Ikebukuro（Tokyo）~ 池袋

The street on the west side of Sunshine 60 is commonly known as “Otome Road” and is also referred to as the “Mecca for Fujoshi”. It is visited not only by Japanese but also by many foreigners who love Japanese anime, and with its many stores selling authentic cosplay goods, it is a street that anime-loving girls can’t get enough of.
There are also many maid cafes that offer 2.5-dimensional uniforms and service, BL cafes where you can watch handsome men flirt with each other like in a scene from a manga, men’s clothing cafes that offer wall dons and chin kisses, and collaboration cafes where you can taste character-inspired menus.

from Tokyo Approx. 25 min. Tokyo (JR Yamanote Line) → Ikebukuro
from Shibuya Approx. 13 min. Shibuya (JR Yamanote Line/Saikyo Line) → Ikebukuro　
IKEBUS : Community Bus
Route A” from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station via Sunshine City and Toshima Ward Office back to the East Exit
Route B” from Ikebukuro Station West Exit via Toshima Ward Office, Sunshine City, and Hareza Ikebukuro back to the West Exit

Otome Road : A mecca for “maidens” around the world who love Japanese anime and manga. Specialty stores and cafes line one side of the 200-meter-long street and its backstreets, watched over by Ikebukuro’s landmark Sunshine 60.

Animate Ikebukuro Flagship Store: Renovated in March 2023, the world’s largest anime store will be born!
［Address] Currently: 1-20-7 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
(OPEN weekdays: 11AM-9PM, weekends and holidays: 10AM-8PM)

ACOS Main Store: A total cosplay store featuring not only costumes, but also wigs, colored contacts, and other related products.
［Address] Animate Annex 2-3F, 3-2-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
(OPEN weekdays from 1-8PM, weekends and holidays from 12-7PM)

Lashinbang Ikebukuro Trend Hall: A wide variety of trendy game and anime titles. One of the largest used anime stores.
［Address] Ikebukuro White House Bldg. 2F, 1-20-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo(OPEN 10AM-9PM)

Surugaya Ikebukuro Otome Kan supported by Meikido: The entire first floor is devoted to outlet sundries, while the basement floor mainly carries doujinshi for women.
［Address] Johoku Jidosha Kaikan B1F-1F, 1-30-12 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (OPEN 10AM-9PM) Twitter

Hareza Ikebukuro : The facility has eight theaters, including TOHO Cinemas, for various events such as Takarazuka Revue, Kabuki, musicals, and live performances. Animate Cafe Stand is also located in Nakaikebukuro Park. Toshima Kumin Center is also adjacent to the building and has a full range of restroom facilities.
［Address] 1-19-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo

Gashapon Department Store: With the world’s largest number of Gashapon machines (approximately 3,000), the store offers new ways to enjoy Gashapon and features an interactive sales floor.
［Address] Sunshine City World Import Mart Building 3F, 3-1-3 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo (OPEN 10AM-10PM)

K-Books Cosplay Kan : Always over 5,000 used cosplay costumes, wigs, props, and other cosplay-related items.
［Address] Kato Daiichi Building 1F, 3-12-5 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
(OPEN weekdays 12-8PM, weekends and holidays 11:30AM-8PM)

MANDARAKE LaLaLa: Sells and purchases various items for women, including women’s doujinshi.
［Address] Lions Mansion Ikebukuro B1F, 3-15-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
(OPEN 12PM-8PM)

Animate Cafe Ikebukuro: Collaborations with various anime and game productions. There are the first 4 stores in Ikebukuro, Hareza Ikebukuro, and DECOTTO.
For reservations, click here. Also check this web site for how-to.

Butler Cafe Swallowtail: Butlers in uniform serve afternoon tea and dinner in a chandelier-decorated restaurant.
［Address] Showa Building B1F, 3-12-12 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Tea Time 10:30AM – 6:40PM , Dinner Time 7-9:15PM
Reservations and holidays are here.

cafe801: Women-only BL comic manga cafe on Uraotome Road in Ikebukuro
　［Address] Kato 6th Bldg. 2F, 3-10-6 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
(closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays; see schedule here)

Ikegaku(Ikebukuro Boys BL Academy): Concept cafe of “2.5 dimensional BL (Boys Love) Academy. Twitter
　*Take note that there is a basic fee and a rule called “Kousoku”!
［Address] Iwashita Bldg. 2F, 3-9-13 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku
10 minute walk from East Exit of Ikebukuro Station on JR Yamanote Line, in front of Teikyo Heisei University
Monday-Friday 3-10:30PM Saturday and Sunday 12-10:30PM

HACHIKU: Popular shaved ice shop in Ikebukuro with a long line
［Address］TOEI Bldg. 1F, 3-32-6 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
OPEN 1PM-8PM (ends when sold out)

Veggie Pota Tsukemen Enji : Excellent tsukemen noodles with vegetable-based soup
［Address] Lestage Ikebukuro 1F, 2-48-2 Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan
OPEN 11:30 – (ends when soup is gone)

UCHOTEN: Authentic hamburgers with a crunchy texture and juicy meat juices!
［Address] SoHo103, 2-36-10 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
OPEN 11:30AM-2:30PM(L.O.2PM) 6PM-9:30PM(L.O.8:30PM) Closed on Sunday

Hotel Balian Resort Forest Ikebukuro West Exit
A wide range of day-trip plans such as the “Oshi-kai” plan, as well as rooms and services that can also be used for photography.
Sunshine City Prince Hotel
Bayern Restaurant, located on the first basement floor of the hotel, will be opened as the first “collaboration-only cafe” for Prince Hotel restaurants.
Dormy Inn Ikebukuro “Natural Hot Spring Hojo-no-Yu
Located on Otome Road, enjoy natural hot spring and sauna while enjoying anime and manga.
Ryoma Ikebukuro : Hostel with capsule dormitory beds.

Sugamo : Sugamo Jizo Street Shopping Street. After Kogan-ji Temple (Togenuki Jizoson) was relocated to this area, it became popular as a town of faith. Today, the town is lined with about 200 stores and is known for its relaxing atmosphere that soothes the mind and invigorates the body.

Takadanobaba : A student town with many students and vocational students from Waseda University and other universities. Game enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the mecca of retro games, such as Arcade Mikado and the Natsuge Museum.