2022
Hi Dominic,
The Dormy Inns are reasonably priced and comfortable. I have stayed in a couple and have been pleased with them. The Mystays Hotel also have a very good reputation for being value for money at an affordable cost.
Keikyu Ex Inn in is in a good location in Asakusabashi station. I have stayed there. It is basic, but comfortable. View of the Tokyo Skytree from some of the rooms! It has an onsen in the hotel. http://www.asakusabashi.keikyu-exinn.co.jp/
Somebody posted on a Facebook Japan travel group the other day a link to 10 reasonable places to stay in Ikebukuro: https://www.tsunagujapan.com/amazing-value-10-recommended-business-hotels-in-ikebukuro/ I have not stayed in any of them and I am not affiliated to any of them or to that website. 🙂 But they look really good.
I stayed in a Candeo hotel in Uguisudani near Ueno that was good value and a nice enough hotel:
https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/Candeo+Hotels+Ueno+Koen/@35.720314,139.7766974,17z/data=!4m12!1m...
If you do end up staying in Ikebukuro I highly recommend you get a train 30 minutes out of Tokyo to Kawagoe, a famous tourist area. Famous for its Edo period warehouses and buildings. I am local to that area and can share quite a bit of information.
One scene you can enjoy in Kawagoe in early April (subject to timing and other conditions of course):
KAWAGOE INFORMATION in case you are interested.
For your reading pleasure! Disclaimer: a lot of these links are to my personal blog. The information was accurate to the best of my knowledge at the time of writing. Most of these articles were written in the last 2 years so they should be pretty much up-to-date.
Some things to do and see in Kawagoe from a local's perspective:
AMEZAIKU.
Edo period candy craft - watch candy man Suzuki make beautifully sculpted animals and shapes out of candy for free, or even better pay a little to sample some of this unique traditional Japanese candy. Its one of few places that you can still see this art form practised:
http://insaitama.com/edo-period-candy-craft-in-kawagoe/
FOOT SPA CAFE.
Take a break from your touring with a dip of your feet in a foot spa in a small zen garden with beautiful parasols. You can enjoy a beverage as you take in the experience. It is out the back of a unique shop that has shrine tori indoors!
http://insaitama.com/the-local-guide-to-cafes-in-kawagoe/
FREE SHOYU FACTORY TOUR.
Ever wondered how shoyu is made? You can take a short free tour (in Japanese) of a soyu factory on weekends and public holidays at the factory beside this café. (They also have a glass blowing workshop in the neighbouring warehouse).:
https://www.city-cost.com/reviews/MAmNM-Quiet_cozy_cafe_beside_a_shoyu_factory_with_free_tour_Food_D...
MEET A MAGIC DOG & SOME KILLER HORNETS!!
Try some locally made honey, meet a magical dog and see some killer hornets in jars:
http://insaitama.com/priya-the-magical-dog-killer-hornets-and-stone-grilled-food-kawagoe/
KITAIN
Visit the only remains of Edo Castle living quarters, which was once located at the site of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, beside Kitain temple, they also have an interesting garden of statues:
http://insaitama.com/tag/kitain-temple/
KIMONO RENTAL.
http://insaitama.com/kawagoe-kimono-toku-information-in-english/
GIANT STYROFOAM ART.
And be on the look out for styrofoam art while you walk around the back alleys and laneways:
http://insaitama.com/kawagoe-styrofoam/
WIND CHIMES / PINK RIVER!
If you are visiting in the summer you can see and hear a fabulous display of wind chimes at Hikawa shrine. In the Spring, the river out the back of the shrine turns pink from the cherry blossom petals.
http://insaitama.com/wind-chimes-at-hikawa-shrine-in-kawagoe/
http://insaitama.com/cherry-blossoms-on-shingashi-river-kawagoe/
WATER / AQUA PARK.
If youare visiting in the summer cool down and enjoy some summer fun in Kawagoe's large water park:
http://insaitama.com/kawagoewaterpark/
And that is just part of the list!! There is also all the festivals.
And then there is all the wonderful food.... 🙂
ACCESS
Just 30 minutes to Kawagoe station from Ikebukuro on the Tobu Tojo Line and 45 minutes from Seibu Shinjuku to Hon Kawagoe station.
Kawagoe Access by train from Tokyo and Omiya
31 minutes from Ikebukuro on a express train on the Tobu Tojo Line. 470 yen
44 minutes from Seibu Shinjuku on a Red Arrow Limited Express. 420 yen for the express ticket, plus base fare.
66 minutes from Shinjuku or 62 minutes from Takadanobaba on Seibu Shinjuku Line. You can buy one round trip ticket for 700 yen for either of those stations.
54 minutes from JR Shinjuku on a rapid train of the Saikyo/Kawagoe line. 760 yen.
28 minutes on a regular train from Omiya on the Saikyo/Kawagoe Line or 22 minutes on the rapid train.
The Fukutoshin and Yurakucho subways connect to the Tobu Tojo line at Wako-shi. Some of them go all the way to Kawagoe (and beyond) too.
Access by Car
About 21 kilometres from Nerima to Kawagoe using the Kanetsu Expressway. The toll for the expressway is about 840 yen.
About 40 kilometres from Hinode using the Ken-o highway. The toll is about 1400 yen.
Access from Kawagoe Station
Koedo Kawagoe bus one day pass allows you unlimited travel on the Koedo Kawagoe buses. It costs 300 yen. In the bus they have a monitor with sightseeing information. Some tourist places give discounts on souvenirs or entrance tickets to people with a one day pass.
Koedo Kawagoe Loop Bus
Koedo Meguri (Loop) Bus from Kawagoe station. You can buy a one day pass that allows you unlimited travel on the Meguri Bus. It stops at 16 different locations. 104 different shops, offer discount services such as souvenirs, food, and entrance fees to facilities for holders of this day pass. There are announcements in English and Chinese as well as Japanese so foreigners can feel at ease.
More information here:
http://www.new-wing.co.jp/koedo/index_e.html
