Ikebukuro area is very convenient station to be near in Japan. If you decide to stay here, you will see that it is quite built up and not many green spaces (not so picturesque) but is it is so convenient.
If you do find Ikebukuro to be a bit much and want to travel somewhere with a more suburban vibe – I recommend heading to the neighbouring Otsuka Station area for dinner.
It’s also on the Yamanote line ( a little extra tip – if you are on the Yamanote line and travelling from Ikebukuro to Shinjuku or Shibuya – make sure you take notice as you stop at Takadanobaba Station. The station music that plays as you arrive is the Astro Boy theme song as this is where the show was set!) We get a kick out of it every time. If you’d like to read more about Astro Boy and Takadanobaba Station see my blog post here.
If, while in Ikebukuro, you need some open space for kids to play – I recommend heading to Ike-Sun Park. It is 15 mins on foot from Ikebukuro Station. There are picnic tables here and public toilets. There are often food trucks here too.
Ikebukuro also has a Toys R Us and Babies R Us which makes it an easy place to restock on diapers/nappies in Tokyo ( something that is often easier said than done.). This is within the Shopping and Entertainment Complex called Sunshine City.
Sunshine City also contains a Ghibli gift shop.
Sunshine City has a giant Pokemon section, store and the Pikachu Sweets by Pokemon cafe (bookings required but the food is that not good anyway and little kids will like just the shop and models all over the area instead anyway.)
They also have the largest Gachapon Centre in Japan.
There is also a Sanrio Cafe inside Sunshine City.
I also mention other options at Sunshine city for shopping and dining throughout this blog post.
And in the very same complex is the Sunshine Aquarium.
I love how Japan has no line between art and aquarium fun. I have written in detail about the Sunshine City Aquarium in Ikebukuro here.
BREAKFAST IN IKEBUKURO
Komeda’s Coffee, Ikebukuro Seibu Mae branch has the most reasonably priced western style breakfast in the area, in my opinion.
It is 1 min walk from Ikebukuro Station Exit 40. Breakfast is served from 7am-11am. It is a simple breakfast plate with bread and jam (or just butter) a hard boiled egg and a small salad and around 600 yen. See pictures of the Komeda’s Coffee breakfast menu here.
They are also a fabulous kid-friendly option for lunch and dinner.
They accept most major credit cards. They are a walk-in only spot.
There are several Komeda’s Coffee in Ikebukuro but this one and the Higashi-Ikebukuro are the only options I’m aware of that have a kids plate. See pictures of the Komeda’s Coffee kids plate here. All meals (adults and kids) are under 1000 yen.
My kids also love the desserts here.
The food menu here is mostly fried chicken, pasta, frankfurter sausages, burgers and pasta.
KOMEDA COFFEE, IKEBUKURO SEIBU MAE STORE
南池袋1-19-6 オリックス池袋ビル 2F
2ND FLOOR, ORIX IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-19-6 MINAMI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 7AM-11PM
There is another Komeda Coffee in Higashi (East) Ikebukuro too. They have a change table in their toilets.
DENNY’S JAPAN
If you’re looking to start the day with a western-style breakfast, I recommend heading to Denny’s. Denny’s Ikebukuro Meiji-Dori is 4 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station. Open 6am-11pm.
Denny’s Japan (note, not the same as Denny’s in the US.).
They have a low common allergens menu. There is a change table in the toilets here. No bookings. Walk-in only. They accept most major credit cards.
See the full Denny’s Japan menu here. Please note that Denny’s in Japan can be difficult if you are vegan (the zero meat burger contains milk and egg) or gluten free.
MCDONALDS FOR BREAKFAST
If you are looking for a McDonald’s breakfast in Ikebukuro, I recommend walking 8 mins from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station to the Sushine City Alta shopping complex. The McDonalds on the basement floor here is open from 8:15am.
If you suddenly realize that you haven’t packed for the correct season or need to top up on your own wardrobe there are is a Uniqlo store that I’ve found is open from 8:30am – on weekdays and weekends.
The first it the Uniqlo the Ikebukuro Station (Central Exit) Uniqlo which is open from 8:30am. This store only sell adult-sized clothing.
