Ekoda & Nerima: Where to Stay in Tokyo for Longer Visits

Ekoda and Nerima are a good place to stay in Tokyo if you want a whole home, a kitchen and quiet streets, and you can live with being 10 to 25 minutes from the big districts instead of 2. Ekoda is three stops from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Nerima is one stop from the Harry Potter studio at Toshimaen, and the Toei Oedo subway runs from both areas to the west side of Shinjuku without a change. For a week or more, and for families or groups who would otherwise need two or three hotel rooms, the trade usually works in your favor.

We run nine furnished homes in this corner of northwest Tokyo: seven in and around Ekoda and Nerima, one near Tokiwadai Station, and one in Toda, just across the river in Saitama. This page is the honest version of what we tell guests who email us asking "is Ekoda too far out?" It covers the train access, the neighborhoods, who the area suits and who it does not, and which of our houses fits which kind of trip.

Why stay in Ekoda or Nerima instead of Shinjuku or Shibuya?

Shinjuku and Shibuya are built for visiting. Ekoda and Nerima are built for living, and that changes what you get for your money.

You get a house, not a room

Central Tokyo hotel rooms are small, and very few sleep more than three or four people. Most of what you can rent in Nerima Ward is a house or an apartment: separate bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen with a rice cooker and a gas stove, and a washing machine. Our 3-bedroom houses near Ekoda sleep up to eight or nine people under one roof. For a family of five or a group of friends, that alone decides it.

Everyday Tokyo is right outside the door

Around Ekoda Station you have covered shopping streets called shotengai (local shopping streets), a public bathhouse that has been open since 1927, a bakery-and-cafe scene that students keep busy, and supermarkets that stay open late. Nerima Ward has more farmland than any of Tokyo's other 22 central wards, and you notice it: vegetable plots between houses, roadside stalls, big parks. It is ordinary Tokyo, which is exactly what many repeat visitors come back for.

It is quieter at night

Residential Nerima goes to sleep early. Our houses have quiet hours (for example, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. at Nana House Sakaecho), and so do the neighbors. If you want to walk out of a bar at 2 a.m. and be home in five minutes, this is the wrong area. If you want small children to sleep through the night, it is the right one.

What you give up

• Time. Plan on about 20 to 25 minutes to Shinjuku and 25 to 35 minutes to Shibuya, Harajuku or Tokyo Station. Asakusa and Ueno are closer to 40 to 50 minutes.
• Express trains. Only local trains stop at Ekoda. Locals run often, but you cannot jump on a rapid service there.
• The last train. Late nights in Shibuya or Roppongi need a clock. Missing the last train means a taxi ride back.
• English menus. Fewer restaurants have them than in Shinjuku. A translation app's camera mode covers most of it.

How good are the train connections from Ekoda and Nerima?

Good, as long as you use the right line for each trip. Four rail routes serve the area, and an IC card such as Suica or PASMO works on all of them.

Seibu Ikebukuro Line: the backbone

Ekoda, Sakuradai, Nerima and Shakujii-koen are all on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. From Ekoda Station, a local train reaches Ikebukuro in under 10 minutes. Ikebukuro is one of Tokyo's largest hubs, with the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines plus three subway lines. From there, Shinjuku is one short JR ride away.

Toei Oedo Line: straight to west Shinjuku

The Oedo subway stops at Nerima Station and at Shin-Egota Station, which is a walk south of Ekoda. Trains run to Tochomae (the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building) and continue around the loop through Shinjuku-nishiguchi, Iidabashi and Ueno-okachimachi with no change. For Roppongi, you usually change at Tochomae to the other side of the loop. In the other direction it goes to Toshimaen and ends at Hikarigaoka, next to one of the ward's largest parks.

Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines: Shibuya and Yokohama without a change

Tokyo Metro trains run through from Nerima Station and Kotake-mukaihara. The Fukutoshin Line goes to Shinjuku-sanchome and Shibuya, and some trains continue to Yokohama. The Yurakucho Line heads to Yurakucho near Ginza. Our Cozy Studio near Ekoda is a 12-minute walk from Kotake-mukaihara, which is handy for Shibuya.

Seibu Toshima Line: the Harry Potter shortcut

This one-stop branch runs from Nerima to Toshimaen, the station for Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo - The Making of Harry Potter. Some trains run straight from Ikebukuro. From Ekoda you ride two stops to Nerima and change, or catch a through train if the timing works.

