Toshima Ward Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park

Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park (nicknamed "GLOBAL RING") is a major public space and cultural landmark located in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, right next to the Ikebukuro Station West Exit bus terminal.

The site originally served as the Tokyo Prefectural Toshima Normal School during the Meiji period. After World War II, following educational reforms, the affiliated elementary school was relocated and the vacant land was gradually redeveloped. When the school buildings were demolished in the 1960s, the district government was commissioned in 1970 to create Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park, which at one point even included a roller-skating rink. In its early days, the park facilities were rather simple and the area somewhat dim at night, but conditions improved with the large-scale redevelopment of the Ikebukuro West Exit district. The opening of the Hotel Metropolitan in 1985 and the completion of the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in 1990 transformed the park into the theatre’s forecourt plaza, making it a core space for cultural activities in the area.

In 2002, an outdoor stage was added, and in 2004 a retractable roof was installed, enabling concerts and theatrical performances to be held even in rainy weather. A major renovation in 2019 further transformed the park into the “GLOBAL RING” plaza, featuring a modern, amphitheater-like circular design and spectacular nighttime illuminations. Today, the park serves not only as a relaxing green space for citizens but also as a dynamic cultural stage that hosts international music festivals, dance performances, and cultural events—offering a tranquil oasis by day and a futuristic cultural hub by night.