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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Ichikawa
市川
Stay 0–1 day as a cheap Tokyo‑adjacent base; train 20 min to central Tokyo, then explore the city’s zoo and museum.
Ichikawa is a residential city 20 km east of Tokyo, linked by frequent JR and Keisei trains (≈19 min). It offers a modest zoo, a small art museum and convenient budget hotels, making it useful for a quick stay before heading into Tokyo.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 市川
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (humid, rain)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥6,000–9,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥9,000–14,000 excl. bed · High ¥14,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bento box | ¥600–¥1,200 |
| Ichikawa City Zoo adult entry | ¥440 |
| Higashiyama Kaii Hall entry | ¥500 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ¥2,200–¥2,700 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- NRT · Narita International
- Keisei Yawata station 1 h to city, direct trains
- HND · Haneda Airport
- Through trains to Keisei Yawata, ~1 h
Typical fares
- Ichikawa → Tokyo (JR Sobu Rapid)
- about ¥1,240, 19 min (check)
- Narita → Keisei Yawata (Keisei Main)
- about ¥1,500, 1 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
JR Sobu and Chuo‑Sobu lines give 19‑min rides to Tokyo. Keisei Main Line connects to Narita/Haneda. Buses are infrequent; bicycles are common.
See and do
Known for
- Ichikawa City Zoo
- Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Hall
- Proximity to Tokyo
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo central | JR Sobu Rapid from Ichikawa Station, ~19 min | ≈30 min total |
| Urayasu (Tokyo Disney Resort) | JR Sobu to Maihama, ~30 min | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Hotel R9 Premium Ichikawaekimae
- Business hotel near JR Ichikawa station, rooms ¥15,000 per night (2026 estimate).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| Where is the zoo? | 動物園はどこですか？dōbutsuen wa doko desu ka |
| How much is this? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Limited north‑south bus service; plan trips early.
- Zoo cages are small; some visitors find it underwhelming.
Generally safe; stay alert on crowded trains and follow usual Japan safety advice.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ichikawa yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Ichikawa City Zoo
- Higashiyama Kaii Memorial Hall
- Proximity to Tokyo
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Ichikawa city official site: www.city.ichikawa.lg.jp/
- Ichikawa tourist association (Japanese): www.ichikawa-kankou.jp/
- Wikivoyage: Ichikawa, revision 5248737 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5248737
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ichikawa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.