February 2020 – Ten Minute Tokyo

By Staff

Name: Q Plaza

Kind: Shopping

Location 35°43’52.29″ N 139°43’01.10″ E

Just 3 blocks from JR Ikebukuro Station‘s east exit is a new and popular shopping mall called Q Plaza.

This is the new trendy spot in Ikebukuro.

To get here, exit the station’s east exit, cross the street, and at the end of the crosswalk, take the street entrance on the left straight ahead.

Walk about 3 blocks, and Q Plaza will be on your left on a corner.

There’s an entire CAPCOM-themed floor here, as well as lots of cafés, restaurants, stores, and other stuff to see.

Side street next to Q Plaza.

There’s also an IMAX theater, a Tully’s Coffee with charge outlets, and a 7-11. There’s another café called Lamb + Peace (hey, it’s Japan), shown above.

Definitely worth a look.

As a footnote, Tokyu Hands Depato is just 1 block to the south, and the Sunshine City complex is just a few blocks to the southwest across the street.

Enjoy.

LINKS

https://www.q-plaza.jp/ikebukuro/

https://www.tokyu-hands.com.sg/

VIDS

Name: Itabashi

Kind: Town

Location: 35°44’45.85″ N 139°43’03.77″ E

Our Rating: ⭑⭑⭑⭑

Updated 7/24/21

Also see Part 1, Part 2.

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The West Side, Foot Paths, and Don Quijote

The west side of Itabashi is a long 2-lane highway running north to east. Head south from here and you’ll end up in Ikebukuro.

If you head out to the west side of Itabashi you can get a nice neighborhood walk through residential backstreets, and along a nice brick footpath which will lead you out to a major 2-lane highway which leads south to Ikebukuro.

Backstreets, Itabashi.

To get here from the west side square, follow the way we describe in Part 2 to the Yorkmart grocery, head south, cross the train tracks, and make an immediate right down the first street on your right:

On the right side of this street is a long footpath which winds for several blocks, and then turns left:

As you come to the end of this first part, be on the lookout for a turn to the left in the path shown here:

You’ll pass this apartment complex, and the now-abandoned Ruhe Coffee Shop:

On the way, you’ll also cross many side streets such as this:

And more small houses such as this:

As you pass this chomé sign, you’ll know you’re getting close:

As you come to this part of the path, with lots of trees, you’re getting near the end. At the end of the path, there will be a big red Eneos gas station sign on the right. At this point, turn left.

Along the way you’ll see many stop signs, which in Japan are red triangles:

As you turn left, Don Quijote discount store will be on your left. There is also a nice bicycle shop and golf shop right next to it:

Don Quijote discount store in Itabashi – look for the crazed penguin.

The madness that is Don Quijote.

In Don Quijote, you can even get a Press Sand Maker for a mere $15 USD.

Past Don Quijote, if you follow this highway and head south, you will arrive in Ikebukuro. But be careful – it’s very easy to get lost on backstreets and wind up on the other side of town in no time.

Well, that’s it for this 3-part guide to Itabashi. We hope you’ve found this guide useful – and we hope you will enjoy your trip to Itabashi.

Additional Photos