Sunshine City
Sunshine City is Ikebukuro's giant shopping, dining and entertainment complex built around the Sunshine 60 tower. For otaku visitors the draws are Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO (alpa 2F, open 10:00–20:00 per its official page), Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo and rotating anime pop-ups.
Opening hours
- Daily
- 10:00–20:00
Known for
What it is
Sunshine City is a huge Ikebukuro shopping, dining and entertainment complex built around the Sunshine 60 tower, combining the Alpa and ALTA shopping wings, the World Import Mart Building, an aquarium, an observatory and a planetarium. Alpa shops run 10:00–20:00 (its restaurants to 22:00) and ALTA shops run 11:00–20:00, but hours vary by wing and by individual tenant — check the official site (sunshinecity.jp) before visiting a specific shop.
Otaku-relevant tenants — an honest status check
The long-time anchor, Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO (Alpa 2F, alongside Pokémon Card Station and Pokémon GO Lab.), is open: its official page lists 10:00–20:00 every day and October 2026 events (checked 2026-10-03). Popular Pokémon card releases there have been sold by advance lottery, so check the store's notices before a special trip. The earlier anime theme parks here, J-WORLD TOKYO and its VR successor MAZARIA, both closed years ago (2019 and 2020 respectively) and are no longer at the complex. The other big otaku anchor is Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo on the 3rd floor of the World Import Mart Building (10:00–21:00 daily), a large amusement/gashapon/official-goods hub housing brand shops such as an IDOLM@STER Official Shop 315!!!SHOP, a Tamagotchi shop and a Dragon Ball Super Card Game Fusion World official store. Alpa's 2nd floor is also home to a large permanent ONE PIECE Mugiwara Store (weekdays 11:00–20:00, weekends/holidays 10:00–21:00). Beyond these permanent tenants, Sunshine City regularly hosts rotating anime and manga pop-up shops or cafés — check what's actually open before making a special trip, as this list keeps changing.
More of the area, shop by shop: the Ikebukuro & Otome Road guide.
FAQ
- What are Sunshine City's opening hours?
- It depends on the building. As of 2026-10-03, the official site lists alpa shops 10:00–20:00 and alpa restaurants 11:00–22:00, ALTA shops 11:00–20:00, and Bandai Namco Cross Store Tokyo 10:00–21:00; some shops differ and alpa posts occasional closing days. The hours table on this page shows alpa's shopping hours.
- Is Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO open?
- Yes. Its official page lists regular hours of 10:00–20:00, Monday to Sunday, at alpa 2F, with October 2026 events announced (checked 2026-10-03). Popular Pokémon card releases there have been sold by advance lottery, so read the store's notices before a special trip.
- Is shopping at Sunshine City tax-free?
- It depends on the shop. Sunshine City publishes an official tax-free shop list (August 2026 edition) — for otaku shopping it includes the ONE PIECE Mugiwara Store Ikebukuro on alpa 2F. Check the list for the shop you want (checked 2026-10-03).
- Is there English help, free Wi-Fi or currency exchange?
- Yes. Sunshine City has three information counters inside alpa certified by JNTO as foreign-tourist information centres, with English assistance during opening hours; free 'JAPAN FREE Wi-Fi' in the alpa and ALTA hallways and other spots; and foreign-currency exchange machines (to yen only) on the Prince Hotel's 1F (official site, as of 2026-10-03).
- How do I get to the Pokémon Center from the station?
- Pokémon Center MEGA TOKYO's official access: about 3 minutes' walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line), about 8 minutes from Ikebukuro Station (JR, Tokyo Metro, Seibu, Tobu), or about 4 minutes from Higashi-Ikebukuro-yonchome stop on the Toden Arakawa Line (as of 2026-10-03).
