Itabashi is a small town on Tokyo’s northwest side – just north of Ikebukuro. North to south there is roughly: Itabashi, Sugamo, Tokyo Dome City, and then if you head slightly southwest Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Roppongi. To the north are Jujo and Akabane.
As our other post notes you can easily walk or ride a bike from Itabashi, through Sugamo to Tokyo Dome City.
The new JR Itabashi Station was built in 2019 in preparation for the 2020 Olympics which were cancelled because of COVID.
Before that Itabashi Station was a small wood outdoor structure without many shops.
Now that the new Itabashi Station is complete it’s a large building with shops, businesses, and the original fountain park on the south side near the exit. There’s also a nice Lawson’s just across from the park.
Before the new station there was a tiny Koban (Police Box) just to the left of the station. The original Koban was barely big enough for two people.
That Koban has now been abandoned and a brand new, larger one built just outside the south station entrance just next to the Lawson’s. The new Koban is only a few meters from the old one.
The new one has a pretty nice design. Looks pretty spiffy.
If you turn left down a side street where the old Koban was there’s a nice APA Hotel.
For a complete rundown on Itabashi, be sure to check out our 3-part series Return to Itabashi: An 18-year journey.
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