UNIQLO IKEBUKURO STATION CENTRAL GATE STORE
豊島区南池袋1-28-2 JR池袋駅構内 JR池袋駅地下1階
BASEMENT FLOOR OF JR IKEBUKURO STATION, 1-28-2 MINAMI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA
OPEN EVERYDAY 8:30AM-10PM
SOME LUNCH OPTIONS IN IKEBUKURO
TGI FRIDAYSIf you’re after American style burgers for lunch or dinner, TGI Fridays is fine 7 mins walk from Sunshine City or 4 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station. TGI Fridays accept most major credit cards and they also accept reservations. Booth seating is available -which is always handy when dining with little children. For an adult meal I would budget 2000 yen for lunch and around 3000 yen for dinner. The kids burger plate is 495 yen and comes with fries and a small fruit plate.
TGI FRIDAYS IKEBUKURO
東池袋1-21-13 aune池袋2F
2ND FLOOR, AUNE IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-21-13 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 11:30AM-11PM
TGI FRIDAYS IKEBUKURO WEBSITE
INDIAN-THAI FUSION
If you’re craving Indian-Thai fusion cuisine while in this area, I recommend visiting Kanyam.
They have a menu in English. There is also a vegetarian menu and a kids plate ( includes a nan, a non-spicy/slightly sweet curry, a soft drink and a dessert.)
They also serve fries here.
They have the space to store a stroller while you dine.
This restaurant is 7 mins walk from Otsuka Station. 6 mins walk from Higashi-Ikebukuro Station.
I would budget 2000 yen per adult to dine here. They accept most major credit cards.
I recommend the cheesy nann.
KANYAM
東池袋4-41-22 渡辺ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR 4-41-22 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 11AM-11PM
SUSHI TRAIN FOR LUNCH
Kura Sushi is located at the eastern gate of Ikebukuro Station, known as the Higashi Ikebukuro Branch ( Open 11am-11pm daily) and also within the Sunshine City complex ( Open 11am – midnight daily). Both accept most major credit cards, offer takeout, kids welcome, completely non-smoking restaurants.
The Kura Sushi Ikebukuro Menu can be found here. I’d expect to pay approximately 1500 yen per adult in total for a decent lunch or dinner. Sushi train chain Kurasushi have a list of all of their food with common allergens here.
(Kurasushi is great when dining with kids and there are lots of cooked non-raw sushi options but if you really love sushi you may be a little disappointed with the raw-fish quality / some have found that the fish meat is a bit frozen in the middle. See here for my tips on what to do in Japan if your kids like to eat westernized versions of sushi or california rolls etc.)
YAKINIKU FOR LUNCH OR DINNER
Yakiniku Champion, Ikebukuro welcomes children and babies. They are in a building connected to Ikebukuro Station so are very easy to get to.
Yakiniku is Korean barbecue where you cook your own thinly sliced meat and vegetables on the grill at your table.
For lunch I would budget for 2000 yen per person while at dinner I would expect to pay more like 6000 yen. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards.
They have an English menu and another menu that points out common allergens in certain dishes and sauces.
This restaurant has high chairs and a place to store strollers.
YAKINIKU CHAMPION, IKEBUKURO
豊島区西池袋1-1-25 東武百貨店池袋店 レストラン街スパイス 14F
14F TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE’S RESTAURANT FLOOR IN THE SPICE SECTION, 1-1-25 NISHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-10PM
HAMBURGER STEAK FOR LUNCH OR DINNER (Gluten free option too)
6 mins from Ikebukuro Station, East Exit is a hamburger/steak grill restaurant called “Bikkuri Donkey”. The name always makes me laugh as it literally translates to “Surprise Donkey” but the interior is quirky ( kind of like dining inside “Western River Railroad” at Disneyland.). It’s a casual restaurant and lots of families dine here.
The cuisine is “hamburger steaks served on mini hot plates.”
They have a cute kids menu .
It’s a great place for grease and fries if that’s what you’re craving.
The restaurant allows smoking in certain parts of the restaurant at certain times of day. They have a kids menu and they have high chairs.
There is one gluten free hamburger steak option at this restaurant too. I would budget around 1500 yen per adult to dine here.
In the morning, they also offer a breakfast plate with eggs and toast and bacon for approximately 1000 yen.
This restaurant accepts most major credit cards. They also take reservations and walk-ins.
Some Bikkuri Donkey branches have also introduced a vegan soy hamburger steak (served with rice.) It’s usually on the menu down near the kids menu section.
