Sunshine City: Ikebukuro’s Multi-Story Super Mall
Join KCP Spring 2023 student Frank Saponare as he shows us around Sunshine City in Ikebukuro.
If you happen to be in Ikebukuro and find yourself wanting to do some shopping, one of the best places you can go is Sunshine City. Sunshine City is Ikebukuro’s largest mall located in the center of the town’s shopping district that offers multiple levels where you’ll be able to find a store that will sell whatever you desire.
The path to Sunshine City is a fairly straightforward walk through Ikebukuro Station
If you find yourself living in the Ikebukuro dorm, Sunshine City is only a 25 minute walk away. Which I would recommend going on as it will help you get acquainted with the area and what Ikebukuro has to offer. Sunshine City offers multiple clothing stores, while also having several stores such as LoFt and 3COINS, selling stationery items or kitchen utensils. Great places to go for new KCP students looking to prepare themselves and their living spaces for their semester.
Sunshine City has many themed stores from Sanrio to Studio Ghibli, all selling franchised dedicated merchandise
This location has more than just stores to do shopping at, it also has a large stage located on the first floor. That stage hosts a variety of live entertainment on it that is free to be viewed by any who are in attendance. Along with the entire fourth floor being dedicated to a variety of restaurants. From tonkatsu pork to gyoza to italian dining, you won’t be lacking for options for food.
A Tonkatsu meal set from Tonkatsu Wako
Sunshine City also has many cafes inside it that can serve as a great spot for new students to sit and study while also being able to ingrain themselves to public Japanese spaces. For those students who are still beginning their Japanese language studies, Sunshine City is a great first stop for your stay in the country. As many of the signs to give directions for the mall are in both Japanese and English, you’ll still be able to find your way around easily. Along with many of the eateries in the building offering English menus as well.
Statues of Pokemon are located at the heart of the mall, feel free to take pictures with your favorite ones
Located on the second floor of Sunshine City, is the Ikebukuro Pokemon Center. An entire area of the mall dedicated to the beloved series that has multiple models of popular pocket monsters wonderfully recreated and put on display. With the Pokemon Center having a ton of exclusive products for sale within the store as well. Right across from the center, is a Pokemon themed “Pikachu Sweets Cafe” that serves sweet drinks and desserts, if you’re a fan of the franchise it is definitely worth a visit.
Sunshine City also possesses the “World’s Largest Gashapon Store” located on the third floor of the building. A unique location within the building that celebrates the history of Japan’s famous capsule machines. With it hosting over 3,000 individual gashapon machines, with prizes representing series such as Demon Slayer, Gundam, Jujutsu Kaisen and many more. Take a chance for less than 500 yen and leave with a little memento from the Sunshine City.