Typical travel times

• Ekoda to Ikebukuro: under 10 minutes
• Ekoda to Shinjuku: about 20 to 25 minutes, with a change at Ikebukuro or via the Oedo Line from Shin-Egota
• Ekoda to Shibuya: about 25 to 35 minutes
• Nerima to Toshimaen (Harry Potter studio): one stop, a few minutes
• Tokiwadai to Ikebukuro: about 10 minutes on the Tobu Tojo Line
• Toda (Musashi-Urawa Station) to Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ikebukuro: direct on the JR Saikyo Line

These are door-to-platform estimates. Times change by time of day, so check a route planner before you lock in a tight schedule.

Which neighborhood should you pick?

"Nerima" covers a big ward. The stations along the Seibu line each feel a little different.

Ekoda: the student town

Ekoda Station opened in 1922 and three colleges sit around it: Nihon University College of Art, right by the north exit; Musashino Academia Musicae, Japan's oldest private music college; and Musashi University. That gives the area cheap restaurants, cafes, used bookstores and a younger crowd during term. Two small landmarks are worth knowing. Ekoda Sengen Shrine, by the station, has an 8-meter fujizuka (a man-made model of Mount Fuji) that is a nationally designated folk cultural property and opens to climbers only on set days in January, July and September. And the very first Matsuya, now a nationwide beef-bowl chain, still serves on the corner of the Ekoda shopping streets.

Ekoda suits long stays, repeat visitors and anyone who wants Ikebukuro close by. Most of our homes are here. The bakeries, bathhouse and shopping streets are all within a few minutes of the station.

Nerima Station: the connected one

Nerima Station is the ward's main hub, with the Seibu line, the Oedo subway, the Toshima branch to Toshimaen, and through trains to the Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines. It has more shops and chain restaurants than Ekoda and is the closest of our areas to the Harry Potter studio.

Shakujii-koen: the green one

A few stops farther out, Shakujii-koen is built around Shakujii Park and its two ponds, Sanpoji-ike and Shakujii-ike. It is quiet and leafy. We do not have a house there, but it is an easy trip from Ekoda or Nerima for a morning walk, cherry blossoms in spring or autumn leaves in late November.

Tokiwadai: one line over

Tokiwadai is in neighboring Itabashi Ward on the Tobu Tojo Line, about 10 minutes from Ikebukuro. It is residential and calm, with a different line into the city.

Toda: the bigger-space option in Saitama

Toda sits just north of Tokyo across the Arakawa River. You get more floor space for the rent, and the JR Saikyo Line runs direct to Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya. It is the farthest of our homes from central Tokyo, and it suits people who need space for a month or longer rather than people sightseeing every day.

Who is Ekoda and Nerima a good fit for?

Families with young children

Separate bedrooms mean the kids can sleep while the adults talk in the living room. A kitchen and a washing machine cut costs and suitcase size on a 1- to 2-week trip. Our nightly houses can provide a baby bed and stroller if you ask before check-in, so they can be set up. Big parks are a short ride away: Hikarigaoka Park, Shakujii Park, and Nerima-joshi Park next to the Harry Potter studio, which opened in 2023 with large play equipment.

Groups of 6 to 9

Two families, three generations, or a group of friends can share one house instead of booking three hotel rooms and meeting in a lobby. Nana House Sakaecho sleeps up to nine, and Nana House Ekoda up to eight. Both have a full kitchen and one shared table, which turns out to be the thing groups value most.

Harry Potter fans

The studio tour is at Toshimaen, inside Nerima Ward. From Nana House Nerima it is one stop; from our Ekoda houses it is two stops to Nerima plus one more on the Toshima branch. That makes an early timed entry easy, and a tired walk home short. If you are also doing central Tokyo, Ekoda keeps Ikebukuro close for the rest of the trip.

Long stays, remote workers and relocations

For one month or more, our monthly homes come with furniture, Wi-Fi and utilities included in the rent: electricity, gas, water and internet. There is no key money, no guarantor and no agent fee, and English support is available. If you are comparing areas for a month-long base, our Ikebukuro monthly apartment guide covers the Seibu-line stations in more detail.

Who should probably stay central

If you have three nights, one bag, and a list of nightlife and shopping spots in Shibuya and Shinjuku, a central hotel will save you time. Ekoda and Nerima pay off with time, space and a kitchen. A two-night solo city break uses none of those.

Which of our 9 homes fits your trip?

Here is what each home is good for, using the details in each listing. Nightly prices are base rates and can change with the season. Extra guests and a one-time cleaning fee are added on top. The monthly prices below include utilities.

