Established way back in 1926 Toshimaen, situated in Nerima-ku, is one of Japan’s oldest amusement parks. Currently owned by Seibu Railway Co. which also runs the train line (Seibu Ikebukuro Line) in which the park is located. Toshimaen holds a special place in many Tokyoites’ hearts.
As of August 31 2020, Toshimaen has closed.
With over 30 rides (including three roller coasters, a water park and six pools it has more than enough fun to satiate anybody’s thirst for amusement in Japan’s capital city. The park also plays host to cherry blossom viewing in spring and a popular ice skating rink in winter.
If that isn’t enough, the space also includes an insect museum, an indoor fishing facility, an onsen (hot spring), ornate Japanese garden designed by legendary Japanese architect Kenzo Ogata.
Toshimaen’s symbol and spatial hub is its much-loved 100-year-old carousel named “Carousel “El Dorado” which has been entertaining visitors for decades.
For anyone interested in going to Toshimaen, however, time is unfortunately running out for this historic amusement park. It was announced that it will be replaced by a Harry Potter theme park due to open its doors in 2023. Seibu Railway Co. has been in negotiations with Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (producers of the smash hit film series) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government over the future of the site.
Toshimaen officially shutters its doors on August 31, 2020, and will be missed by legions of residents and tourists who enjoyed its vibrant atmosphere over the decades. The proposed Harry Potter amusement park, however, is sure to excite and intrigue the millions of Harry Potter fans in Japan and elsewhere in Asia. The extremely popular The Wizarding World of Harry Potter ride in Osaka's Universal Studios Japan has been an accurate indicator of the popularity of the Harry Potter character and the proposed Tokyo-based theme park is sure to be a massive hit.
Toshimaen is located in front of Toshimaen Station located on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line.
![Toshimaen Amusement Park [Closed]](https://a2.cdn.japantravel.com/photo/60497-206297/360x240!/tokyo-toshimaen-amusement-park-206297.jpg "Toshimaen Amusement Park [Closed]")
A family-friendly theme park in Nerima, Toshimaen Amusement Park is home to over 30 rides, including the world's oldest amusement park carousel, a massive water park and seasonal activities. The park also hosts flea markets and offers discounted ticketing options online.
Toshimaen Amusement Park is home to a dreadful place where ghosts and demons wander with the only purpose of scaring naive visitors. Are you courageous enough to enter Toshimaen's haunted house and challenge its inhabitants?
Witness Japanese teens dressing up as their favourite anime characters at an amusement park
With Koenji being a "creative town" it's no surprise that the BnA Hotel opened there in 2016 and has had, subsequently, an incredible impact on the local community. BnA (Bed and Art) has other spaces dotted about Tokyo and Kyoto, but the Koenji edition is possibly more immersive as the concept is "stay in an artwork." In collaboration with local artists, the BnA has created an impressive multi-storey art experiment for art lovers and creatives with a desire to inhabit art. The first floor acts as a front desk and bar which comes alive at night with events and selected DJs. It also hosts Masu Masu onigiri cafe with artists being asked to come and exchange artwork with each other in a gesture which reflects the true spirit of Koenji. With two "living art" twin rooms taking up the second and third floors designed by a seasonal rotation of local artists, guests can engage with and inhabit their art rooms. BnA Koenji also plays host to a rooftop lounge and a basement space which is used for artists residencies where their work is shown to the public and a DJ booth and streaming equipment for live performances. With live painting events and an eclectic variety of regular events, the BnA Hotel becomes, itself, a living canvas. The BnA believes that it's a machigata hotel, meaning that guests should (and are encouraged) to interact with Koenji. Use the public sentos, eat in the local restaurants that surround the hotel and buy locally from the multitude of shops, market stalls, bars and cafes which make-up the fabric of Koenji. Feted by international press such as The Guardian, BnA acts as a creative network with the concept of serendipity being discussed as the bar becomes an ad hoc meeting place where collaborations and friendships between artists and locals are born. The BnA was also instrumental in a street art festival named MCP (Mural City Project) which was supported by Suginami Ward. MCP was incredibly ambitious and truly communal with the desire to transform and coalesce the community through the creation of public murals. The BnA, Koenji and Suginami spearheaded a public art movement which should be commended and replicated throughout Tokyo.
Located right next to Shinjuku Chuo Park, THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku is a modern hotel with an exceptional design and easy access to the nearby Shinjuku train station and the Meiji Shrine. The 14-story hotel building was renovated and reopened in August 2018 as THE KNOT TOKYO Shinjuku . The western-style rooms offer a park view on the top floor as well as a newly opened terrace suite. The spacious atrium design offers a relaxed atmosphere and connects the restaurant, bar, lounge and lobby with one another. One of the highlights of THE KNOT is the delicious dishes. There are six areas in which food and drinks are offered. From the grill area to high-quality black tea and fresh bread, everything is on offer.
It is very difficult for foreigners to rent an apartment in Japan, mostly due to language barrier and lack of guarantor. The rental procedure is quite complex, and you are required to pay a range of fees such as key money, agent fee, a deposit and first month's rental. However, with CLIHO Shared House you can rent your own private room in a Japanese house setting and environment very easily.
Situated a few minutes stroll from the north exit of JR Koenji Station, Clouds Art + Coffee is a simple affair reflecting the owners' passion for, well, art and coffee. Very chic and sparse, the space is compact with a fine selection of coffee from all over the world such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia and Brazil which makes it the perfect spot for Tokyo's legion of coffee addicts. The owners curate a healthy mix of artwork from local and international artists and the rotational exhibition system means that regular customers have the opportunity to see, firsthand, the best and most intriguing art from Koenji's thriving art community. There's no censorship at Clouds Art + Coffee and artists are encouraged to represent themselves and their work in a free manner and this means, essentially, that customers can view an eclectic and liberating amount of art hand in hand with some of the finest coffee in Koenji and Tokyo as a whole. Clouds Art + Coffee is, ostensibly, a hub and tryst for art and coffee lovers who come from far and wide to sample international coffee made from the finest beans and art from emerging and established artists.
