9 to 2

[IndianThrilla!]

In Tokyo, you have the Yamanote line. It is essentially a circular circuit running around the city. If you picture it as a clock, most of the activities or places to go see and do reside somewhere between 2 o'clock (being Ueno) and 9 o'clock (Shinjuku). In other words, if you went from Ueno to Shinkuku, most of the tourist spots are along this part of the line (Ahikihabara, Ginza, Tokyo, Shinagawa, Ebisu, Harajuku, Shibuya, Shinjuku).

My question is this: does anyone know of anything to do or any place special to visit along the other part of the line (between 9 and 2; for example, near Ikeburo)? Is this a dead space area reserved for business?

[KAIZOKUx]

Well, if you're interested in Ikebukuro there is a lot you can do. Click! (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3038.html)

This website does a pretty good job of explaining everything that Ikebukruo has to offer but the hot spot of course in Sunshine city. There is tons of shops leading up to the actual mall. It's huge!

Finding it seems hard at first but as long you go out the right exit its super easy to find. For one, everyone is walking that way and there are signs that lead you.

[mikem]

Ikebukuro is the gateway to both Saitama and Nerima as well as other further away suburbs. So it gets a lot of foot traffic from commuters and is a huge transfer point for all sorts of age groups. (Literally from elementary school kids all the way up to OLs and salarymen.)

So there's actually quite a bit to do. I've been to a planetarium and an aquarium somewhere over there. There's also a lot of good places to buy cheap clothes. In some ways Ikebukuro is starting to become better than Shinjuku.

I personally think there are two distinct "cool" parts of the Yamanote. The east side, Ikebukuro down to Ebisu, and then the west side, Ueno down to Shinagawa. There's too much boring stuff between Ebisu Shinagawa in my opinion. :)

[ミュー]

My question is this: does anyone know of anything to do or any place special to visit along the other part of the line (between 9 and 2; for example, near Ikeburo)? Is this a dead space area reserved for business?
The clientele is sort of meh.

Here's a map of places worth going out in Tokyo.

Tokyo at Night (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106931441156552285470.0004628aaecb175a35117&z=13)
For daytime stuff, grab any tourbook. This is the stuff they don't mention.

[SlickWilly440]

If your a fan of TokyoCooney, then you can try hanging around Ikebukuro and "accidentally" run into him.

[daidokoro]

Sugamo is in the north and is mostly a mecca for the elderly, but the shopping street has a retro Tokyo feel to it, and you can get cheap okonomiyaki and sweets from vendors. I quite like it there.

Also, can anybody explain WHY there are so many love hotels in Uguisudani? Its so far away from... everything.

[atomiton]

Also, can anybody explain WHY there are so many love hotels in Uguisudani? Its so far away from... everything.

I think you may have answered your own question.

Wouldn't want any unpleasant run-ins, now would we?