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 Tokyo's third busiest railway station after Shinjuku Station and Shibuya Station, 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
Ikebukuro has also become the site of a more recent clashing of two of Japan's largest electronic retailers, Bic Camera and Yamada Denki. Bic Camera had been dominating the district for decades with its main store until Yamada Denki opened its first outlet there in 2007. Since then, the two retailers have been engaging in fierce competition in multiple branches around the station.
While not as large or 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 such as Animate, Mandarake and K-Books. 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: 10:30 to 19:00 (some floors open until 21:00 except on Sundays and holidays) Restaurants: from 11:00 (closing times vary)
Located on top of the west exit of Ikebukuro Station 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 east exit of Ikebukuro Station 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, restaurants from 11:00 to 22:00.
Sunshine 60 Observation Deck
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (entry until 21:00) Closed: No closing days Admission: 1200 yen
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 was recently renovated and includes various small rides and attractions. There are two food corners specialized in gyoza and desserts, in a nice 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. Located on the 10th floor of the World Import Mart Building in the Sunshine City complex, the aquarium was renovated and reopened in summer 2011.
Electronics Stores
Bic Camera
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 Closed: No closing days
Bic Camera, one of Japan's leading discount 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 a new outlet branch.
Yamada Denki
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 Closed: No closing days
Yamada Denki is one of Japan's most successful electronics chains, and has recently opened branches around Ikebukuro Station in direct competition with Bic Camera. Its branches are found on the east side of the station.
Other Attractions
Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space
Times and fees vary by event
The Tokyo Metropolitan Art Space is a public art center that mainly features performing arts, especially concerts, operas, theater and musicals. Its main hall is equipped with one of the largest pipe organs in Japan.
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.
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.
Situated in Tokyo, within 700 metres of Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine and less than 1 km of Ikebukuro Nishi-guchi Park, Eisei Stay features free WiFi throughout the property. This property is located a short distance from attractions such as Wacca Ikebukuro, Ikebukuro Suiten-gu Shrine, and Ikefukurou Statue. The hotel has family rooms. At the hotel rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a desk, a flat-screen TV, a private bathroom, bed linen, towels and a balcony with a city view. The rooms will provide guests with a wardrobe and a kettle. Popular points of interest near Eisei Stay include Ikebukuro Marui Shopping Center, Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro and Koyasuinari Shrine. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 35 km from the accommodation.
Well set in the Toshima district of Tokyo, Dormy Inn Ikebukuro is located 200 metres from Higashi-Ikebukuro Central Park, 400 metres from Ancient Orient Museum and 400 metres from Wacca Ikebukuro. Featuring a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a restaurant. Private parking is available on site. A buffet breakfast is available daily at the hotel. Dormy Inn Ikebukuro offers 3-star accommodation with a sauna. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Hidenomachi Park, Koyasuinari Shrine and Shusseinari Shrine. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 20 km from Dormy Inn Ikebukuro.
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.
HOTEL VARKIN ’r‘ܼŒû features air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TV in the Toshima district of Tokyo. With free WiFi, this 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and room service. The property is close to popular attractions like Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine, Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro and Metropolitan Plaza. All guest rooms in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. Popular points of interest near HOTEL VARKIN ’r‘ܼŒû include Ikebukuro Marui Shopping Center, Nishi-Ikebukuro Park and Ikebukuro Nishi-guchi Park. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 21 km from the accommodation.
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.
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.
Conveniently situated in the Toshima district of Tokyo, HOTEL VARKIN ANNEX is located 500 metres from Ikebukuro Marui Shopping Center, 600 metres from Koyasuinari Shrine and 600 metres from Ikebukuro Mitake Shrine. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and free WiFi. The accommodation provides karaoke and luggage storage space. Guest rooms at the hotel include air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, blu-ray player, and a private bathroom with a bidet, bathrobes and slippers. At HOTEL VARKIN ANNEX each room comes with bed linen and towels. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Ikebukuro Nishi-guchi Park, Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro and Wacca Ikebukuro. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 35 km from HOTEL VARKIN ANNEX.
Situated in Tokyo, within 500 metres of Sugamo Park and 500 metres of Miyanaka Park, Super Hotel Tokyo Otsuka features free WiFi throughout the property. Popular points of interest nearby include Otsuka Mosque, Shusseinari Shrine and Hojo-ji Temple. The property is 700 metres from Otsukadai Park and less than 1 km from Sogo Recreation Park. Guests at the hotel can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Popular points of interest near Super Hotel Tokyo Otsuka include Nishisugamo Park, Tenso Shrine and Koyasu Tenman-gu Sugawara Shrine. The nearest airport is Tokyo Haneda International Airport, 35 km from the accommodation.
Situated just a 5-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, the Super Hotel Inn Ikebukuro-Eki Kitaguchi offers cosy guest rooms and paid Japanese-style breakfast. Free WiFi is available in all areas. The Sunshine 60 Observatory is a 16-minute walk from the hotel. Shinjuku and Shibuya areas are accessible within 15 minutes via the JR Yamanote Line. There are numerous dining and shopping options around the hotel. The rooms at Ikebukuro Super Hotel are all air conditioned and equipped with a private bathroom, a flat-screen TV and a fridge. Basic amenities are also included. Guests can enjoy breakfast featuring a daily Japanese dish and salads at the dining room. Coin-operated laundry machines are on site and a trouser press is available for use upon request. Free luggage storage is also provided at the front desk.