Ikebukuro Station viewed from the Sunshine City observation deck
Ikebukuro (’r‘Ü) is one of Tokyo's multiple city centers, found around the northwestern corner of the Yamanote loop line. At the district's center stands Ikebukuro Station, a busy commuter hub traversed by three subway and multiple urban and suburban train lines. It is one of Japan's busiest railway stations, handling over a million passengers per day.
Ikebukuro offers plenty of entertainment, shopping and dining opportunities. It is the battleground between the Tobu and Seibu conglomerates which operate large department stores on each side of the station, as well as train lines from Ikebukuro into the suburbs. Seibu furthermore has a stake in Sunshine City, a large shopping and entertainment complex not far from the station.
Manga and cosplay shops along Otome Road
While not as well known as Akihabara, Ikebukuro is also a center of otaku culture. Unlike Akihabara, Ikebukuro caters more to a female clientele with butler cafes and anime, manga and cosplay related shops. The center of the female otaku scene is located along Otome Road just north of Sunshine City. It is also said to be a good place to find dojinshi, or self published manga or novels, especially those produced for women.
Department stores
Tobu
Hours: 10:00 to 20:00 (upper floors 10:30 to 19:00) Restaurants: 11:00 to 22:00
Located on top of the station's west exit is the Tobu Department Store, one of Tokyo's largest department stores. It belongs to the Tobu Group, which also operates several suburban railway lines, including the Tobu Tojo Line which terminates at Ikebukuro Station.
Seibu
Shops: 10:00 to 21:00 (until 20:00 on Sundays and national holidays) Restaurants: 11:00 to 23:00 (from 10:30 on weekends and holidays)
Located on top of the station's east exit is the flagship Seibu Department Store, another of Tokyo's largest department stores. It belongs to the Seibu Group, which also operates several suburban railway lines, including the Seibu Ikebukuro Line which terminates at Ikebukuro Station.
Sunshine City
Opened in 1978, Sunshine City is Tokyo's first city within the city. The focal point of the complex is the 240 meter tall Sunshine 60 skyscraper. The complex contains shops and restaurants, an aquarium, planetarium, museum, indoor theme parks, as well as the Sunshine Prince Hotel and offices. Sunshine City's shops are open daily from 10:00 to 20:00 and its restaurants from 11:00 to 22:00.
Sunshine 60 Observation Deck
Currently closed for renovations; will reopen on April 18, 2023
The Sky Circus is the observation deck on the top floor of the 240 meter tall Sunshine 60 skyscraper. Besides views over the city, it features virtual reality rides and a few other attractions.
Namja Town
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:00) Closed: No closing days Admission: 800 yen (entry only), 3500 yen (entry and unlimited rides)
Namja Town is an indoor theme park by Namco, the creator of Pacman and many other arcade games and leisure products. Namja Town includes various small rides and attractions. There are two food corners specialized in gyoza and desserts in a Showa Period town setting with recreated old alleys.
Sunshine Aquarium
Hours vary; typically 9:30 to 21:00 in spring and summer, and 10:00 to 18:00 in autumn and winter Closed: No closing days Admission: 2400 yen
The Sunshine Aquarium exhibits creatures from seas, oceans and tropical forests around the world, including stingrays, sunfish, frogs, snakes, penguins, seals and otters. It is located on the 10th floor of the World Import Mart Building in the Sunshine City complex.
Electronics stores
Bic Camera
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00
Bic Camera, one of Japan's leading electronics retailers, has its flagship store at the east exit of Ikebukuro Station. Several more branch stores are located on both sides of the station, including an outlet branch.
Yamada Denki
Hours: 10:00 to 21:00
Yamada Denki is another of Japan's most successful electronics chains and has two branches around Ikebukuro Station in direct competition with Bic Camera.
Other attractions
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space
Times and fees vary by event
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space is a public art center that stages performing arts, especially concerts, operas, theater and musicals. Its main hall is equipped with one of Japan's largest pipe organs.
Getting there and around
Ikebukuro Station is a major station on the JR Yamanote Line. It is also served by the JR Saikyo Line, JR Shonan Shinjuku Line, Tobu Tojo Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line and the Marunouchi, Yurakucho and Fukutoshin subway lines.
From Tokyo Station
15 minutes and 200 yen by the Marunouchi Subway Line or 25 minutes and 200 yen by the JR Yamanote Line.
From Shinjuku Station
8 minutes and 160 yen by the JR Yamanote, Saikyo or Shonan Shinjuku lines.
Situated in the Toshima district in Tokyo, Eisei Stay offers 3-star rooms with free WiFi. The property is close to Koyasuinari Shrine, Wacca Ikebukuro and Ikebukuro Suiten-gu Shrine. The property is 500 metres from the city centre and less than 1 km from Ikebukuro Marui Shopping Center. At the hotel rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a desk, a balcony with a city view, a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV, bed linen and towels. The rooms will provide guests with a fridge. Popular points of interest near Eisei Stay include Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine, Ikebukuro Nishi-guchi Park and Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 27 km from the accommodation.
Ideally set in the centre of Tokyo, Dormy Inn Ikebukuro features 3-star accommodation close to Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park and Hidenomachi Park. Well set in the Toshima district, this hotel provides a restaurant, as well as a sauna. Private parking is available on site. A buffet breakfast is available daily at the hotel. Speaking English and Japanese at the reception, staff will be happy to provide guests with practical guidance on the area. Popular points of interest near Dormy Inn Ikebukuro include Wacca Ikebukuro, Ikebukuro Suiten-gu Shrine and Honryuji Temple. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 27 km from the accommodation.
