Ikebukuro Shopping – Ikebukuro is a giant hub in the northern part of Tokyo and one of the three main shopping centers along with Shinjuku and Shibuya. Ikebukuro Station connects 8 lines with more than 1 million people going through the station each day, this lively neighborhood is best described as a combination between Shinjuku and Akihabara with countless shops, restaurants and entertainment establishments. Ikebukuro is also known for its otaku-culture with plenty of shops catering to manga and anime. Get lost in the huge department stores selling the latest fashion, or find yourself a good deal at a discount shop, this bustling neighborhood will surely keep you entertained all day (and night!).
Ikebukuro Shopping #1: Pokemon Centre Mega Tokyo
Credits: Iain Farrel
Pokemon – the phenomenon that captured everybody of all ages. Encompassing anything from video games and anime to stationary and bento boxes, this Pokemon center located in Sunshine City is filled to the brim with cute merchandise and is the largest of ‘em all! Shop for your favorite stuffed characters or buy cookies shaped like pokemon as a souvenir, there is nothing too crazy that you can’t find here. Snap a picture with the huge pokemon statues found at the entrance or battle away with a friend at the Pokemon game center, immerse yourself in the world of Pokemon. Be warned though, you might not want to leave this place after you’ve set foot in it!
What can we find there: Pokemon games, anime, cards, merchandise, stationery, snacks
Price: $-$$
Address: Sunshine City alpa 2F 3-1-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, 170-6002
Opening Hours: 10am – 8pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #2: KitKat Chocolatory
Credits: Karl Baron
Have a Break, Have a Japan KitKat! KitKat is very popular in Japan and tastes nothing like the original chocolate covered wafer bar you might be familiar with. With exciting flavors like crème brûlée pudding or Shinshu Apple, the endless variety of flavors change by the season making KitKat so popular that a specialized KitKat boutique opened in Ikebukuro – the KitKat Chocolatory. You’ll find a wild range of exclusive flavors like pumpkin or Muscat found nowhere else and special premium flavored KitKat created by renowned pastry chef Takagi Yasumasa. Be sure to arrive early as exclusive flavors are sold out quickly.
What can we find there: KitKat in all kinds of flavors and premium flavored KitKat
Price: $
Address: 1-28-1 Minami Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo-to, Seibu Ikebukuro B1
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat from 10am – 9pm, Sun & Holidays from 10am – 8pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #3: Loft
Credits: Hide 7777 on Google Maps
Located in the Seibu department store and spread across three floors you can find Loft, a specialized store for functional products related to hobbies and crafts. Apart from items related to hobbies and crafts like traditional Washi paper, you can also find stationery, kitchenware, books and many more beautifully designed high-quality products.
What can we find there: hobbies and crafts products, stationery, tableware, kitchenware, furniture, lighting and home accessories, health and fitness products, fashion accessories
Price: $-$$$
Address: 9-12F Seibu Ikebukuro, 1-28-1 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-8569
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat from 10am – 9pm, Sun & Holidays from 10am – 8pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #4: Animate
Credits: Dick Thomas Johnson
Animate is the largest retailer of anime, games, and manga in Japan and you’ll find it’s flagship store right here in Ikebukuro. The store is easy to spot as you can find dozens of capsule machines lined up outside the entrance not to mention its huge logo on top of the building. It’s actually a department store as its goods span a whopping eight floors ranging from manga and figurines to character goods and video games. The 9th floor, the Animate Hall, is reserved for live events, exhibitions, autograph sessions etc. You’ll surely find whatever you are looking for at Animate. So head over to this manga and anime paradise and get your otaku freak on!
What can we find there: everything related to manga, anime and video games, comics, light novels, artwork books, CD’s, card games, merchandise, toys and more
Price: $-$$
Address: 170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashiikebukuro, 1-20-7
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #5: Marui
Credits: Tomo Kitami on Google Maps
The Marui department store is a leading fashion retailer and its Ikebukuro branch is enormous. Inside you’ll find a lot of shops selling men’s and women’s fashion, shoes, cosmetics, jewelry and household goods. Take your time and wander around the countless shops to find what you are looking for. The Ikebukuro branch even offers tax refunds for foreign visitors.
