Culture, Event, Community

• Culture, Sightseeing, Event and Festival
• Community (neighborhood association and community association)
• Library

A town of diversified cultures and arts

Toshima City is a hub of various Japanese subcultures that has many large retail shops selling anime and cosplay (costumes for role-playing) goods, and cosplay parades are held in Ikebukuro. Additionally, there are many theaters in the city such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Ikebukuro West Gate Park Outdoor Theatre (GLOBAL RING THEATRE) and the Toshima Arts and Culture Theatre (Tokyo Tatemono Brillia Hall). Various cultural events are held throughout the year, making it a theater city of where anyone can play a prominent role in the world of music and performing arts.

In addition, each part of Toshima City has its own traditional ceremonies and festivals, temples and shrines and iconic buildings, and locals take part in various activities.

Sightseeing places of each region

Some sightseeing places of each region are introduced.

• Komagome area: This is where the Somei-Yoshino cherry tree originated, producing blossoms whose appearance is closely associated with Japan. These cherry trees are in full blossom during springtime at the Somei cemetery, which is the resting place of many cultural figures. Visitors can also learn about history at the Somei-Yoshino Cherry Blossom Archives.
• Sugamo area: Many temples are located here, such as the Koganji temple famous for Ojizosama (guardian deity for children). Temple festivals are held on dates ending with the number 4 and many people join in the celebration.
• Otsuka area: Every May and October, more than 1,200 roses planted by locals bloom beautifully along the Toei Streetcar (Toden) railway tracks between Otsuka Station and Mukohara Station. The Otsuka Awa dance takes place in the latter part of August.
• Higashi-ikebukuro area: One can experience the most trendy sub cultures at the Otome Road filled with many anime and role-playing costume shops, and the Sunshine 60 building. Various types of performances are held at Hareza Ikebukuro’s theaters.
• Nishi-ikebukuro area: The Fukuro festival and musical events and so on are held mainly at Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park. The Rikkyo University and Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan and so on are nearby where buildings of historical origin and grandeur are located. You can also learn about the history of the city at the Toshima Historical Museum.
• Zoshigaya area: A stroll to visit the Zoshigaya Shichifukujin (seven deities) and so on is recommended, as there are many temples such as the Kishimojin-do (temple). A spectacular ceremony called “Oeshiki”, a lantern procession, can be seen in October.
• Mejiro area: The Gakushuin University has a very beautiful greenery and Sakura blossoms along the Kanda River in springtime.
• Shiinamachi to Minami-nagasaki area: An area where many artists gathered in what is known as “Ikebukuro Montparnasse” at the beginning of the Showa period, and many manga artists such as the famous Tezuka Osamu lived in the Tokiwa-so Mansion during Japan’s modern period of rapid economic growth. The Tokiwaso Manga Museum has opened in July 2020. This is a town of artists overflowing with charm, and possesses cultural resources such as the Kumagai Morikazu Art Museum and Tokiwaso-dori Showa Retro Museum.

District main events

Year round

• Tokyo Music Evening Yube (Ikebukuro West Gate Park Outdoor Theater)
• Tokiwa-So Manga Museum Special Exhibition
• Zoshigaya Children's Station and others

March to May

• Someiyoshino cherry blossom festival, Sakura festivals of each region
• Nagasaki shrine Shishimai (lion dance)
• Otsuka rose festival in spring
• Ikebukuro Jazz festival
• Ikebukuro Art Galleries of Ikebukuro Montparnasse
• Tact Festival and others

June to August

• Kishimojin Bon dance competition inside the Zoshigaya Kishimojin area (Zoshigaya)
• Tokyo Fura Festa in Ikebukuro
• Tokyo Otsuka Awa dance (Otsuka) 
• Toshima Summer Arts Festival
• SaLaD Music and others

September to November

• Fukuro festival, Tokyo Yosakoi
• Zoshigaya Kishimojin ritual
• Ikebukuro Autumn Culture festival
• Ikebukuro Play Festival
• Sugamo Nakasendo chrysanthemum festival (Shinshoji temple, Koganji temple and so on)
• Someiyoshino cherry blossom Furusato (hometown) autumn festival
• Daidengaku Ikebukuro Emaki
• Toshima Music Circle and others

December to February

• Christmas tree illumination light-up (Rikkyo University’s Himaraya cedar and so on)
• Setsubun-kai (Rituals signifying the start of spring) Kishimojin (Zoshigaya), Koganji temple (Sugamo) and others