Narita to Ikebukuro takes about 60–90 minutes at the flat Tokyo fare. Seibu is east, Tobu is west: how your hotel's side decides the drop-off, and how to write the address.
Almost every first-time visitor to Ikebukuro gets tripped up by the department stores: Seibu is at the east exit, and Tobu is at the west exit. It is more than trivia. On a transfer from Narita to Ikebukuro (or from Haneda), whether your hotel is east or west of the tracks decides which road the car uses and where you are dropped off; with a vague address, you could end up on the wrong side of the railway.
East side: Sunshine City and the shopping streets
The east exit opens onto Seibu and the shopping street that leads to Sunshine City, a large complex of mall, offices, aquarium and hotel — the Sunshine City Prince Hotel is part of it.
If you are staying there, give the hotel's own name and address, not just "Sunshine City". The complex is big and each building has its own entrance; with the right name, the driver goes to the hotel door rather than a mall entrance.
The east side also has many small and mid-sized business hotels, some on narrow streets off the shopping arcades. The car may not be able to stop at the door, so our team will confirm the drop-off point with the driver.
West side: Tobu and the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
The west exit has Tobu, and beyond it the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and Ikebukuro West Gate Park. Hotels here are mostly on main roads, with some on the back streets behind. If your entrance is not on a main road, mention it when booking.
North exit
Accommodation around the north exit is mostly small hotels, on narrower streets that get busy with pedestrians at night. Describe the entrance as precisely as you can; if needed, the car will stop on a wider road nearby.
How to write your address so the car stops on the right side
- The hotel's Japanese name, full address and phone number.
- Whether it is on the east or west side of the station, if you know.
- Chains may have more than one Ikebukuro branch, so copy the name exactly from your booking confirmation.
The same goes for your trip back to the airport: the hotel entrance is the safest pickup point. If you are shopping in Sunshine City before you leave, come back to the hotel to be picked up rather than arranging to meet at a mall entrance.
Narita to Ikebukuro: price and drive time
Ikebukuro is inside Tokyo, so it costs the same as any other ward: from Haneda, Alphard ¥15,000 or Hiace ¥17,000; from Narita, Alphard ¥22,000 or Hiace ¥27,000 (per vehicle, tax included). The drive takes about 30–45 minutes from Haneda and 60–90 minutes from Narita, depending on traffic. See Haneda to Tokyo and Narita to Tokyo; for trains and buses from Narita, see Narita Airport to Tokyo transport compared. Still comparing areas? See where to stay in Tokyo for easy airport transfers. For the trip back, see Tokyo hotel to Narita or Haneda.
Check whether your hotel is east or west, then send your details on the booking page.
FAQ
- My hotel is in Sunshine City. Can I just write "Sunshine City" as the address?
- Please give the hotel's own name and address. Sunshine City is a large complex where the mall, office tower and hotel each have their own entrances; "Sunshine City" alone may not get the driver to the hotel door.
- My hotel says it is "near Ikebukuro Station". Where will the car stop?
- That depends on whether the hotel is on the east or west side and which street its entrance faces. Give us the Japanese name, address and phone number, and our team will confirm the drop-off point with the driver.
- How much is Narita to Ikebukuro? Is it the same as Shinjuku or Ginza?
- Yes. Fares are the same across Tokyo, for example ¥15,000 from Haneda or ¥22,000 from Narita by Alphard (per vehicle, tax included). Final quotes are confirmed by our live support team.