Is Ikebukuro a good place to stay in Tokyo?

Ikebukuro is a good base if you want a lively, well-connected part of Tokyo with more affordable hotels than Shinjuku or Shibuya. Ikebukuro Station has the Yamanote line, the Saikyo line to Shinjuku and Shibuya, and the Marunouchi line straight to Tokyo Station and Ginza. It suits budget travellers, anime and manga fans, families and anyone planning day trips to Kawagoe.

The area is busy and modern. The station is wrapped in department stores, the east side has Sunshine City with its aquarium, observation deck and Pokémon Center, and Otome Road and the Animate flagship store draw anime fans from all over the world. Side streets are packed with ramen shops, izakayas, karaoke and arcades, while the west side has the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and a calmer feel.

The downside is that Ikebukuro has few traditional sights, and the streets around the station are crowded and loud. Parts of the west and north sides have love hotels and late-night bars, and you'll ride the train to Asakusa, Ginza and the other classic sights. It lacks the iconic buzz of Shibuya.

What makes Ikebukuro worth considering is the value and the convenience. Hotels cost less than in the better-known districts, you can eat well cheaply on almost any street, and with the Yamanote, Saikyo and Marunouchi lines at the station, getting around the city is easy.