Nana House Sakaecho: big groups, closest to Ekoda Station

A 3-bedroom house a 3-minute walk from Ekoda Station, sleeping up to nine (two double beds and a futon on the first floor; a double bed and two futons upstairs). The living room, dining room and kitchen are on the second floor. It is the only one of our houses with a parking space, for one car up to 4.2 m long. From ¥25,000 a night (about US$167), plus ¥5,000 (about US$33) per extra guest per night and a ¥10,000 (about US$67) cleaning fee. Stays of seven nights or more get 10% off the accommodation fee. Minimum stay is 2 nights.

Nana House Ekoda: families and groups up to 8

An entire 3-bedroom house of 51 m², an 8-minute walk from Ekoda Station. Kitchen, bathroom and toilet on the first floor; three bedrooms upstairs. It sleeps up to eight. From ¥14,000 a night (about US$93) for two guests, plus ¥4,000 (about US$27) per extra guest and an ¥8,000 (about US$53) cleaning fee, with a 2-night minimum. It is our best-value option for a family of five or six.

Nana House Nerima: Harry Potter trips and smaller families

A 2-bedroom house of 41 m² near Nerima Station, one stop from the studio tour at Toshimaen. Living space, kitchen and bathroom downstairs; two bedrooms upstairs. Sleeps up to six. From ¥12,000 a night (about US$80) for two, plus ¥4,000 per extra guest and an ¥8,000 cleaning fee. One night is fine here, which helps if you only want a base for studio day.

Nana House Ekoda Monthly House: a whole house for a month or more

A 3LDK house (three bedrooms plus living, dining and kitchen) near Ekoda Station for up to four people, rented by the month at ¥350,000 (about US$2,333) with utilities included. It suits a relocating family who needs a real home while they look for a long-term lease.

Sengawa House: couples and solo long-stayers

A 1LDK apartment (one bedroom plus living room) on the third floor of a building with an elevator, a 3-minute walk from Ekoda Station. It has its own kitchen and a separate toilet and bathroom, and sleeps one or two. ¥160,000 a month (about US$1,067), 30-night minimum, ¥20,000 (about US$133) cleaning fee. No key money, guarantor or agent fee.

Cozy Studio near Ekoda: solo travelers on a budget

A renovated studio in a traditional wooden house, an 8-minute walk from Ekoda Station and 12 minutes from Kotake-mukaihara. Double bed, private kitchen with a 3-burner gas stove, private shower, toilet and washing machine. One guest, ¥90,000 a month (about US$600) with electricity, gas, water and Wi-Fi included. 30-night minimum.

Hasu House: rooms in a shared monthly house

A two-story house of 60 m² in the Ekoda area, rented whole or by the room for one month or more. Each bedroom has a desk, chair, closet and air conditioner, and the shared living room has a 55-inch smart TV. Rooms start at ¥90,000 a month (about US$600) for one guest, and the listing shows ¥100,000 for the largest room. It suits students and remote workers who want company and a desk.

Tokiwadai House: two bedrooms for one or two people

A 2DK apartment (two bedrooms plus a dining kitchen) on the first floor, an 8-minute walk from Tokiwadai Station. About 10 minutes to Ikebukuro, 22 to Shinjuku and 26 to Shibuya by train, per the listing. ¥180,000 a month (about US$1,200). Good for a couple where one person works from home and needs a door to close.

Toda 3DK House: space for a family on a monthly budget

A 63 m² corner apartment on the sixth floor of an elevator building in Toda, with three rooms, a dining kitchen, a separate bath and toilet, and a southwest-facing balcony. AEON STYLE Kita-Toda is nearby for shopping, and the JR Saikyo Line runs from Musashi-Urawa and Kita-Toda. ¥150,000 a month (about US$1,000). Read more about it in our Toda 3DK monthly house listing.

What does a week in a house near Ekoda actually cost?

Here is a worked example using Nana House Ekoda's base rates, for six people staying five nights:

• Nightly rate: ¥14,000 for the first two guests, plus 4 extra guests at ¥4,000 each = ¥30,000 a night
• Five nights: ¥150,000
• Cleaning fee: ¥8,000
• Total: ¥158,000 (about US$1,053), or about ¥5,300 (US$35) per person per night

Seasonal pricing can change the nightly figure, so check your exact dates on the room page. Compare the total against the price of two or three hotel rooms in Shinjuku for the same dates, and remember the house includes a kitchen and a washing machine.

