Ikebukuro combines the commercial atmosphere of Shinjuku with the pop-culture feeling of Akihabara. You can satisfy a group of tourists with different interests — anime, fashion, and electronics — by taking them on a day out in Ikebukuro. This large commercial district has lots to offer the avid deal hunter too, with good beer, slurp-worthy ramen, and a shopping mall as big as a small town.
Need us to be more specific? Check out our full list on things to do in Ikebukuro. From October until spring , the Sunshine 60 Observatory will be closed for renovations. Despite a concentration of expensive department stores around the station and the nearby Sunshine Building — once the tallest building in Tokyo — the area is quite down-market. While this means you should be aware of touts, the seediness is generally kept to the west of Ikebukuro after dark — even then, it is generally quite safe.
Ikebukuro is known for its shopping, arcades, anime fans, and family day outs at the aquarium. Take a look at our cruelty-free alternatives. Ikebukuro was also popularized to the world by the anime and manga Durarara!! Although overshadowed by Akihabara, Ikebukuro also has a reputation for being an otaku hub. The west area is generally quieter in the daytime, but it comes alive at night with its many restaurants, karaoke centers, and izakaya.
The east area, in contrast, is bustling all day and night, with numerous shops and restaurants. Most tourists head straight over to Sunshine City on the east side to shop, scoff, and see the aquarium.
There is also a nice, if overpriced, observatory on the 60th floor — a decent but squashed spot for seeing Diamond Fuji currently closed until spring Occasionally, you can also see performances in front of it and at the adjacent West Gate Park. The town celebrates a two-part Fukuro Matsuri , which has a mikoshi portable shrine procession in September and a yosakoi a Japanese dance distinguished by the use of clappers contest in October.
