Wandering in Ikebukuro
In Ikebukuro, we experienced the vibrant local atmosphere, explored cultural landmarks, shopped for unique goods, and enjoyed interactive dining experiences that reflect the rich culinary traditions of Japan.
Animate Flagship Stores
Ikebukuro is known for its shopping and entertainment facilities, such as Sunshine City, Sunshine 60 Street and the Animate flagship store. After exiting the JR Ikebukuro station, we headed straight to the Animate flagship store, which has officially been crowned as the “largest anime shop/store” in the world by Guinness World Records. It has long been a destination for anime and manga fans.
Sunshine 60 Street
As we ventured further, we walked along the Sunshine 60 Street, which stretches for nearly 200-meters. It includes cafes, restaurants, and retail stores from books to clothes, electronics to home goods, character goods to beauty supplies. We bought some cosmetics and medicine at the famous drugstore Matsumoto Kiyoshi. In Japan, drug stores not only sell pharmaceuticals, but also supply other goods such as cosmetics and daily necessities. It’s a good place to buy souvenirs for our friends and family.
Gyukatsu Iroha
We enjoyed the dinner at Gyukatsu Iroha, a restaurant famous for its beef cutlet. The meal was in the form of “teishoku”, a typical Japanese eating style, which is a simple meal consisting of soup, a main dish, pickles and rice. What was special was that we cooked it with our own hands on the hot plate in front of us, and ate it with salt and soy sauce. The sizzling sound of it cooking was amazing✨It 's also fun to be able to control the cooking degree ourselves.
Recommended
Overall, Ikebukuro is definitely worth spending a few days exploring. It offers a unique blend of cultural experiences, shopping, and entertainment that captivates visitors. I look forward to discovering even more of its hidden gems and revisiting my favorite spots in the future.
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