The Seibu Ikebukuro Line is a railway line operated by the private railway operator Seibu Railway in Tokyo, Japan.
The line originates at Ikebukuro Station, one of the busiest railway stations in Tokyo, and extends northwest to the suburbs of Tokorozawa and Saitama. The Line is an important transportation link for commuters and visitors providing access to the western Tokyo area.
The Line has various services, including local, rapid, express, and limited express trains, and is particularly popular among baseball fans, as it gives you direct access to the Seibu Dome, the home stadium of the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team.
Apart from the Seibu Dome, there are several other attractions worth visiting along the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, such as the new Harry Potter Theme Park which is opening in June 2023 and is built on the old Toshimaen amusement park site.
Route and Stations
The Seibu Ikebukuro Line is a railway line operated by Seibu Railway that connects Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo to the northwest suburbs of the city. The line starts at Ikebukuro Station, a major railway junction in northwestern Tokyo, and runs through the cities of Nerima, Tokorozawa, Hanno, and nominally terminates at Agano Station. The total length of the line is approximately 37.5 km, and it has a total of 28 stations.
The Line shares track with the Seibu Yurakucho Line between Nerima Station and Kotake-Mukaihara Station. The Seibu Yurakucho Line is a rapid transit line that connects the Seibu-Shinjuku Station in Tokyo to the city of Hanno in Saitama Prefecture. It also shares tracks with the Seibu Chichibu Line between Agano Station and Seibu-Chichibu Station.
Here’s a table of all the stations on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, including their station name and transferring lines (if any):
| Station Name | Transferring Lines |
|---|---|
| Ikebukuro | JR Lines, Tokyo Metro Lines, Tobu Tojo Line |
| Shiinamachi | None |
| Nishi-sugamo | Tokyo Metro Toden Arakawa Line |
| Shin-sakuradai | None |
| Ekoda | None |
| Sakuradai | None |
| Nerima | Toei Ōedo Line |
| Nakamurabashi | None |
| Fujimidai | None |
| Nerima-takanodai | None |
| Shakujii-koen | None |
| Oizumi-gakuen | None |
| Hoya | None |
| Kiyose | None |
| Hibarigaoka | None |
| Higashi-kurume | None |
| Akitsu | None |
| Higashi-tokorozawa | None |
| Tokorozawa | Seibu Shinjuku Line |
| Kotesashi | None |
| Sayamashi | None |
| Irumashi | None |
| Bushi | None |
| Hanno | Seibu Chichibu Line |
| Higashi-hanno | None |
Note that this table does not include station numbers, as the Seibu Ikebukuro Line does not have an official station numbering system
Services and Timetable
The line runs from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo to Hannō Station in Saitama, passing through various stations in western Tokyo and Saitama. The line has various services, including local, rapid, express, and limited express trains, to cater to the needs of commuters and travelers.
The timetable for the Seibu Ikebukuro Line is available on the Seibu Railway website. The website gives you a detailed timetable for each station on the line, including Ikebukuro Station, Seibu-Shinjuku Station, Takadanobaba Station, Seibu-Chichibu Station, Hon-Kawagoe Station, and Tokorozawa Station. The timetable shows the train schedule for weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, as well as the train type and the station stops.
| Train Type | Stops | Weekdays | Saturdays and Holidays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local | All | 5:00-23:00 | 5:00-23:00 |
| Rapid | Some | 6:00-22:00 | 6:00-22:00 |
| Express | Some | 7:00-21:00 | 7:00-21:00 |
| Limited Express | Some | 7:00-21:00 | 7:00-21:00 |
All up, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line is a convenient and reliable mode of transportation for commuters and travelers in Tokyo and Saitama.
