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Ikebukuro Station Area Guide: Top 15 Spots When You Escape the Station's Maze!

Ikebukuro Station Area Guide: Top 15 Spots When You Escape the Station's Maze!

Last updated: 19 May 2020

Being a major transportation hub in Tokyo, Ikebukuro is a popular place for tourists and locals to hang out at for its many sights and things to do! Originally, a bag-shaped pond used to exist in the area of what is now Ikebukuro Station’s west exit and it is said to have been called “Fukuroike”. As the years went on, the old farming areas became department stores in the 1930’s and Ikebukuro began developing itself as a busy shopping and business district.

Nowadays, on the east side, you can find a variety of shopping plazas, restaurants, hotels, and more. Over on the west side, you can find a variety of Karaoke spots, Japanese izakayas, museums, and shrines! With so many things to see and do in Ikebukuro, you are sure to find something to do, come sunshine or rain!

Ikebukuro West District

Ikebukuro West District

Take the West Exit out of the expansive labyrinth of Ikebukuro Station and you will run right into Ikebukuro West Gate Park. A popular park known to host a variety of events throughout the year and even was the spotlight of an old Japanese drama in the early 2000’s. Right next to the park, you can find the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre where you can occasionally catch plays, dances, and music performances.

Back at Ikebukuro Station’s West Exit, make sure to visit the Tobu Department Store where you can find everything you need for your shopping needs! Offering a TAX FREE service of 8%, as well as UnionPay Discounts of 5%, you can easily shop without worrying about breaking the bank! Once you finish shopping ‘til you drop, head to the upper floors where you can be amazed by the 48 different restaurants, each specializing in their own cuisine!

Nearby, you can also pay a visit to Jiyugakuen Myonichikan (House of Tomorrow), which was originally built as a schoolhouse and founded by Mr. and Mrs. Hani. Designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright and surviving both the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and air raids of World War II, the building is designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. Once you are done, relax and take it easy over at the Hotel Metropolitan, which is conveniently located only minutes from Ikebukuro Station, allowing you to explore the area at your own pace!

  • Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park
    • Address 1-8-26, Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0021
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Ikebukuro Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line / Seibu Ikebukuro Line / Tobu Tojo Line)
      1 minute on foot
    • Phone Number 03-3981-0534
  • Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
    • Address 1-8-1, Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 171-0021
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Ikebukuro Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line / Seibu Ikebukuro Line / Tobu Tojo Line)
      2 minutes on foot
    • Phone Number 03-5391-2111

Ikebukuro East District

Ikebukuro East District

Like night and day, the east side of Ikebukuro offers a little more compact shopping district with a ton of things to see and do! Starting off with Sunshine City Street, where you can find many game centers, restaurants, souvenir shops, and more along this 200-meter long road that is available primarily to foot traffic! At the end of the street, you will find one of the entrances to Sunshine City, an immense commercial complex with a main building that has a beautiful view of the Tokyo cityscape. Inside Sunshine City, you can find a variety of special shops and even theme parks such as Namja Town, J-World, and even the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo!

Just outside of the main Sunshine City complex lies Otome Road, a popular alternative to Akihabara primarily for female anime and manga fans! There are a variety of anime and game specialty shops, butler cafes, and otome cafes that cater especially to women. However, guys are more than welcome to enjoy the experience! Here is where you will also find the Animate Ikebukuro branch that holds a ton of anime and gaming goods from figurines, stationary, and even cosplay goods!

  • Namja Town
    • Address The second floor of the sunshine city world import Mart Building, 3, Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0013
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Higashi-Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
      3 minutes on foot
    • Phone Number 03-5950-0765
  • J-WORLD TOKYO
    J-WORLD TOKYO
    J-WORLD TOKYO
    • Address Sunshine City World Import Mart Building 3F, 3-chome, Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-8630
    • Nearest Station Ikebukuro Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line / Seibu Ikebukuro Line / Tobu Tojo Line)
      8 minutes on foot
    • Phone Number 03-5950-2181
  • Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo
    Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo
    ポケモンセンターメガトウキョー
    • Address Sunshine City Specialty Store Street Alpa 2F, 3-1-2, Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-6002
    • Nearest Station Higashi-Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
      3 minutes on foot
    • Phone Number 03-5927-9290
  • Otome Road
    • Address 3, Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-0013
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Ikebukuro Station (JR Shonan Shinjuku Line / JR Yamanote Line / JR Saikyo Line / Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line / Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line / Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line / Seibu Ikebukuro Line / Tobu Tojo Line)
      8 minutes on foot

Ikebukuro Surrounding Areas

Ikebukuro Surrounding Areas

Explore a little further past the west and east sides of Ikebukuro and you will find some amusing spots that aren’t on your normal Tokyo tour guide maps! Fans of old-school manga should definitely head out to the Namiki House Annex where you can learn more about the birth of manga. Close to Mejiro Station is the Philatelic Museum of Tokyo where you can learn more about postal stamps in Japan and other rarities from around the world!

Rikugien is a beautiful garden that was created in 1695 and offers a serene Japanese atmosphere. Discover a scenic landscape of spacious ponds, verdant trees, and weeping cherry trees that are especially beautiful during the spring season. Lastly, make sure to visit the beautiful shrines of Hakusan-Jinja and Gokoku-ji for a brief repose from the hustle and bustle of the concrete jungle of Tokyo.

  • Gokoku-ji
    • Address 5-4-1, Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-0012
      View Map
    • Nearest Station Gokokuji Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line)
      1 minute on foot
    • Phone Number 03-3941-0764

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*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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