Otaku’s Guide to Ikebukuro: Best Things to Do 2021
Ikebukuro is full of amazing things to do, especially if you’re someone who is interested in anime, manga and ‘otaku’ culture!! The town is full of anime merchandise shops, arcades, maid cafes and many other fun otaku things to do. Just walking around the town can make it hard finding all the places you want to visit, that’s why we’ve made this ‘otaku guide to Ikebukuro’ to help you find some of the best anime and manga related activities to do in Ikebukuro! So, to find out more, makes sure to keep reading!
What is Ikebukuro?
Ikebukuro is a town in central Tokyo that is famous for its otaku scene and anime related activities. Ikebukuro often gets put in the same category as Akihabara due to the fact that it is so closely linked to otaku culture and anime, like Akihabara is. Ikebukuro is also where a Pokemon Center and Pokemon cafe are located, as well as where the annual cosplay festival in Tokyo takes place; both of which has bought the town a lot of fame.
Where is Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro is located in Toshima-ku in Tokyo, which is just above Shinjuku-ku. The easiest way to access the town is by taking the Yamanote line from Shinjuku station, or any other station along the train line, to Ikebukuro Station. Transport around the town is not needed due to everything being in walking distance!
Otaku Shops in Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro is full of anime and manga shops that sell a wide variety of anime merchandise and manga volumes. Here are some of the best in the town!
Animate Ikebukuro
Animate is a chain anime merchandise store with stores open all over Japan! The Ikebukuro Animate is one of the largest in the country, alongside the Akihabara branch! This store sells the biggest range of anime merchandise for some of the best prices on the market. You really can find any anime merchandise you want here! The store sells anime merchandise stationary, plushies, snacks, manga and even collaborate with animes to bring out unique merchandise lines!
Location
1 Chome-20-7 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 170-0013
More Information
→ Top 10 Anime Merchandise Shops in Tokyo ←
Pokemon Center MEGA Tokyo
The Pokemon Center MEGA Tokyo is one of the largest Pokemon centers in Tokyo, with a huge range of Pokemon merchandise. This Pokemon center is one of the most famous in Tokyo, due to its amazing decorations throughout the store. These decorations allow you to take pictures with life-size displays of certain Pokemon, making this store extremely fun to visit!
Location
〒170-6002 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−1−2 サンシャインシティ 専門店街アルパ2F
More Information
→ 6 BEST Pokemon Centers & Pokemon Stores in Tokyo ←
Gamers Ikebukuro
Gamers Ikebukuro is another amazing anime merchandise store located within the town. The store not only sells amazing anime merchandise but also game merchandise, manga and video games! The merchandise shop sells a lot of rare and unique merchandise pieces that cannot be found elsewhere! If you’re someone who loves unique anime merchandise and are looking for specific pieces, this is a great shop to check out!
Location
〒170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 1 Chome−14−3 Mixalive TOKYO 4階
More Information
→10 Must-Visit Shops in Akihabara, Tokyo←
Otaku Cafes and Restaurants in Ikebukuro
There are many ‘otaku’ cafes and restaurants located in Ikebukuro. This includes anime cafes, maid cafes and character cafes! If you’re in Ikebukuro, make sure to walk around and see what kind of otaku related cafes you can find! Here are some of our favorites!
Animate Cafe Ikebukuro
The Animate Cafe is ran by the same company as the anime merchandise store ‘Animate’. The cafe is constantly doing new collaborations every month with different anime. These collaborations create a full limited-time anime cafe that sells a full menu of anime related foods & drinks, plus tons of anime related decorations. Above is an image of the collaboration that the cafe recently did with Hunter X Hunter.
Location
170-0013 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−2−1 アニメイトアネックス ７F ８F
More Information
→Tokyo’s Must-Visit Anime Cafes and Restaurants←
Maid Cafe Entry
As you probably know, maid cafes are a huge rage in Tokyo, with there being locations all over the city. Akihabara and Ikebukuro have by far the highest concentration of maid cafes in the city! One of the best maid cafes in Ikebukuro is ‘Maid Cafe Entry’, they sell amazing food and all the maids are super kind and polite!
Location
〒171-0022 Tokyo, Toshima City, Minamiikebukuro, 2 Chome−13−10 地下1階 南池袋山本ビル
More Information
→ Most Unique Cafes in Tokyo 2021←
Pikachu Sweets Cafe
Pikachu Sweets is a small cafe, located next to the Pokemon Center in Ikebukuro, that sells amazing sweets and drinks that are all Pikachu themed! All of the menu items are super cute and they are perfect for any Pokemon lover! Unlike the Pokemon Cafe in Nihonbashi, this cafe does not require reservation and does not have any seating which means you can just quickly stop off here during your Pokemon shopping spree at the Pokemon center!
Location
〒170-8630 Tokyo, Toshima City, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−1−2 サンシャインシティ 専門店街アルパ 2F
More Information
→ 6 Pokemon Themed Things To Do in Tokyo←
Real Life Anime Locations in Ikebukuro
Many people do not know that Ikebukuro is a town that has been featured in many anime throughout the years. This has lead to the development of real life anime locations (locations that were featured in anime) throughout the town! These locations can be visited in real life which is a super fun experience.
Durarara Real Life Anime Locations Ikebukuro
Due to Durarara being mainly set in Ikebukuro, there are tons of Durarara real life anime locations dotted all around the town. One example is this one here, located on Sunshine-doori! The location looks almost identical to the anime, making it a super fun place to go and visit! For more information on Durarara real life anime locations in Ikebukuro, check out our article down below.
More Information
→‘Durarara!!’ Real Life Locations in Tokyo ←
Tokyo Ghoul Real Life Anime Locations Ikebukuro
The Milky Way Cafe, located in Ikebukuro, appeared in the Tokyo Ghoul anime during the start of the anime. As the name suggests, the cafe is a super cute cafe that is decorated like the milky way and has a full menu of food and drinks that are based on stars and the milky way. For more information on this location and other Tokyo Ghoul real life anime locations in Tokyo, check out our article down below!
More Information
→5 ‘Tokyo Ghoul’ Real Life Locations in Tokyo←
Anime Events in Ikebukuro 2021-2022
Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fest
A cosplay festival where attendees dress up on cosplay and halloween costumes!
Date: Late October 2021
Website: https://ikebukurocosplay.jp
‘Free!’ Anime Cafe
A ‘Free! The Final Stroke’ collaboration anime cafe in Megarage Ikebukuro!
Date: 10/09/21 – 31/10/21
Website: https://www.taito.co.jp/CollaboCafe/FreeFS
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