Attractions On The Seibu Line
stations on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, including their station name and nearby attractions:
| Station Name | Nearby Attractions |
|---|---|
| Ikebukuro | Sunshine City, Ikebukuro West Gate Park, J-World Tokyo |
| Shiinamachi | |
| Nishi-sugamo | Somei Cemetery, Rikugien Garden |
| Shin-sakuradai | |
| Ekoda | |
| Sakuradai | |
| Nerima | Nerima Art Museum, |
| Nakamurabashi | |
| Fujimidai | |
| Nerima-takanodai | |
| Shakujii-koen | Shakujii Park, Sanpoji Temple |
| Oizumi-gakuen | Toei Animation Museum, Oizumi Central Park |
| Hoya | |
| Kiyose | Kiyose City Museum of History and Folklore, Kiyose Rose Park |
| Hibarigaoka | Hibarigaoka Park, Hibarigaoka Hanayashiki |
| Higashi-kurume | Uchimaki Park |
| Akitsu | |
| Higashi-tokorozawa | Tokorozawa Aviation Museum |
| Tokorozawa | Sayama Hills (Totoro Forest), Tokorozawa Sakura Town, Cocoon City |
| Kotesashi | |
| Sayamashi | Sayama City Museum, Seibuen Amusement Park |
| Irumashi | Iruma River, Iruma City Museum of Art |
| Bushi | |
| Hanno | Hanno City Museum, Lake Miyazawa, Lake Sayama |
| Higashi-hanno |
Fares and Tickets
Seibu Ikebukuro Line offers tickets and passes to choose from based on your travel needs. Here’s a few of the options:
- Regular tickets: These tickets are valid for a single journey and can be purchased at ticket vending machines or ticket counters.
- Coupon tickets: These tickets are a set of 11 one-way tickets that can be purchased at a discount and used within six months of purchase.
- Limited express tickets: These tickets are required for travel on limited express trains and can be purchased in advance or on the day of travel.
- Platform tickets: If you wish to enter the station for a purpose other than taking a train, please buy a platform ticket. You cannot, however, enter a train. The cost of a platform ticket is 150 yen for an adult and 80 yen for a child.
If you plan to use Seibu Ikebukuro Line frequently, you may want to consider purchasing a pass. Here are a few of the options:
- SEIBU 1 Day Pass: This pass allows unlimited train travel on Seibu lines for one day. It covers the following lines: Ikebukuro, Seibu Chichibu, Seibu Yurakucho, Toshima, Sayama, Seibu Shinjuku, Haijima, Tamako, Kokubunji, Seibuen, and Yamaguchi. The pass can be purchased at the ticket counter by presenting your passport or SEIBU PRINCE CLUB emi card.
- SEIBU Pass (Optional Nagatoro Line Combo): This pass allows unlimited train travel on Seibu lines (excluding the Tamagawa line) in Tokyo. It also includes entry tickets to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Tokyo. The pass can be purchased online through various travel websites.
Note that if you ride without purchasing a limited express ticket in advance, an additional amount of 200 yen will be added to the sales price of the price list. Make sure to plan ahead and purchase the necessary tickets or passes to avoid any additional fees.
History
The Musashino Railway was established in 1912, and in 1915, the section connecting Ikebukuro and Hannō was opened. This section proved to be profitable, attracting many passengers from both central Tokyo and suburban areas. This is the original Ikebukuro Line of Seibu Railway.
Over the years, the line has undergone several changes and expansions. In 1927, the line was extended to Nerima, and in 1949, it was extended to Tokorozawa. In 1952, the Seibu Chichibu Line was opened, connecting Agano Station to Seibu-Chichibu Station.
In 1962, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line was electrified, and in 1990, the line was extended to Hannō. In 2008, the line was further extended to Seibu-Chichibu Station, making it possible to travel from Ikebukuro to Chichibu without changing trains.
Today, the Line is an important transportation link for residents of northwestern Tokyo and Saitama.
Incidents and Accidents
Seibu Ikebukuro Line has experienced several incidents and accidents over the years. Some of the notable ones are:
- On the 23rd of March 2023, a personal injury accident occurred at a railroad crossing between Higashikurume and Kiyose Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. As a result of this, the line was suspended on the upper and lower lines between Ikebukuro and Tokorozawa Station, and the Toshima Line and the Seibu Yurakucho Line were also suspended.
- Another accident resulting in injury or death occurred on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, which led to the suspension of the up and down lines between Ikebukuro Station and Hanno Station. The line resumed operation at 8:47 am on the same day.
- The Ikebukuro Line and Toshima Line were delayed and suspended at around 6:42 a.m. due to a personal accident between Hoya ~ Hibarigaoka Station. The Seibu Yurakucho Line was also suspended.
Seibu Railway says it has taken steps to improve safety measures and prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Future Developments
There are plans to introduce new rolling stock on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line. The company has announced that it will be purchasing new trains from Hitachi, which will be equipped with the latest technology and designed to provide a more comfortable and efficient ride for passengers.
Finally, Seibu Railway is exploring the possibility of extending the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to connect with other railway lines in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This would provide passengers with even more convenient access to destinations throughout the city, and could help to alleviate congestion on other busy rail lines.
