Guidebook for Kita
Entertainment & Activities
Includes museums, playground and Japanese Garden! Famous Cherry Blossom Viewing spot (end of March to beginning of April).
47 locals recommend
Asukayama Park
1-chōme-1-3 ŌjiIncludes museums, playground and Japanese Garden! Famous Cherry Blossom Viewing spot (end of March to beginning of April).
Sports: Public Swimming Pool (bathing cap required for all swimmers, but can be bought there)
Panorama Pool Jujodai
1-chōme-5-6 NakajūjōSports: Public Swimming Pool (bathing cap required for all swimmers, but can be bought there)
Everything Else
Post Office with ATM machine. This can be used to get funds from foreign banks from 9 - 17:00 Monday through Friday.
14 locals recommend
Japan Post
3-chōme-33-6 AsakusabashiPost Office with ATM machine. This can be used to get funds from foreign banks from 9 - 17:00 Monday through Friday.
Nishisugamo Station
3-chōme-25-13 NishisugamoTransportation on TOEI subway line system. Eight minutes walk from home.
Jūjōdai, 1-chōme−2−１
Free Japanese lessons given by volunteers two mornings a week!
Train station, intersection of 3 train lines, Namboku Subway, JR Keihin Tohoku, and Toden Arakawa tram.
11 locals recommend
Ōji Station
1-chōme-10-18 ŌjiTrain station, intersection of 3 train lines, Namboku Subway, JR Keihin Tohoku, and Toden Arakawa tram.
Essentials
Shopping square: Little Mermaid bakery, Douter Cafe, game arcade, and Tsukiya beef bowl restaurant, right by the Toden Arakawa tram line, Namboku subway, & the JR Keihin Tohoku line stations.
Sun Square
1-chōme-4-1 ŌjiShopping square: Little Mermaid bakery, Douter Cafe, game arcade, and Tsukiya beef bowl restaurant, right by the Toden Arakawa tram line, Namboku subway, & the JR Keihin Tohoku line stations.
Takinogawa, 3-chōme−1−８
A supermarket to go if you are looking for cheap meat.
Supermarket open 9:00-21:00 with good instant ramen 5-pack for Y198, on the way to the free Japanese lessons place.
ミニコープ滝野川店
Supermarket open 9:00-21:00 with good instant ramen 5-pack for Y198, on the way to the free Japanese lessons place.
Supermarket at Nishi-sugamo Station with fresh vegetables and very reasonable prices on meat, yogurt, instant ramen, etc..
Takinogawa, 6-chōme−2−１
Supermarket at Nishi-sugamo Station with fresh vegetables and very reasonable prices on meat, yogurt, instant ramen, etc..
Tajima's Energy Supermarket
Toward Komagome station ~ 20 minutes (on way to Rikugien Park). For people exploring on foot try the "shotengai" shopping street roughly parallel to the main street.
1-chōme-55-12 Nishigahara
Tajima's Energy Supermarket
Toward Komagome station ~ 20 minutes (on way to Rikugien Park). For people exploring on foot try the "shotengai" shopping street roughly parallel to the main street.
Arts & Culture
Oji Shrine
Nearest big shrine.
Kyu-Furukawa Gardens
1-chōme-27-39 NishigaharaEntrance fee, famous for roses in May/June and October!
Entrance fee is about Y400 and closes at 16:30. Charming all year (except in heavy rain. Budget at least an hour, bring picnic or buy green tea and sit under red umbrella!
237 locals recommend
Rikugien Garden
6-chōme-16-3 HonkomagomeEntrance fee is about Y400 and closes at 16:30. Charming all year (except in heavy rain. Budget at least an hour, bring picnic or buy green tea and sit under red umbrella!
Sightseeing
Once a year on January 1, all foxes of the Kanto Plain, change to human form, & come together here. Procession starts at midnight about 10 blocks away at a small shrine dedicated to the fox.
Oji Inari Shrine
1-chōme-12-26 KishimachiOnce a year on January 1, all foxes of the Kanto Plain, change to human form, & come together here. Procession starts at midnight about 10 blocks away at a small shrine dedicated to the fox.
This brightly painted, very well maintained Buddhist temple is not far from Oji station. Lovely photos in good weather. (Shingon Buddhism Toyoyama group) 西福寺 東京都北区豊島2-14-1 tel: 03-3911-2266
Saifukuji Temple
2-chōme-14-1 ToshimaThis brightly painted, very well maintained Buddhist temple is not far from Oji station. Lovely photos in good weather. (Shingon Buddhism Toyoyama group) 西福寺 東京都北区豊島2-14-1 tel: 03-3911-2266
Shopping
This is the closest BIG 100yen shop. A good place to pick up various cheap, useful goods, some typically Japanese, like slippers, Manekineko piggy banks, hair ties, re-charge cable for i-phone, etc.
83 locals recommend
The Daiso
2-chōme-24-20 KitaōtsukaThis is the closest BIG 100yen shop. A good place to pick up various cheap, useful goods, some typically Japanese, like slippers, Manekineko piggy banks, hair ties, re-charge cable for i-phone, etc.