Bar Bitter (p 148) is one of many

 Jazz Spot Intro (p 148 ) excellent watering holes oﬀ Kagurazaka hill where locals unwind with ﬁ ne foreign brews. For reviews, see p 148 A  Soaking La Qua (p149 ) is a deluxe spa favoured by tired shoppers and others from all over Tokyo. Best  Eating Takadanobaba (p 148), near Waseda 1 Gardens University, is a teeming student zone with new izakaya (Japanese version of a pub/eatery) and yakitori  Koishikawa Kōrakuen (chicken, meats or vegetables, cooked on skewers) joints (p 143 ) opening all the time.  Rikugi-en (p 146 )  Chinzan-s ō (p146 ) For reviews, see p 142 A Getting There & Away  Train The JR Sōbu Line stops at Iidabashi (rapid- service JR Chūō Line trains, which use the same track, skip it but stop at Suidōbashi). The Yamanote and other JR lines stops at Ikebukuro.  Subway Useful stations include Iidabashi (Nanboku, Yū rakuchō, Tōzai and Ōedo lines), Kōrakuen (Nanboku and Marunouchi lines), Kagurazaka (Tōzai Line) and Kudanshita (Hanzōmon, Tōzai and Shinjuku lines). The Marunouchi, Yūrakuchō and Fukutoshin lines stop at Ikebukuro Station.