Restaurants, Bars and Cafés Beauty & Health Points of Interest

Taking a closer look at Tokyo’s nooks and crannies Ikebukuro (池袋), Akabane (赤羽) and Itabashi (板橋) are located in the northern section of the city, and are often overshadowed by trendier or larger neighborhoods like Shinjuku or Ueno. In all fairness, Ikebukuro is a neighborhood like Shinjuku but catering to the younger, wilder generation of late-teens to twenty-somethings. Akabane and Itabashi are neighborhoods famous for its shitamachi (downtown) ambiance, but with the convenience of having a large station and several department stores located nearby.

Illums Ikebukuro (イルムズ　池袋) interior shop, select shop Stylish tableware, bath goods, furniture, fabric and stationary from Scandinavia. Room and table settings are displayed on the second floor. Also available: a casual tableware line from famed porcelain company Royal Copenhagen, and original bone china by designer Thorson Torlop. 1-28-1 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku 03-5949-5535 Station: Ikebukuro (JR east exit; metro exit 34) more information...

Sunshine Starlight Dome Manten (サンシャインスターライトドーム満天) planetarium Gaze upon over 400,000 twinkling stars in downtown Ikebukuro. There are usually a few different programs each day, one of them called a ‘healing program,’ synchronizing various aromatic effects and sounds with the view above. Many programs often feature famous musicians and composers as music supervisors. Recommended: the place is a bit difficult to find and you cannot make a reservation beforehand, so give yourself plenty of time to get there. Prices vary according to program, check website or call for details. Sunshine City World Import Mart Bldg. Top Floor, 3-1-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku 03-3989-3546 Station: Ikebukuro (JR east exit; metro exit 35) more information...

Sakaeya (さかえ屋) kimono shop A traditional kimono shop located in Omiya (about 20 minutes from Akabane), Sakaeya has recently expanded their services in English, thanks to the young second-generation owner who, during her summer schooling the University of Oslo, learned to make new friends by actually wearing a kimono to class! From tailor-made kimonos to recycled ones, from cultural excavations dressed in your favorite patterns to kimono photo shoot packages, Sakaeya will satisfy all your kimono curiosities and as well as give you fond memories to take home. Visit their shop in Omiya or check the owner's English blog for the next kimono get-together in your area. 3-15 Miyacho, Omiya-ku, Saitama 048-641-8137 Station: Omiya (JR east exit north, one hour free parking for purchases over ￥3,000 more information...