For a month, the math is simpler. Sengawa House is ¥160,000 plus a ¥20,000 cleaning fee, with utilities included and no key money, guarantor or agent fee. A standard Tokyo lease often asks for several months' rent up front before you get the keys.

What is day-to-day life like here?

Groceries

Within a few minutes of Ekoda Station there are several small My Basket (Maibasuketto) mini-supermarkets, a Marumanstore by the south exit, and a Big-A discount supermarket. A Life supermarket is near Shin-Sakuradai Station, and a Maruetsu is by Shin-Egota Station. Hours vary by store, and several stay open late. Seria and Watts 100-yen shops near the station cover kitchen extras and storage boxes.

Bathhouses and hot springs

Sengen-yu, a 2-minute walk from Ekoda Station, is a neighborhood sento (public bathhouse) that opened in 1927. For a bigger soak, Toshimaen Niwa no Yu is a hot-spring spa about 2 minutes on foot from Toshimaen Station, next door to the Harry Potter studio.

Parks

Hikarigaoka Park covers more than 60 hectares, with lawns, sports fields, a kids' area and about 1,000 cherry trees. Shakujii Park has boating on Shakujii Pond from spring to autumn. Johoku Chuo Park, north of Ekoda, is lined with ginkgo trees that turn gold in autumn.

House rules worth knowing

Shoes come off inside. Garbage is sorted into burnable, non-burnable, and cans, bottles and PET bottles, and our houses have labeled bins. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on our properties, and parties are not allowed. Check-in at our nightly houses is self check-in with a keypad code sent the day before, from 3 p.m.; check-out is 11 a.m.

When is the best time to stay in Ekoda and Nerima?

• Late March to early April: cherry blossoms in Shakujii Park, Hikarigaoka Park and Johoku Chuo Park, with far smaller crowds than Ueno or Meguro River. This is our busiest season, so book early.
• Summer: hot and humid. Every house has air conditioning in each bedroom. July 1 is one of the days the Ekoda fujizuka opens to climbers.
• Late November to early December: autumn leaves in the local parks, usually peaking at the same time as central Tokyo.
• New Year: many small restaurants close for a few days around January 1, while supermarkets and convenience stores keep going. Local shrines are busy with hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year).

What should you check before you book?

• Your daily destinations. If most days are in Asakusa, Ueno or Tokyo Station, add up the extra 15 to 20 minutes each way. If they are in Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, Shibuya or the Harry Potter studio, the commute is easy.
• Bed setup. Several of our houses mix beds with futon or mattresses. Each listing gives the exact layout.
• Cancellation terms. Our nightly houses allow free cancellation until 14 days before check-in. After that, the full amount is charged.
• Parking. Only Nana House Sakaecho has a space. The other houses have paid parking nearby.
• Pets. Not allowed.

Why trust this guide?

We are the hosts. We own and manage the homes on this page, we clean and restock them, and we answer guests' messages ourselves. Everything we say about the houses comes from our own listings. Train lines, park details and landmarks come from public sources such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's GO TOKYO site and the operators' own pages. Where we give a travel time, it is an estimate, and we would rather you check than trust us blindly.

FAQ

Is Ekoda too far from central Tokyo?

Not for most trips. Ikebukuro is under 10 minutes away by local train, and Shinjuku is about 20 to 25 minutes. It feels far only if your plans are mostly in east Tokyo, such as Asakusa or Ueno, or if you stay out past the last train.

Is Nerima safe for families and solo travelers?

It is a quiet residential ward, and walking home after dark is normal for locals. Take the usual city care with valuables, as you would anywhere.

How close is Ekoda to the Harry Potter studio?

From Ekoda, ride two stops to Nerima and one more on the Seibu Toshima Line to Toshimaen. The studio is next to the station. From Nana House Nerima it is one stop.

Can I stay for a month without key money or a guarantor?

Yes. Our monthly homes have no key money, no guarantor and no agent fee, and rent includes electricity, gas, water and internet.

Do your houses sleep more than six people?

Yes. Nana House Sakaecho sleeps up to nine and Nana House Ekoda up to eight, both with three bedrooms.

Traveling as a family or group? Check dates for a 3-bedroom house 3 minutes from Ekoda Station, or see Nana House Ekoda for up to 8 guests. Staying a month or more? See the 1LDK monthly apartment near Ekoda, or browse all our homes.

Dollar figures use ¥150 = US$1.