Ikebukuro is known for its shopping and dining scene — but did you know there’s also an aquarium here? Sunshine Aquarium sits on the rooftop of Sunshine City, a large shopping and entertainment complex in the heart of Ikebukuro. Here’s everything you need to know before visiting with little ones!
Get Sunshine Aquarium Tickets at a Discount!
Getting There
Once you arrive at Ikebukuro Station — a large hub served by JR, Tokyo Metro, Tobu, and Seibu lines — head for the Central Ticket Gate (中央改札). Exit numbers are clearly marked throughout the station, so just follow the signs for Sunshine City.
Once through the ticket gates, look for signs pointing toward Sunshine City and head right.
Exit 35 is the one closest to Sunshine City — aim for exits 34/35. Exit 35 has both stairs and an escalator.
If you’re using a stroller or need an elevator, it’s located near Exit 34.
Once out of the elevator, there’s a bakery on your right — walk along that side and keep going straight.
Keep walking straight until you reach a large pedestrian crossing in front of Zetteria (a Japanese fast food restaurant). Cross it and continue straight ahead.
※ You’ll spot a blue dome-shaped building in the distance — that’s the aquarium!
Continue straight, then take the underground entrance on the side of the Nitori building (red arrow). There’s a prominent escalator going down — take that.
The elevator is to the left of the escalator, toward the back (look for the row of vending machines).
You’ll cross a few intersections, but you can also stay above ground following the white arrow — though the underground route is easier to navigate, so that’s what I’ll explain here.
Keep heading to the left. You’re now on basement level 1 (B1).
Several buildings are connected underground. The aquarium is on the rooftop of the World Import Mart Building.
One Thing to Watch Out for on the Way
Just before the elevator, you’ll pass Thomas Station — an area with Thomas the Tank Engine rides, souvenirs, and a paid play zone.
A friend’s kids — huge Thomas fans — got completely distracted here and couldn’t stop thinking about it the entire time at the aquarium. We ended up going back after lol.
Once they’ve seen it, there’s no forgetting it! So if Thomas isn’t the goal, take the detour and go via the 1st floor instead — there’s nothing particularly kid-tempting up there.
Parking
Sunshine Parking is located right next to Sunshine City.
- Large flat parking lot with approximately 1,800 spaces.
- Rate: ¥400 (~$2.50) per 30 minutes during regular hours.
- 1 hour free parking with paid aquarium admission (purchase of ¥2,000 / ~$12.60 or more).
- Direct access from the Higashi-Ikebukuro exit of the Shuto Expressway Route 5 — very convenient if you’re coming by car.
- Gets busy and fills up quickly on weekends and holidays — arriving early is recommended.
Basic Info
Take the elevator up to the rooftop and you’ll arrive at a tropical-feeling entrance — a little surprise in the middle of the city!
Hours & Admission
Open: 10:00–19:00 (last entry 1 hour before closing)
※ Hours may change. Always check the official website calendar before your visit.
Admission uses dynamic pricing, so rates vary by date. Approximate prices are as follows:
- Adults (high school age and up): from ¥2,600 (~$16.35)
- Children (elementary & middle school): from ¥1,300 (~$8.18)
- Young children (age 4 and up): from ¥800 (~$5.03)
Entry may be limited on weekends, public holidays, and certain busy dates, so booking in advance with a timed ticket is recommended! You can often get a discount by purchasing ahead of time, and it’s one less thing to worry about on the day.
Buy Sunshine Aquarium Tickets in Advance!Into the Aquarium!
Once inside, the path splits in two. Head right for the indoor exhibits, or left for the outdoor area featuring the famous “flying penguins.”
Stroller Parking
If you head right toward the indoor exhibits, you’ll find a stroller parking area just before the entrance. There are marked lines on the ground — everyone parks neatly within them.
You write your name on a wristband-style tag and attach it to your stroller. There’s a bin nearby to dispose of the tag when you’re done.
There are elevators available, and the staircases are actually quite nice-looking. The aquarium is on the compact side, so you won’t be walking huge distances. Leaving your stroller at the parking area is usually the more convenient option.
Indoor Exhibits
The indoor section spans two floors.
Highlights! First stop: the garden eels, completely mesmerizing.
My 4-year-old could see most of the tanks just fine, but my 2-year-old was a little too short for some — I ended up carrying him for a few of them.
The Giant Tank
This tank has sharks! The viewing area is at a good height for kids, and there are seats nearby so you can take a breather.
There are also some fascinating displays here, including the Yokozuna Iwashi (Japanese giant herring) and the Dumbo octopus!
The Jellyfish Zone
The jellyfish zone is one of the most famous areas in the aquarium. In the dimly lit space, the jellyfish glow beautifully — it feels like stepping into a planetarium or another world entirely.
There are also protruding bubble-shaped tanks and areas where light streams down from above — a really immersive way to observe the jellyfish up close.
The Gorgeous Staircase!
