Japan General Service Office

03-3590-5377
http://aajapan.org

DIRECTIONS AND ACCESS INFORMATION


The Japan Service Office, or JSO, is on the 4th floor of the Tsuchiya Bldg., Ikebukuro 4-17-10, Tokyo.

Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 6:00pm

There are no meetings here, but one can get literature in Japanese and English, and they support AA throughout Japan.

There are many train and subway lines which go to Ikebukuro Station. Please consult a map for the best way to get there from your location. If you take the JR Yamanote Line, you can take any exit, and from there search for the West Exit (there is no West Exit from the platform). I took the North Exit and it was a 2-3 minute walk with well-marked signs in English. Alternatively, if you can find exit C6 you will bypass the need to navigate the area just outside the station because you will come up on Gekijo Dori (Theatre Street).

Basically, from the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station, leave the Tobu Department Store behind you and head straight toward the Marui Department store. You will pass a BIC camera shop and a Starbucks en route to Marui. Once at Marui, cross the street to the right toward an Excelsior Coffee Shop. (Exit C6 is here.) You can see Mitsui Sumitomo Bank on the other side of the street.

Now you will be on Gekijo-dori (Theatre Street), and basically you want to go straight down this street for about 15 minutes, or until it dead-ends at the freeway. Turn left there, go down towards an aquamarine-colored building which is four blocks ahead. At that point turn left (there is a ramen shop on the corner). Go one small block and the building will be on the left-hand side. It is a light blue color. Turn left on that street as the entrance is at the other end of the building. (The building will now be on your right.) JSO is on the 4th floor.

Please see the virtual tour below for clarity and allow about 20-30 minutes to find it.

1. Go out the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station.

2. Becks will be on your right.

3. Tobu Department Store will be behind you.

4. This is the view in front of you.

5. More of the view.

6. Veer a little to the left of the taxi stand.

7. Cross the street toward the Mizuho Bank.

8. This is the next corner. Keep going straight.

9. You can see this across the street to your right.

10. You will pass a BIC Camera shop.

11. And a Starbucks.

12. Coffee, anyone?

13. Cross the street so you are in front of Marui Department Store.

14. Then, cross the street to the right.

15. You can see a Mitsui Sumitomo Bank on the other side of the street.

16. An Excelsior Coffee Shop will be in front of you.

17. And a Soba shop. (Exit C6 comes out here.) You are now on Gekijo Dori. Keep going straight ahead for about 15 minutes or until you can go no further.

18. This pachinko shop is on the next corner.

19. And you can see these shops at the next corner.

20. You will pass a Denny's.

21. Next is a post office and across the street you can see the famous 777 parking lot.

22. Go straight past this drugstore.

23. Lunch, anyone?

24. Keep going straight. Follow that man!

25. You will pass a 100 Yen shop.

26. This is a hotel for dogs and cats!

27. Roses are red, violets are blue (keep going straight).

28. A school will be on your left.

29. Here is the school name in Japanese.

30. You can see the elevated freeway ahead where you will turn left.

31. Turn left at this store where the street dead-ends.

32. Go straight four blocks.

33. Aim for the tall blue building.

34. Turn left onto this street.

35. The Ramen Shop in the blue building. Turn left - do not go past the Ramen Shop.

36. Walk this way.

37. This is the building, only a few feet ahead on your left. Turn left so the building is on your right, and go straight ahead. (The entrance is at the other end.)

38. This is a view of the building from the other end, closer to the entrance.

39. You can see the sign.

40. A close-up.

41. Go in and up to the 4th floor.

42. Our guide!

43. You have arrived.

44. Everyone is hard at work!