Ramen has become a global cuisine over the past decade with ramen-ya popping up in cities all over the globe. Millions of visitors, however, flock to Japan every year to experience the real deal. Harukiya, located a few minutes from JR Ogikubo Station, is a Tokyo institution. Established in 1949 it is the originator of Tokyo-style ramen which uses niboshi (dried baby sardines) in its broth and has been serving up first-class soy sauce which hasn’t changed for more than 70 years and has, rightly, earned it a legion of devotees. Although Harukiya has a sister branch in nearby Kichijoji, the Ogikubo store is the original and takes great pride in creating its authentic Tokyo-style chuka soba as well as chashumen and wontonmen. The aroma from the ramen floats into the outside streets having a visible effect on the patrons who queue daily to get their hands on Harukiya’s mouth-watering ramen. Popular with Ogikubo residents and foreign ramen aficionados, Harukiya has a small, curated menu with toppings, cold noodles and a few side dishes which accompany the ramen. Harukiya has led the Tokyo ramen industry for generations and there’s a reason for this. The aromatic soy sauce ramen and hand made noodles which are freshly kneaded every morning have inspired ramen lovers and ramen chefs the world over and will continue to do so for many more years to come.
Re:gendo is a cafe, apparel and arts and crafts store found in the quaint backstreets of Nishi-Ogikubo, just a few minutes from the station. It embodies everything about Shimane prefecture, capturing the essence of its history, culture and beauty that help inspire everything on offer here. Located in a spectacular wooden structure, which is said to be around 90 years old, Re:gendo is an homage to Shimane and the staff and owners take great care to display the cultural history of their beloved homeland. It’s a curious space, layed out over two floors. It acts as a thriving restaurant, apparel store, arts and crafts shop and a workshop space which focuses on teaching craftsmanship and culinary skills. The cafe recognizes the nuances involved in Shimane produce such as rice which it uses for its extremely popular, seasonal lunch menus musubi zen and nigiri zen. Musubi zen consists of a main fish or meat dish while nigiri showcases vegetable nigiri sushi. Both courses come with accompaniments including vegetables, pickles and miso soup. The ingredients at Re:gendo are sourced locally in Toyo or from Shimane. The cafe also does a fine collection of sweets (Shimane folk are particularly fond of wagashi or traditional Japanese confectionery). The apparel and crafts section, situated on the first floor adjacent to the cafe includes a range of arts and crafts from Shimane and a curated fashion line which uses a type of non-toxic dye from Shimane so it’s safer for pregnant women or customers with allergies. The second floor hosts regular workshops about local craftsmanship and cuisine. Visitors from all over the world come and participate in workshops and learn the intricacies involved in Shimane’s abundance of specialities. Re:gendo acts, then, as a local hub and a popular attraction for many of Tokyo’s Shimane transplants. Refined, cultured, respectful of ancient traditions and friendly, it should be considered an essential stop on any visit to Nishi-Ogikubo.
The Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter is the largest indoor Harry Potter attraction in the world and the first Warner Bros. Studio Tour to open in Asia. Opened on 16th June 2023, the brand new attraction is located on the former Toshimaen Amusement Park site. Here, visitors can learn all about the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film productions like never before! The Studio Tour allows fans to access authentic sets, see special costumes and visit the iconic locations of the Wizarding World. The sets were hand-crafted by filmmakers using original methods and techniques to give visitors the full authentic experience of the film series. There are also a variety of interactive experiences available. In terms of food, fans can enjoy the famous Butterbeer drink and have a meal at one of the eateries that offer a range of magical dining options. Visitors can also satisfy all their merchandise needs at one of the many souvenir shops, including the world's largest Harry Potter store with exclusive items that can only be found at the Studio Tour in Tokyo. Listed below are some of the experiences fans can expect to have when visiting the unique and well-crafted Studio Tour. You can purchase tickets in advance here: https://www.wbstudiotour.jp/en/tickets/
Nakano Broadway is a shopping mall in Nakano, Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1966 as a luxury shopping complex, it has subsequently become a popular destination for goods aimed at otaku. [Wikipedia]
Asagaya Shinmeigu Shrine (阿佐ヶ谷神明宮) is a real gem of a shrine just a few minutes walk from the north exit of JR Asagaya Station. It's also one of Asagaya's most popular cherry blossom viewing sites and the shrine holds an annual festival, Kan-okai, where dances and songs are performed by shrine members, attracting crowds of people due to its popularity. Shinmeigu also has a long history and is said to date back over 1,000 years and is dedicated to the sun goddess Amaterasu. It's incredibly spacious and picturesque and many visitors will be surprised to find such an expanse of space only 10 minutes from Shinjuku on the Chuo Line. The shrine grounds also plays host to a nohgakudo (a noh theater) where dances and performances are held. It's a stunning structure in itself but when placed inside the grounds of such an historic and beautiful shrine it transforms into something more. A mirror of Japanese culture and tradition and an integral part of Japanese history and society. Like most shrines, there are various structures and spaces used for various rituals and it's a good idea to take your time and walk and appreciate the tranquility and total beauty of Shinmeigu Shrine. Before you leave, consider buying some popular souvenirs like Kamimusubi (straps) or other limited-time items.
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