Head up the beautiful projection mapping staircase to reach the 2nd floor exhibits. There’s also an elevator nearby.
2nd Floor: The Amazon Area
The 2nd floor has a lush, green atmosphere inspired by the Amazon and mangrove ecosystems. Turtles eating, frogs hopping about — there’s lots to discover!
There’s an aquaponics display that had the kids completely fascinated.
Not all of them, but some tanks have small step platforms so kids can get a better look — really thoughtful!
This particular tank is home to gobies.
The Lake-Dwelling Seal
You can also see freshwater seals here. There’s a small raised platform next to the tank which makes it easy for little ones to get a good look.
Baikal Seals — While most seals live in the ocean, these seals are native to Lake Baikal in Russia and are the only seal species that spends its entire life in freshwater.
They’re known for being friendly and curious — apparently they’ll often swim right up to check you out!
What to Wear
The 1st floor — including the jellyfish zone — is quite dark throughout. The aquarium is compact but has a slightly winding layout to fit in as many exhibits as possible. Dressing kids in bright colors makes it much easier to spot them in the low-light areas.
Things to Keep in Mind Inside
Both floors have quite a bit of carpet-like flooring around the exhibits — it’s not easy to wipe clean, but kids inevitably end up touching it. Make sure to sanitize hands thoroughly afterward!
Facilities
Gift Shop
Located at the end of the indoor exhibits. There’s a great selection of Sunshine Aquarium original merchandise.
From the edge of the shop, you can get a full view of the outdoor area.
Head down the stairs on the right to reach the outdoor zone (you’ll come back out near the stroller parking area).
If you’d rather skip the gift shop to avoid the “can we get this?!” situation, you can also go back the way you came, pass the stroller parking area, and head straight through to the outdoor zone!
Diaper Changing & Nursing Room
A nursing room and diaper changing stations are located near the gift shop area. The accessible restroom also has a changing table (with a diaper disposal bin).
The dedicated baby room is very clean and well-maintained.
Disposal bags are provided at the changing table.
There’s also a hot water dispenser for preparing formula.
The nursing room is located further inside.
Out to the Outdoor Area!
The outdoor area isn’t enormous, but there’s more than enough space for kids to run around and explore.
There’s a grassy area (not for sitting on) and plenty of greenery.
Lunch Break First!
We went with two families this time, and everyone — kids and adults — was hungry, so we stopped for food at Tully’s Coffee, a popular Japanese coffee chain.
Important note: Re-entry is not permitted. Outside food (other than drinks) is also not allowed inside. Food purchased within the aquarium can be enjoyed in the outdoor “Marine Garden” area. Plan your meals accordingly!
Hungry kids = chaos lol. Eating before you go in is a totally valid strategy!
Here’s what the Tully’s food looked like. Beyond drinks, they also serve pasta and hot dogs — and it was actually really good!
The outdoor terrace was wonderfully open and airy — we ended up having a much more relaxed meal than expected.
Personally, I love ordering the Honey Milk Latte decaf at Tully’s, but at this location they said decaf was only available for hot coffee. Not sure if it varies by branch or was a stock issue — worth asking! Also, they apparently have an aquarium-exclusive latte art drink too!
The Flying Penguins!
After lunch, it’s finally time for the star attraction — the famous flying penguin area!
They really do look like they’re flying! Getting a good photo was tricky when it was crowded.
Nearby, there’s a display with real penguin eggs, a stuffed baby penguin (the same weight as an actual penguin chick!), and a life-size adult penguin model. Getting to touch a real penguin egg is a pretty rare experience! There’s also a gacha-gacha (capsule toy vending machine) with penguin feathers inside — the penguin theme is strong here 🙂
This baby penguin stuffed toy is a Sunshine Aquarium exclusive. My eldest fell completely in love and wouldn’t let go — so naturally, it came home with us.
They clearly love their penguins here — there’s a whole display dedicated to every chick that’s been born at the aquarium.
Key Reminders
- Some exhibit areas are quite dark — dress kids in bright colors so you can spot them easily!
- Some tanks are positioned higher up and may be hard for little ones to see.
- A baby carrier or hip seat is very handy for kids who need to be lifted up for a better view.
- Re-entry is not permitted, and outside food (other than drinks) is not allowed. Plan your mealtimes carefully.
- The route to the aquarium passes through busy areas — keep a close eye on little ones so no one gets separated.
How Long Should You Plan For?
Our visit, including lunch, was about 3.5 hours in total. That was with two families and a sit-down meal — if it were just our family, I think we’d have been done a bit sooner.
Nearby Hotel
Sunshine City Prince Hotel is in the same building as the aquarium — location doesn’t get much better than that. Beyond the aquarium, Sunshine City itself has tons to keep you entertained. There are plans that include aquarium tickets, as well as multi-night discount deals, so it’s well worth checking out if you’re planning to stay in the area!
Find Aquarium Ticket-Inclusive Plans at Sunshine City Prince Hotel!!
