Page 142 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Japan

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Ikebukuro District Arakawa Tram Line
池袋地区 荒川都電
 Ikebukuro Stn,  Edogawabashi Stn,
Fukutoshin, Marunouchi Yurakucho line
& Yurachuko lines
£ Ikebukuro Stn, Yamanote In 1955, 600,000 people a
day were riding the dozens
EXPERIENCE Beyond the Center station in Japan (after (13-km-) Arakawa line is one A tram trundling
& many other lines
of tram lines that crisscrossed
With the third-busiest train
the city. Now the 8-mile
Shinjuku and Shibuya),
of only two that remain. The
Ikebukuro is a designated
others were eliminated as old-
fashioned in the modern-
fukutoshin (sub center) of
ization for the 1964 Olympics.
Tokyo. By the station’s south
The Arakawa tram line runs
entrance is the flagship store
from Waseda in the west to
of Seibu, perhaps the country’s
most innovative department
costs ¥170 for each trip, short
Tram Line at night
store, with boutiques of up-
and-coming designers and a
or long. Near the Waseda
end of the line is the quiet
large basement food market. Minowabashi in the east and along the Arakawa
To the west of the station is stroll garden of Higo- 6
the large Tobu department Hosokawa Teien. There are
store with a similar set-up. few outstanding sights en Ebisu District
The Sunshine City complex, route, but the pleasure of 恵比寿地区
including the Sunshine 60 this tram ride lies in seeing  Ebisu Stn, Hibiya line
tower, is a short walk east of a quieter, residential side £ Ebisu Stn, Yamanote line
the station. It is built on top to Tokyo. A short walk from
of what was Sugamo Prison, Arakawa Yuenchimae stop, The completion in the mid-
where seven Class-A World past tightly packed, tiny 1990s of Yebisu Garden Place,
War II war criminals, including houses, is a modest amuse- a commercial and residential
the prime minister, Hideki ment park, Arakawa Yuen center, brought this area to
Tojo, were convicted and Park. The Sumida River boat life. The Tokyo Photographic
hanged. The Ancient Orient (p116) leaves from here for Art Museum, to the right of
Museum, on the 7th floor of special tours – not the usual the entrance, has a permanent
Sunshine City’s Bunka Kaikan water-bus service – several collection of work by Japanese
Building, has collections from times a month. Check ticket and foreign photographers. In
Egypt, Iran, and Pakistan. In availability and book online. the center are a Mitsukoshi
Sunshine 60 there is also a Oppo site the Arakawa store, boutiques, two cinemas,
planetarium, an aquarium, and Nanachome stop is Arakawa a theater, and restaurants. To
a rooftop viewing platform. Nature Park. the left of Mitsukoshi is the
small Yebisu Beer Museum
with exhibits and videos
about beer world wide and in
Japan, plus free samples.
Tokyo Photographic
Art Museum
" ⌂ 1-13-3 Mita, Meguro
∑ topmuseum.jp
Did You Know?
Ikebukuro translates
as “pond bag” and there
were once lots of lakes
in this area.
Admiring rays and other fish in the aquarium of
the Sunshine City complex in Ikebukuro District
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