Introducing the Oizumi Gakuen Station Area, a Repeat Winner of the Most Livable Town Award, and How to Buy a Train Pass!
*The ARUHI presents the Most Livable Towns Award, sponsored by ARUHI Corporation, ranks towns selected by experts based on five criteria: living environment, transportation convenience, educational and cultural environment, cost performance, and development potential, from the realistic perspective of real-life living, as opposed to an ideal.
What's Oizumi Gakuen town like?
As the name Ōizumi-gakuen suggests, the station (SI11, Nerima-ku, Tokyo) on the Seibu Railway Ikebukuro Line, originally a popular residential area, has many schools dotting the area. The recent redevelopment by the station has created convenient commercial facilities, but the old shopping street is also vibrant, providing an enjoyable community feel.
The commercial facilities, Yumeria Fuente to the south and Grand Emio to the north, by the station, as well as plenty of supermarkets, cafés and restaurants, make the area very convenient for shopping.
What's more, Ōizumi-gakuen, known as the birthplace of Japanese animation, is a mecca for animation and movie fans, as it is where Toei Animation (formerly Toei Eiga Company, Ltd.) has continued to produce animation, including Japan's first color feature-length animated film and Galaxy Express 999.
To this day, the Toei Movie Studios, Toei Animation Museum and T-Joy SEIBU Oizumi cinemas are just a 15-minute walk from the station, and having cinemas so close to home is something to covet!
Across the street is Livin Oz, a shopping complex housing MUJI and UNIQLO, providing the opportunity to shop when going to the movies.
There's also a shared office space, Emiffice Ōizumi-gakuen, in Grand Emio Ōizumi-gakuen. It's a great place for all kinds of work styles, including those who want to work remotely, entrepreneurs and freelancers in a quiet and peaceful space! It includes three booths for web conferencing and two phone booths; security is excellent, of course.
What are the transport connections at Oizumi Gakuen Station?
Ōizumi-gakuen on the Seibu Railway Ikebukuro Line boasts convenient transport connections and is within easy reach of the city center. You can get to Ikebukuro Station in about 16 minutes by a local express train and Shibuya Station in about 35 minutes, as well as Toyosu, Shibuya, Ginza Icchome, and Motomachi/China Town without transfers, as the station also connects to the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines.
Buses go to Kichijoji Station on the JR Chuo Line and to Wakoshi and Asaka stations on the Tobu Tojo Line, so it's a convenient area for commuting to work and school, as well as for weekend excursions!
As for highways, the Nerima Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway and the Oizumi Interchange on the Kan-Etsu and Tokyo Gaikan Expressways are easily accessible, making it convenient for those who drive on their days off.
Nature-filled Oizumi and Shakujii areas
Tokyo Metropolitan Shakujii Park is about a 20-minute walk from Oizumi Gakuen Station. The large park boasts an area of approximately five Tokyo Domes (almost 58 acres), with baseball grounds, tennis courts, athletic fields and a pond; rarities in the city center.
The park is brimming with natural scenery that changes with the seasons and is a popular spot for cherry blossom viewing in the spring! It's a pleasant place for taking a walk or exercising while enjoying the views amid the greenery.
The park is especially busy with families and couples on weekends and holidays, and since it's cool even in summer due to the abundance of shade in the park with its lush trees, families can be seen bringing their lunches and having picnics.
How to buy a train pass, essential for commuting to and from work and school
We have so far highlighted the advantages of the Oizumi Gakuen Station area, but when you live in Japan with an extensive railroad system, commuting to work and school by train is the norm, no matter which railroad line you live along. We will now explain how to purchase a Seibu Railway train pass.
1. Types of train passes
Commuter pass
Student pass
2. Validity period
Three types: 1 month, 3 months, 6 months
3. When to buy
You can buy a pass from 14 days before the effective start date (the same day of the week two weeks prior).
E.g. A new pass, valid from Monday, April 1, can be purchased from Monday, March 18.
4. When buying a student pass
When buying a student pass, you will need a commuter certificate or a student ID card* that can be used to purchase a student pass. Please be aware that you cannot purchase a student pass without one of the above documents from the school. However, since a commuter pass is available to anyone, you may purchase it even if you don't have any of the above documents.
When renewing a student pass, you may do so if you meet all of the following conditions without a new commuter certificate or other documentation.
If buying a student pass for the same section and route as the previous pass purchased within the same fiscal year.
(If the section or route changes, a new commuter certificate must be submitted.)
If the new student pass expiration date does not extend beyond April 30.
If it is evident that the student will advance in the same school.
*If you are purchasing a student pass for the first time in the new school year, you must submit a commuter certificate after advancing to the next year.
5. Where to buy Seibu Line commuter passes
They can be purchased at a commuter pass sales counter or ticket machines displaying commuter passes.
6. A commuter pass covering lines operated by other companies and the Seibu Line can be purchased with PASMO; however, since the range of available commuter passes is limited, some commuter passes aren't available, so please check with the station staff.
7. When purchasing a commuter pass, please enter accurate customer details such as your full name, date of birth, gender, etc. The commuter pass will be invalid if incorrect information is entered. If you have registered your telephone number, we will call you at the registered number if the commuter pass reaches the station as lost property.
Types of Seibu Line trains
The type of train depends on the station it stops. Check to see if the train stops at your desired station before boarding!
Seibu Line train categories (trains higher on the list stop at fewer stations and will arrive at your destination earlier).
・Limited Express_Laview (Ikebukuro Line)
・Limited Express_New Red Arrow (Shinjuku Line)
*All seats on limited express trains are reserved. You must buy a limited express ticket separately from the train ticket for boarding.
・S-Train (Ikebukuro Line)
*All seats are reserved. You must buy a reserved seat ticket separately from the train ticket for boarding.
・Haijima Liner (Shinjuku and Haijima lines)
*All seats are reserved. You must buy a reserved seat ticket separately from the train ticket for boarding.
・Rapid Express
・Express
・Commuter Express
・Rapid
・Semi Express
・Commuter Semi Express
・Local
What do you think of the above introduction to Oizumi Gakuen, a truly livable town, and how to purchase a commuter pass, essential for life in Japan?
There are still many great towns along the Seibu Line, so let's discover them together!
*The published information is current as of January 17 2023. Please check relevant websites for the latest updates.
