Car Rental in Tokyo Toshima City

Toshima City, with the Ikebukuro district at its center, offers 4 car rental companies in northern Tokyo-a strategic location for driving to Saitama, Nikko, and Chichibu. Ikebukuro Station, Japan's second-busiest, sits at the district's heart and provides quick access to Expressway 5 heading towards Tohoku. Nikko Toshogu lies 140 km to the north, approximately 2 hours by car via the Tohoku Expressway.

Toshima City is known for Sunshine City, a gigantic shopping center with aquariums and an amusement park on 60 floors in Ikebukuro. Mejiro and Zoshigaya, quiet residential areas with historic temples, lie within 2 km of Ikebukuro Station. Rikkyo University, with its English architecture and beautiful campus, is just a 10-minute walk away.

Drive north to Kawagoe ('Little Edo') for a day trip-just 35 km via Expressway 5, with beautiful Edo-period buildings and sweet potato chips. Avoid Meiji-dori during morning rush hour-instead, take the parallel side streets towards the Expressway entrance. Toshima has good parking options at Sunshine City for 200 yen/30 min.

How close is Toshima City to Nikko? Nikko is approximately 140 km north of Ikebukuro and takes 1.5–2.5 hours via the Tohoku Expressway depending on traffic. Is Ikebukuro a good alternative to Shinjuku for car rental?

Yes, Ikebukuro is often less congested and has more parking options, plus better access to northern expressways towards Saitama and Tochigi. What does parking cost in the Toshima/Ikebukuro area? Parking typically costs 200–400 yen per 30 minutes in parking structures near the station.

The Sunshine City garage is one of the more affordable options.

We compare prices from all major providers at Tokyo Toshima City so you can see the total cost upfront - including insurance, fuel terms and any extras. Most bookings include free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup, giving you flexibility if your plans change.