- Toshima hosts the Tokiwaso Manga Museum, a reconstruction of the apartment building where legendary manga artists like Osamu Tezuka once lived and worked.
- The ward has officially declared itself a 'City of International Culture and Art' to promote its focus on anime and digital media industry growth.
- Toshima was the first municipality in Japan to declare an 'SDGs Future City' initiative, prioritizing aggressive carbon-neutral goals for urban redevelopment.
- Despite its dense urban nature, the ward successfully eliminated its registered 'waiting list' for childcare services through extensive infrastructure investment.
About Toshima
Toshima is a high-density special ward located in the heart of Tokyo, serving as a major transportation and commercial hub for the metropolis. The district is defined by the Ikebukuro terminal, which handles one of the highest daily passenger volumes in the world. Visitors can easily reach cultural landmarks from here, including the scenic paths of Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden [31769] or the iconic Shibuya Crossing [1317120]. It functions as a nexus between northern Tokyo's residential character and the intense urban energy of neighboring districts like the Imperial Palace [31803] area.
Highlights of Toshima
The places our editors single out — and why they're worth your time.
Parks
Walk through a traditional landscape garden that blends Japanese, English, and French horticultural styles.
Places of interest
Access an open-air observation deck providing 360-degree views of the Tokyo skyline from over 200 meters high.
Historical places
Explore the historic site of the former Edo Castle surrounded by moats and massive stone walls.
Places of interest
Experience the world's busiest pedestrian scramble intersection at the heart of Tokyo's youth culture.
Places of interest
Visit the meeting point dedicated to the loyal Akita dog known for waiting daily at the station.
Temples
Discover a centuries-old Buddhist temple featuring a striking contrast against the modern Tokyo Tower backdrop.
Parks
Relax in a public park that offers views of the Zojo-ji Temple and the iconic Tokyo Tower.
Museums
Browse one of Japan's largest art exhibition spaces showcasing rotating contemporary and international works.
Top things to do in Toshima
The 4,145 highest-rated places in Toshima, ranked by travellers.
1
Temples
Sensō-ji is Tokyo's oldest temple, founded in 645 AD and dedicated to Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. The current...
2
Parks
Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden is a 58.3-hectare landscape spanning three distinct styles: French Formal, English Landsc...
3
Temples
Kaminarimon, or the Thunder Gate, serves as the outer entrance to Senso-ji, Tokyo's oldest Buddhist temple. The current...
4
Parks
Ueno Park is a sprawling public space in central Tokyo that serves as a major cultural hub housing multiple national mus...
5
Zoos
Ueno Zoo is Japan's oldest zoological garden, established in 1882 within the expansive Ueno Park. It houses over 2,600 a...
6
Places of interest
The RX-0 Unicorn Gundam is a 19.7-meter-tall life-sized statue located at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba. It represents...
7
Museums
The Tokyo National Museum is Japan's oldest and largest museum, housing a collection of over 110,000 artifacts. The inst...
8
Museums
The National Museum of Nature and Science is Japan's premier natural history museum, located within Ueno Park. The facil...
9
Historical places
The Imperial Palace serves as the primary residence of the Emperor of Japan, occupying the former site of Edo Castle. Th...
10
Places of interest
Shibuya Sky is an open-air observation deck situated 229 meters above the Shibuya Scramble Square skyscraper. The facili...
11
Parks
Yoyogi Park is one of Tokyo's largest urban green spaces, situated on the historic site of the 1964 Olympic Village. The...
12
Temples
Kanda Myoujin is a Shinto shrine in Chiyoda City with a history spanning nearly 1,300 years, established in 730 AD. The...
13
Places of interest
The Hachiko Statue is a bronze monument dedicated to the Akita dog known for waiting at Shibuya Station for his deceased...
14
Places of interest
Shibuya Crossing is a major scramble intersection located in the Shibuya district of Tokyo, famous for its capacity to h...
15
Museums
The National Art Center, Tokyo (NACT) functions as a 'museum without a collection,' hosting rotating temporary exhibitio...
16
Museums
The Ghibli Museum, designed by director Hayao Miyazaki, serves as a conceptual exploration of Studio Ghibli’s animation...
17
Zoos
Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa is a cutting-edge urban aquarium located inside the Shinagawa Prince Hotel complex that utili...
18
Museums
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum is a major public art institution located within Ueno Park, distinguished by its lack...
19
Parks
Shiba Park is one of Japan's oldest public parks, established in 1873. It wraps around the Zojo-ji Temple, a significant...
20
Temples
Zojo-ji is the head temple of the Jodo-shu sect of Japanese Buddhism in the Kanto region and serves as the main family t...
21
Parks
Inokashira Park is a historic metropolitan park established in 1917, featuring a large central pond that serves as the h...
22
Venues
Meiji Jingu Stadium is one of the oldest professional baseball venues in Japan, serving as the home ground for the Tokyo...
23
Parks
Hibiya Park is Japan's first modern Western-style public park, established in 1903 on the former site of the Mori clan's...
24
Museums
The Edo-Tokyo Museum is a cultural institution housed in a high-tech structure designed by Kiyonori Kikutake to resemble...
25
Temples
Gōtoku-ji is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple renowned for its thousands of beckoning cat figurines, known as maneki-neko. The...
26
Parks
Hamarikyu Gardens is a traditional landscape garden located at the confluence of the Sumida River and Tokyo Bay. The par...
27
Temples
Yushima Tenjin is a Shinto shrine dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of scholarship and learning. Established...
28
Temples
Koami Shrine is a historic Shinto site in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, renowned for its dragon carvings dating back to 1466. It is...
29
Parks
Rikugien Gardens is a quintessential Edo-period stroll garden designed by Yanagisawa Yoshiyasu in 1702. The site feature...
30
Amusement parks
Tokyo Dome City Attractions is an urban amusement park integrated into a massive entertainment complex in Bunkyo City, T...
Explore by category
Jump straight to what you're into.
Toshima on the map
Top attractions plotted across the city.
Plan your visit to Toshima
March to May for cherry blossom season or October to November for mild, dry weather and autumn foliage.
2-3 days, providing enough time to explore local neighborhood hubs and utilize the primary train lines to reach major city landmarks.
The area is serviced by the JR Yamanote Line and multiple subway lines, making it highly accessible via rail, with many localized districts being extremely walkable.
Staying near Ikebukuro Station offers the best convenience for rail travel, while quieter residential pockets in southern Toshima provide a more local experience.
Tokyo is a mid-to-high range destination where accommodation costs vary significantly by proximity to major train stations.
Frequently asked
Aventuro lists 4,145 curated attractions in and around Toshima, ranked by traveller ratings.
Sensō-ji is the highest-rated place to visit in Toshima right now.
The largest category is temples, with 1,408 places to explore.
Travellers also explore Osaka, Kyoto, Ōta, Tokyo.
Explore more of Japan
Other cities ranked by number of curated places.
