Nerima Ward Chronicles Past and Present
Nerima Ward is a family-friendly neighborhood with some surprises for anime fans. 不動産 練馬区 Aside from its traditional residential neighborhoods, this ward has nice public parks and a free observation deck with fantastic views of Tokyo.
The popular 1980s anime/manga series Urusei Yatsura was set in Nerima, as was Doraemon and Full Metal Panic! A new theme park is scheduled to open in 2023. Anime
Anime has long been a big deal in Nerima Ward, a neighborhood the ward refers to as “Nerima City.” It’s not a place where many tourists visit or find mention in Tokyo guidebooks, but for those who like to see the neighborhoods and areas that inspired their favorite animated works, it’s worth a stop.
Nerima is often considered the birthplace of anime production. The first anime feature film was made in 1957 by Toei Animation, a studio still located in the Oizumi-gakuen area. The following year Mushi Production, another Nerima-based studio, released Astro Boy (Tie Wan atomu, Tetsuwan Atomu), an anime TV series that set the tone for what was to come.
Rumiko Takahashi’s manga and anime series Ranma ½, Urusei Yatsura, and many others were set in Nerima and brought the area to international fame in the English speaking world. Other popular animes and manga series that have their origin in the ward include Your Lie in April, Tokyo Ghoul, Rent-a-Girlfriend, and Doraemon.
A statue garden outside Oizumi-gakuen station features life size statues of famous anime characters. The garden was opened in 2015 as a tribute to Nerima as the birthplace of anime. There are statues of Astro Boy, Tetsuro and Maetel from Galaxy Express 999, Joe Yabuki from the pre-Rocky boxing anime Ashita no Joe, and Lum from Urusei Yatsura. Restaurants
A large portion of the ward’s residents live in the area, and they love to fill their tummies with local fare. Amongst the most popular are the many backstreet-hidden restaurants that offer izakaya fare, yakitori and grilled meat, as well as ramen, sushi and noodles.
A stroll southwest of Nerima Station brings you to the main food area, a pedestrian street lined with all your usual favorites and also some lesser-known eateries. Continuing down the road and wandering around its backstreets brings you to a handful of quaint garden cafes. Among them, Shibuya Engei is a large garden center with flowers and plants big and small as well as its own cafe that serves take out cakes, parfaits and pasta. Another, Cafe Andes is a Showa Era coffee shop with a rustic wooden interior and the kind of atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re in a movie.
It’s not uncommon to see a group of school children or office workers stopping at a restaurant on their way to lunch. It’s an indication of how well Nerima’s restaurants have been embraced by the community. Shopping
The district is the birthplace of anime, but there’s more to Nerima than its pop culture associations. It offers a family-friendly feel, spectacular views over Tokyo and even a heritage of white radishes!
The area is served by the Toei Oedo, Seibu Ikebukuro and Toei Yurakucho lines, making it easy to get to. The best way to see the ward is from the 20th floor of the Nerima City Office Observatory, where visitors can enjoy the cityscape from five observation areas with impressive views. On clear days, Mt Fuji is even visible from here. The Oizumi Anime Gate is another popular attraction, which features life-size statues of famous anime characters with connections to the district (including Astro Boy, Joe Yabuki from Azumi no Joe and Tetsuro Hoshino from Galaxy Express 999).
Nerima also serves as the setting for several popular manga and anime franchises. Ju On, a Japanese horror series and Nekoma High School, one of the main teams in the manga and anime Haikyu!! both take place in the district. The ward is also home to Aoba Japan International School, and has a sister city relationship with Ipswich in Australia. The sister city gardens in Ipswich commemorate this connection. Nightlife
Away from the glitz of central Tokyo, Nerima Ward offers a quiet and serene side of life. The area is home to many popular spots that you’ll find in anime, but also a heritage of white radishes and even ancient castle ruins.
Despite being one of the most densely populated areas of Tokyo, Nerima is still relatively affordable and has a residential feel. Many of its most famous areas such as Hikarigaoka and Oizumi are known for their sexy clubs, but there is also much more to discover.
The Nerima City Office Observatory offers stunning views of the city from a large observation deck and is open to visitors for free. It’s a great way to see the entire city of Tokyo from above, and on clear days you can often spot Mt. Fuji in the distance.
Another must-visit is the Nerima Shakujiikoen Furusato Museum, which showcases the traditions of the area and is surrounded by lush nature. It opened in March 2010 and is a great place to learn about the history of Nerima Ward.
If you’re a fan of the Your Lie in April TV series, stop by at Coconeri, a shopping mall next to Nerima Station, for a free map that marks all of the sites where they filmed. You can also get a Your Lie in April t-shirt and other collectables here.