TOKYO Ikebukuro Wired for fun, Ikebukuro offers offbeat pop culture surprises and unsurpassed gardens

Among Tokyo's busiest districts, Ikebukuro and around is a cornucopia of entertainment facilities old and new. Eighteenth-century strolling gardens, the vast Sunshine City with its aquarium in the sky, and anime and video game theme shops and cafes all contribute to Ikebukuro's quirky atmosphere.

Ikebukuro is well serviced by subway and local train lines.

The following lines stop at Ikebukuro Station: JR Yamanote, Shonan-Shinjuku and Saikyo lines, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines, Tobu-Tojo Line and Seibu-Ikebukuro Line.

Located at the commercial and entertainment mecca of Sunshine City , the Sunshine 60 building's top floor observation deck offers a panoramic view of Tokyo. Known as the “Sky Circus,” it hosts seven zones featuring an array of zany experiences. Try walking through an enormous kaleidoscope, or riding the Tokyo Cannonball Flight for a virtual tour of the future.

Located on the top floors of Sunshine City's World Import Mart Building, Sunshine Aquarium prides itself on being an “oasis in the sky.” It features various marine life in a setting like no other. Stroll through a corridor surrounded by jellyfish in illuminated tanks, and watch seals frolic in the Sunshine Aqua Ring, a donut-shaped aquarium that hangs overhead.

The spectacular Rikugien and Kyu-Furukawa Gardens , both located near Ikebukuro, are well worth taking some time to explore.

Rikugien is a classic Japanese garden that features a central pond and walking trails. It's especially charming in the spring when the cherry trees come into bloom, and in the fall when its maple trees turn a blaze of color.

Kyu-Furukawa Garden features both Western and Japanese-style gardens. If you visit in May, you'll be rewarded with a landscape bursting with roses in bloom.

Traditional Japanese mulberry paper known as washi has gained popularity outside Japan over the years, particularly in the form of the decorative washi tape. With an extensive collection of washi and paper-related items, the Paper Museum , a couple of subway stations away, is a must for lovers of traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

With a seating capacity of 1,999, enhanced acoustics, and a world-class pipe organ, you'll enjoy classical music to the fullest at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre's concert hall. The theater also features a playhouse for dance and the performing arts and numerous art galleries. Visit for your fix of the arts while exploring Ikebukuro.

Love Japanese anime, manga, or video games? Browse Ikebukuro's multitude of shops overflowing with pop culture paraphernalia. Visit the district for cosplay shops, the J-world manga amusement park, Pokemon Center, and so much more. Themed venues like butler and cat cafes also thrive in the area.