Ikebukuro’s station is one of the three busiest in the world, yet the district feels more local and less polished than Shinjuku or Shibuya. The east side leads along Sunshine 60 Street to Sunshine City, a 1970s “city within a city” whose 60-storey tower holds an observatory, with a rooftop aquarium, a planetarium, an indoor theme park and the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in the buildings below.
Beside it is Otome Road, the centre of anime and manga culture aimed at female fans, and the flagship of the Animate chain. The west side has a theatre and arts quarter, restaurants and bars. Ikebukuro is also a gateway: Tobu trains run from here to the old merchant town of Kawagoe in about half an hour, and it is a practical base for travellers who want city energy on a budget.
Highlights
- The rooftop penguins and sea lions of Sunshine Aquarium
- City views from the Sunshine 60 observatory
- Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo and Sunshine City’s character shops
- Anime, manga and cosplay stores around Otome Road
- Queueing with locals at one of Ikebukuro’s celebrated ramen shops
- A half-day trip to “Little Edo” Kawagoe
Ikebukuro in pictures
How long to stay and where to base yourself
How long: half a day is enough for Sunshine City and the anime shops; families with young children can easily spend a full day indoors here.
Where to base yourself: Ikebukuro is one of the best-value bases on the Yamanote Line, with large hotels right by the station, family apartment-hotels and direct trains to Shinjuku and Shibuya in under 15 minutes. The streets north and west of the station include an entertainment quarter that is lively at night; the Sunshine City side is quieter. See where to stay in Tokyo.