What can we find there: men’s and women’s fashion, cosmetics, jewelry, household goods, books and more
Price: $-$$$
Address: 3-28-13 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0021
Opening Hours: 11am – 8:30pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #6: Sunshine City
Credits: Ikebukuro Marui
As one of the largest shopping complexes in Tokyo, Sunshine City can be described as a city within a city. Within Sunshine City, you’ll find two shopping centers, entertainment venues such as a theater, an aquarium, a museum, a planetarium, indoor theme parks and many other modern entertainment facilities. From branded shops to world-class restaurants, Sunshine City has something for everyone. Kids will enjoy Namjatown, a theme park with entertainment and food options aimed at children. At the end of the day, head up to the observation deck on the 60th floor of the Sunshine 60 building for a splendid view of Tokyo.
What can we find there: shops, restaurants, cafe’s, entertainment facilities, aquarium, hotel, theater, planetarium
Price: $-$$$
Address: 3-1 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013
Opening Hours: shops 10am – 8pm, restaurants 11am – 10pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #7: Lumine
Credits: Hiroyuki Tsuruno
Located next to Ikebukuro Station and inside the Metropolitan Plaza Building, Lumine is a department store catering to a young and trendy crowd. You’ll find a variety of shops over 6 floors selling beauty products and fashion. On the eight and ninth floor, you will find many restaurants to choose from if you’ve worked up an appetite after a long day of shopping. Besides clothes, you can also find home accessories, books, clothing stores for men and tableware.
What can we find there: fashion and beauty products, home accessories, books, CD/DVD, restaurants
Price: $-$$$
Address: 1-11-1 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0021
Opening Hours: shops 11am – 9pm, restaurants 11am – 11pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #8: Kami no Takamura
Credits: TripAdvisor
This Japanese paper shop that has been in business for over 80 years is worth a visit. Here you can appreciate washi-paper, the Japanese art of paper making, in all its forms. You can buy sheets of washi-paper to use for example for an art project or pick something from their beautiful selection of stationary made from washi-paper. The shop also has a diverse choice of gift items that anyone will appreciate.
What can we find there: handmade washi-paper, stationery, gifts
Price: $-$$
Address: 1-2-2, Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo Tokyo
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #9: Seibu
Credits: Wei-Te Wong
The Seibu department store located at the east exit of Ikebukuro Station is the flagship store and one of the biggest department stores in Tokyo. With a number of stores that would make your head spin, selling anything from clothes to furniture, you could easily spend days within this department store. You can also find many famous brands like Nike, Adidas, LV, Shiseido and Chanel just to name a few. On the two lower floors you’ll find restaurants and an enormous food section that will leave you in awe.
What can we find there: clothes, cosmetics, accessories, kitchenware, stationery, household goods, furniture, toys, food
Price: $-$$$$
Address: 1-28-1 Minami-ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0022
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri from 10am – 9pm, Sat-Sun from 10am – 8pm
Ikebukuro Shopping #10: Otome Road
Credits: MiNe
Otome Road, translating into Maiden Road, is a stretch of 200 meters running from the west side of the Sunshine 60 building near Ikebukuro Station. In this otaku heaven for girls, you’ll find many shops such as K-Books, Mandarake, Lashinbang and butler cafe’s catering to girls. Besides anime merchandise, you’ll also find cosplay outfits, games and boys love manga and novels.
What can we find there: manga, anime, games, cosplay outfits, doujinshi
Price: $-$$
Address: 1-31-6 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku Tokyo
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm
Credits: Tomi Makitalo on Wikimedia Commons
As one of the three main shopping centers in Tokyo, there is lot’s to see and to do in Ikebukuro. Whether you’re shopping for an LV bag at Seibu or hunting down that rare doujinshi only found at Otome Road, Ikebukuro has it all! So bring your wallet and go on an adventurous shopping spree in Ikebukuro!
If you want to discover more places for shopping, check our article Best Shopping Areas in Tokyo.
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Enjoy your shopping!
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