Ikebukuro Guide - Tokyo's Urban Playground
Ikebukuro
Located in the Northern part of Tokyo lies Ikebukuro, a bustling district pulsating with energy, and entertainment. Often overshadowed by its more famous counterparts like Shinjuku and Akihabara, Ikebukuro is a true gem awaiting to be discovered. From its eclectic mix of shopping arcades to its thriving otaku culture and restaurants, Ikebukuro offers an immersive experience that caters to every taste and interest.
This guide dives into the essence of Ikebukuro, exploring the best places to eat, its vast world of arcades, and the best otaku shops.
In this Ikebukuro Guide
Sunshine City
Otaku heaven on Otome Road
Games & arcades
The food
How to get there
Ikebukuro Station
Sunshine City
Sunshine City is a vast complex that offers much more than just shopping—it houses a mall, an indoor theme park, an aquarium, and numerous other attractions. With over 220 shops, it features some of Tokyo’s most unique themed stores, drawing fans from around the world to visit the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo, the Shin-chan store, and the Mugiwara store.
Sunshine City entrance Ikebukuro
Mugiwara Store
Any fan of One Piece might lose it here. The Mugiwara Store in Sunshine City is a treasure trove for fans for small accessories and collectibles. Don’t expect any fancy figurines here. You’ll mostly find branded posters, keychains, stickers and towels. A life sized Luffy greets you at the side entrance, surrounded by wanted posters.
Mugiware Store Ikebukuro
Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
One of the largest Pokémon Centers in Tokyo, Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo in Sunshine City, offers all your must-have goodies and accessories. Even the 2nd floor of Sunshine city fully immerses you, as it’s adorned with statues of various Pokémon. This is probably one of the most popular shops in Sunshine City, so prepare for lines.
Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
Crayon Shin-chan Cinema Parade
Both a museum and shop, the Crayon Shin-chan Cinema Parade is the world's first Crayon Shin-chan store. It holds massive Shin-chan statues, as well as adorable quality souvenirs. From sticker collections to Shin-chan keychains and snacks, a haven for Shin-chan fans.
Crayon Shin-chan Cinema Parade
Pikachu Sweets
A place where you can find both Pokémon deserts and souvenirs. Pikachu Sweets Ikebukuro has Pikachu portrayed on basically every item it sells. You can get Pikachu cookies, Pikachu latte, cake, and cold drinks. If you’re looking for something to take home, no worries. The Pikachu cup holders or straws are a perfect souvenir.
Pikachu Sweets Ikebukuro
Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli store)
Donguri Kyowakoku Ikebukuro is the number one haven for any Studio Ghibli enthusiast, apart from the Studio Ghibli Museum in Mitaka. This licensed store sells the most exclusive Ghibli items you can find. We’re talking mini Totoro fountains, a Mononoke card deck, embroidered totes. You name it, they have it. A must stop for any Ghibli fan.
Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli Store) Ikebukuro
Bandai Namco Cross Store
The Bandai Namco Cross Store is a giant complex within Sunshine City, bringing together official shops from Bandai Namco Group companies. Here you can find gems like the Gachapon Department Store, a never ending Gachapon experience with rows that go on and on. Or a Tamashii Nations store holding some of the finest anime figures you can find in Japan. You can easily lose a couple of hours in the Bandai Namco Cross Store.
Bandai Namco Cross Store Ikebukuro
Otaku heaven on Otomo Road
For fans of J-culture and otaku interests, Ikebukuro is a haven. Known as the "subculture hub outside Akihabara," Otome Road in Ikebukuro is filled with anime, manga, and gaming stores. From the K-Books to Animate, enthusiasts can explore a variety of merchandise and exclusive collectibles. Otome Road specializes in girls' comics and video games, offering a unique fandom experience.
