Ikebukuro is cut in half by the enormous and confusing railway station – the West Side has hotels, galleries and theatres while the East side has some great shopping. It’s also great for a rainy day as the Sunshine City complex can keep you occupied for the whole day.
Shopping in Ikebukuro
Sunshine City
There are two huge shopping malls here with lots of cute shops selling all things Ghibli, Sanrio, Pokemon, Hannari Tofu and more. See my full post »
Sanrio Gift Gate
The place to go for Hello Kitty everything, plus a smaller selection featuring Gudetama, My Melody and friends. See my full post »
Tokyu Hands
Where to buy all the stationery, craft supplies, kitchenware and crazy souvenirs you need. This is possibly the best branch as it’s also home to the Nekobukuro cat cafe. See my full post »
HAPiNS (Was Passport)
One of my favourite stores ever, with a great selection of cute homewares and pillows. See my full post »
Pokemon Center
Pokemon Masters should head here for trading cards, plush toys, gashapon and some great photo opportunities, plus exclusive downloads. See my full post »
Loft
Pitched as a department store for the younger, cooler crowd, it sells lots of cute fun items including plush, stationery, kitchenware, tech goods and much more. See my full post »
KitKat Chocolatory
Fancy little boutiques dedicated to KitKats and selling exclusive flavours. Website »
Where to Eat
Milky Way
If you like sweet treats, you really need to try a parfait, which is a whole lot of sweet things piled up together. Milky Way has a big range of star- themed desserts, including some that use dry ice to keep things from melting too quickly. Website »
Animate Cafe
Chain of anime shops and cafes that have regular themed tie-ins with popular shows. Website »
Art, Culture & More
Sunshine City
As well as shopping, this 60 floor skyscraper has an observatory on the top floor, plus aquarium, planetarium and Egyptian museum. There’s also a weird food theme park where you can try gyoza and ice cream in a huge range of flavours. See my full post »
Book and Bed Tokyo
Ever dreamt of being locked overnight in a library? This bookstore in Ikebukuro has beds in the bookshelves so you can sleep among the books! Website »
Mocha
Fashionable cat cafe chain where you can turn up to pet cats in stylish surroundings. Website »
Getting Around
Ikebukuro station is a pretty big hub and connects to JR lines, subway and private railways. Sunshine City is signposted within the station for the nearest exit.
Last updated: 15 May 2017
Useful Links & Guides
- My Tokyo Shopping Guide (craft & kawaii shopping in Tokyo and beyond)
- My Japan Trips (more links and guides)
- Planning For Japan (my Japan guide with 200+ shops, cafes and places of interest plus tips and resources to help you plan the perfect trip!