Hotel Wing International Select Ikebukuro features air-conditioned rooms with satellite flat-screen TV in the Toshima district of Tokyo. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. The property is close to popular attractions like Koyasuinari Shrine, Ikebukuro Suiten-gu Shrine and Honryuji Temple. All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. The rooms come with a private bathroom with a bidet, a hairdryer and free toiletries. The units will provide guests with a fridge. Popular points of interest near Hotel Wing International Select include Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park, Wacca Ikebukuro and Hinodemachi Park. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 35 km from the accommodation. At the cafe corner on the 1st floor, between 6 to 23 o'clock, we offer petit cakes and drinks, including the hotel's original handmade bread "Owl Bread". If you would like to have breakfast, you can request to the front desk.
Right next to Otsuka Train Station on the Yamanote Line, the elegant Hotel Bellclassic features French and Japanese restaurants. Free Wi-Fi is available in the entire property, and rooms come with a 40-inch flat-screen TV and an en suite bathroom. Guests at Hotel Bellclassic Tokyo stay in classically decorated rooms with a wood desk and a fridge. All are air-conditioned and have an electric kettle. The private bathroom is fitted with a bathtub. Raconter Restaurant serves French-inspired cuisine amid traditional Western elegance. Mimatsu offers authentic Japanese dishes with seasonal ingredients. A Western or Japanese-style buffet is available for breakfast and guests can enjoy a reduced rate if they reserve the day before. The Ikebukuro area is just 1 train stop away. Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ueno can all be reached within 20 minutes via the Yamanote Train Line.
Ideally located in Tokyo, HOTEL VARKIN Ikebukuro Nishiguchi offers air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, free private parking and room service. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space. Ikebukuro Nishi-guchi Park is 500 metres away and Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro is 700 metres from the hotel. All guest rooms in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV. Popular points of interest near HOTEL VARKIN Ikebukuro Nishiguchi include Ikebukuro Marui Shopping Center, Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine and Nishi-Ikebukuro Park. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 24 km from the accommodation.
Conveniently located in Tokyo, HOTEL APERTO (Adult Only) offers a ? la carte breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property. This 3-star love hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. The property is close to popular attractions like Tenso Shrine, Toshima Ward Minamiotsuka Park and Shusseinari Shrine. All guest rooms at the love hotel feature air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, Blu-ray player, and a private bathroom with a bidet, free toiletries and a hairdryer. At HOTEL APERTO (Adult Only) all rooms have bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Sugamo Park, Koyasu Tenman-gu Sugawara Shrine and Otsuka Mosque. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 26 km from HOTEL APERTO (Adult Only).
Attractively situated in the centre of Tokyo, Super Hotel Tokyo Otsuka features buffet breakfast and free WiFi throughout the property. This 3-star hotel offers luggage storage space. The property is non-smoking and is situated 500 metres from Sugamo Park. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Miyanaka Park, Shusseinari Shrine and Nishisugamo Park. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 26 km from Super Hotel Tokyo Otsuka.
Just 500 metres from JR Ikebukuro Train Station, House Ikebukuro offers Japanese rooms with free Wi-Fi, tatami-mat flooring and traditional futon bedding. It is completely non-smoking, with a common-use kitchen and living area. All rooms at Ikebukuro House are fitted with air conditioning and some rooms have shared bathrooms and toilets. Rooms in the annex come with a private bathroom, living area, fridge and microwave. From nearby JR Ikebukuro Train Station, the Yamanote Line offers direct access to Shinjuku, Shibuya and Ueno in about 15 minutes. Rikkyo University is 350 metres from the hotel, and the Sunshine City complex is 1.5 km away. The hotel is equipped with coin-operated laundry facilities and a free-use internet station. The lounge has free Wi-Fi. Limited luggage storage services are available.
A 7-minute walk from Exit C6 of Ikebukuro Station, Hatoya Hotel offers affordable accommodations with free Wi-Fi throughout. Each Western-style room is equipped with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. The lively Shinjuku Station is a 16-minute train ride away. The air-conditioned rooms feature a refrigerator. The en suite bathroom includes a bath and toilet. Slippers are available as well. En electric kettle, coffee cups, shampoo, body soap and hairdryer can be borrowed, upon request at check-in. The hotel offers luggage storage service. Hotel Hatoya is a 30-minute train ride and walk to the famous Meiji Shrine and the Harajuku shopping district. Convenience stores and supermarkets are located near the property.
Conveniently situated in the centre of Tokyo, HOTEL VARKIN ANNEX provides free WiFi and free private parking for guests who drive. This 3-star hotel offers room service and a 24-hour front desk. The accommodation features karaoke and luggage storage space. All air-conditioned units at the hotel come with a fridge, a coffee machine, a bidet, free toiletries, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, Blu-ray player and DVD player. The private bathroom is equipped with a shower, a hairdryer and slippers. At HOTEL VARKIN ANNEX each room comes with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Ikebukuro Marui Shopping Center, Ikebukuro Nishi-guchi Park and Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda Airport, 27 km from HOTEL VARKIN ANNEX.