Animate Annex Ikebukuro
K-Books Ikebukuro
With over ten locations spread over Ikebukuro, K-Books totally dominates the area. K-Books is a chain of stores that specializes in used goods catering to otaku and hobbyist interests. Their offerings include anime goods, manga, dojinshi (self-published works), as well as merchandise related to voice actors and idols. We can’t list all locations here, but take a look at the K-Books website where you can find an overview of all their specialty stores.
Collection of K-Books stores on Otome Road
Animate Ikebukuro
If you're into anime, video games, or manga, Animate is your go-to place. As Japan's largest retailer for anime and manga, Animate Ikebukuro holds two locations. Both Animate Annex located on Otome Road and Animate Ikebukuro feature floor after floor filled with anime and otaku accessories, figures, games, and more.
The main Animate in Ikebukuro
Mandarake Ikebukuro
Mandarake stands tall as Japan’s number one shop for collectibles and niches second hand items. With most Mandarake stores specializing in a specific theme or niche, Mandarake Ikebukuro focuses exclusively on dojinshi, which are self-published prints such as magazines, manga, and novels, fully funded by the authors themself.
Mandarake Ikebukuro
Games & arcades
Ikebukuro holds the highest concentration of arcades and game halls in Tokyo. From state-of-the-art claw machine havens to classic Showa-era arcades and entertainment halls, Ikebukuro stands as the ultimate hub for arcade gaming enthusiasts.
Game Safari
This is as real as it gets. Although they recently upgraded their arcades with newer models, Game Safari Ikebukuro is still packed with LCD cabinets showcasing popular games like Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition and Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion.
Game Safari Ikebukuro
GIGO Ikebukuro
The famous entertainment brand GIGO has multiple locations in Ikebukuro. This GIGO Ikebukuro is their most recent location, where you can enjoy floors filled with classic claw games.
GIGO Ikebukuro
GIGO Ikebukuro No.1
The first and original GIGO that opened in Ikebukuro. GIGO Ikebukuro No.1 is one of Ikebukuro’s most famous arcades. Here you’ll find UFO catcher on floor one, two, and three. The highest floor holds a Ichiban Kuji shop and cafe.
GIGO Ikebukuro No.1
Tokyo Leisure Land
Tokyo Leisure Land Ikebukuro is a showa-era entertainment complex that houses everything from crane games to classic arcades and Japanese coin pushers. The interior is somewhat grim as you can expect from an 80s arcade, but it’s definitely a unique experience.
Tokyo Leisure Land Ikebukuro
Mikado Game Center
Mikado Game Center arcade offers a diverse range of attractions, from claw machines to a variety of video games including racing and music games. It's especially great for classic gaming enthusiasts, with the second floor dedicated mostly to fighting games featuring Blast City and New Astro City cabinets. The arcade puts a lot of effort in maintaining the machines, ensuring bright, well-calibrated monitors with good convergence. For fans of shooters, puzzle games, and brawlers, the basement is a must-visit.
Mikado Game Center Ikebukuro
Namco Ikebukuroten
Namco Ikebukuroten is another classic stronghold in the heart of Ikebukuro. It offers a diverse array of game machines, ranging from crane games to "Taiko no Tatsujin". Some machines accept cashless payments, while others do not. Additionally, you'll find a wide selection of Namco-exclusive prizes and a beautifully decorated photo sticker corner, the largest of its kind in the area.
Namco Ikebukuro
Round One
Round One Ikebukuro is the absolute epitome of Japanese entertainment culture. This massive complex holds everything from bowling and karaoke to arcades, billiards, and beyond. With each floor packed with numerous entertainment options, it's a place where you can easily spend an entire night and still only scratch the surface of what Round 1 has to offer.
Round One Ikebukuro
The food of Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro is a paradise for food lovers, filled to the brim with eateries in every alley. While the area is renowned for its top-notch ramen spots, there are countless other spots waiting to be discovered. Exploring on your own to find hidden food gems in Tokyo is always a good idea. Here are some of our top recommendations to get you started.
