Ikebukuro: Sunshine City, Pikachu Sweets, Pokemon Center & ANIMATE Store!

Join me on my usual shopping adventure to Ikebukuro Sunshine City in Japan. This shopping mall has become a consistent stop for me whenever I am in Japan, almost like a ritual.

To begin my day, I treated myself to breakfast at Pikachu Sweets, arriving promptly at 10am when the store opened to avoid the crowds (reservation is not necessary). The ambiance and the amazing treats at Pikachu Sweets never fail to charm me with their cuteness. It is worth noting that only take-out orders are available here, although you are welcome to snap photos inside the café. After enjoying my breakfast – I found a cozy spot in the mall just next to the Mugiwara One Piece Store. Next on my agenda was a visit to the Pokémon GO Lab and the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo. Since I have already bought a bunch at the Pokémon Center Tokyo DX, I managed to keep my purchases in check this time (thankfully haha). Still, it is worth dropping by because each Center has its own vibe and you might find some cool/limited stuff depending on which one you visit.

As I continued my shopping trip, I came across the Namco Gatchapon Department Store on the third floor – a hidden gem that I had overlooked on previous visits! With its amazing collection of over 3’000 toy capsule machines, it is a paradise for collectors and those with a curious spirit, definitely worth exploring. For lunch, I treated myself to a delicious crispy and juicy pork cutlet at Tonkatsu Wako, a restaurant I love to visit whenever I am at Sunshine City.

Later in the afternoon, I stopped by my favorite fashion stores before heading to the Animate Store, just a short 10-minute walk from the mall. The Animate Store in Ikebukuro is one of the biggest anime stores worldwide, with 10 floors filled with anime stuff, manga and even a theater and café. Trust me, if you are into anime, you have gotta check it out!

As the day was ending, I finished my shopping spree at Shibuya 109. Feeling hungry, I popped into a nearby convenience store to grab some snacks for dinner. It was a fantastic day of shopping! A time well spent :)