Kuwabara
One of Ikebukuro’s shio ramen specialists. With a dozen ramen joints located in a 100m radius, Kuwabara Ikebukuro sets itself apart by exclusively serving shio-soba. On its menu you’ll find varieties like tsukemen, shio-wonton, shio-abura-soba, or its trademark shio-soba. Every Friday the shop opens at 5pm, going on until they’re completely sold out.
Kuwabara Ramen Ikebukuro
Hakata Furyu Ikebukuro
Hakata Furyu is a true ramen gem that has multiple locations in Tokyo. Their pork bone broth is made in a central kitchen in Tokyo, so all locations offer the same quality. Their tonkotsu ramen variations are rich in flavor, but without the typical odor of pork bones. Unique for this shop in particular is they offer a free refill of up to two eggs.
Hakata Furyu Ramen Ikebukuro
Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya
Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya is rarely seen without customers queuing up in front of its entrance. This offal pot restaurant in Sunshine City offers a varied menu including motsunabe, fried chicken set, and all-you-can-eat mentaiko.
Hakata Motsunabe Yamaya Ikebukuro
Oreryu Shio Ramen
Oreryu Shio Ramen is another popular destination for shio ramen, with multiple locations across Tokyo. Specializing in affordable and delicious salty broth, their Ore-style salt ramen boasts a gentle, soft flavor. They offer a variety of free flavor additions such as grated konbu, yuzu pepper, and garlic, allowing you to customize your ramen to suit your personal taste preferences.
Oreryu Shio Ramen Ikebukuro
Densetsu No Sutadon'ya
Located in the heart of Ikebukuro, Densetsu No Sutadon’ya is a quality syokudo and teishoku restaurant in a basement setting. Renowned for its stamina bowls, their menu features choices such as Sutadon, fried chicken curry, rice bowls, and gyoza. Opting for one of their stamina bowls guarantees a hearty serving of slightly fatty beef belly topped with meat sauce and minced garlic, providing you with the energy to explore Ikebukuro throughout the day.
Densetsu No Sutadon'ya Ikebukuro
Tsukiji Tamazushi
Take a sushi break while exploring the shops and attractions of Sunshine City. Tsukiji Tamazushi’s menu offers such a wide variety of snacks it can almost be seen as an izakaya. Aside from its quality sushi, you can get dishes like seafood pizza or isobe-yaki scallops.
Tsukiji Tamazushi Ikebukuro
Yasubee Ikebukuro
Yasubee Ikebukuro is a popular ramen restaurant with multiple locations in Tokyo. The restaurant's name, a blend of "cheap" (yasu-i) and "delicious" (oishii), perfectly reflects their offering of affordable and delicious ramen. With a casual yet clean interior, it exudes a friendly atmosphere. Yasubee's signature menu features ramen crafted from a flavorful pork bone broth. The noodles are prepared using a distinctive method, resulting in a delightfully chewy texture that complements the soup perfectly.
Yasubee Ramen Ikebukuro
Yokohama Iekei Ramen
Yokohama's signature iekei ramen showcases a broth crafted from pork marrow and soy sauce, served with thick, straight noodles. Now, you can savor the rich texture and flavor of Yokohama ramen right in the heart of Ikebukuro at Yokohama Iekei Ramen, where each bowl promises an authentic and satisfying experience.
Mermaid Coffee Roasters
While finding good coffee isn’t much of a challenge in most of Tokyo’s districts, it can be rather the quest in Ikebukuro. If you’re looking for a cup of quality brewed coffee, Mermaid Coffee Roasters Ikebukuro is the place to be.
Mermaid Coffee Roasters Ikebukuro
How to get to Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro Station is serviced by the JR Yamanote Line, Saikyo Line, Shonan Shinjuku Line, Tobu Tojo Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Yuakucho, Fukutoshin, and Marunouchi subway lines.
From Shinjuku Station:
Yamanote Line direct to Ikebukuro Station
From Tokyo Station
Yamanote Line direct to Ikebukuro Station
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