BIKKURI DONKEY IKEBUKURO
豊島区東池袋1-21-11 オーク池袋ビル B1F
B1F OAK IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-21-11 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 8AM-11PM
and just 2 mins walk from Bikkuri Donkey is family-friendly, casual italian restaurant, Palermo. Palermo is 5 mins walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station. Palermo accepts most major credit cards and is a non-smoking restaurant. Children are welcome here. When budgeting to dine here, I would set aside 3000 yen per adult at dinner time and 2000 yen per adult at lunch time.
There are two kinds of pizza here – Margherita & Pizza Alla BisMarck.
PALERMO, IKEBUKURO
豊島区東池袋1-10-1 住友池袋駅前ビル １Ｆ
GROUND FLOOR, SUMITOMO IKEBUKURO EKI MAE BUILDING, HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-10:30AM (LAST ORDERS 10AM)
Gyukatsu (Tonkatsu but made with beef not chicken) in Ikebukuro
Gyukatsu Motomura welcome families and accepts most major credit cards. The entire venue is non-smoking. Gyukatsu is served on its own little hot plate so if you find it to not be “well done” enough to your liking – you can keep it sizzling cut side down for a bit longer. (Tonkatsu is usually pork but this place is beef. So that’s why it’s called “GyuKatsu.”) This restaurant is 3 mins walk from Ikebukuro Station. Meals here are approximately 2000 yen. This restaurant is walk-in only so I recommend (if dining with kids) arriving around 10:30am to make sure you can get a table without having to wait too long. This is a casual restaurant with great quality food.
GYUKATSU MOTOMURA, IKEBUKURO BRANCH
豊島区南池袋3-13-10 ISP第三ビル 2F
2F ISP 3RD BUILDING, MINAMI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-10PM
THE POKEMON CENTRE & THE PIKUCHU SWEETS SHOP
Within the Sunshine City complex you will also find the Pokemon Center ( gift shop) and the mostly takeaway dessert shop ( cupcakes and cookies, mostly) at the Pikachu Sweets shop. Both are open from 10am – 8pm daily.
VEGAN RAMEN
If you’re looking for delicious vegan food, I highly recommend T’s Tan Tan inside of Ikebukuro Station. Vegan ramen, gyoza etc.
T’S TAN TAN, IKEBUKURO BRANCH
INSIDE OF THE STATION TICKETING GATES ON THE CHUO (CENTRAL) CONCOURSE
OPEN 11AM-9PM
T’S TAN TAN WEBSITE
SHOPPING SUGGESTION IN IKEBUKURO
I recommend heading to Ikebukuro Sunshine City Alta shopping mall for casual shopping options. Alta is 8 mins walk from the east exit of Ikebukuro Station
Within this complex, my kids love choosing little treasures for themselves and their friends at Thank you Mart on the B1 floor.
Everything in Thank you Mart is 390 yen so it’s a great place to visit with children and let them choose a toy or a little bag or notepad.
I love buying my children’s snack bags here.
THANK YOU MART, SUNSHINE CITY ALTA STORE
豊島区東池袋3-1-3 池袋サンシャインシティアルタ館 B1F
BASEMENT B1 FLOOR, IKEBUKURO SUNSHINE CITY ALTA, 3-1-3 HIASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-8PM
SMALL INTERNATIONAL SUPERMARKET
On the ground floor of the Sushine City Alta Shopping Mall you can find the Kaldi International Mart. Here you can find international items such as Halal options, oat crackers, oatmeal, twinings earl grey, tomato juice, cous cous, maple syrup, skippy peanut butter, nutella, vegemite etc.
KALDI, SUNSHINE CITY ALTA IKEBUKURO
GROUND FLOOR, SUNSHINE CITY IKEBUKURO ALTA SHOPPING MALL
OPEN 11AM-8PM
MY FAVOURITE BRAND OF 100 YEN STORE
Also on the same floor and in the same complex as Kaldi, is 100 yen store Seria.
OMURICE
The Tobu Ikebukuro Department Store is connected to Ikebukuro Station and has some great family restaurants.
One of my favourites is Pomme no Ki on the 11th floor. It is an Omurice restaurant. Omurice is a rice dish deserved with a big omelette – and then you choose the sauce on top which can be curry, gravy, stew or a tomato based sauce. It’s really yummy.
When eating at Pomme no Ki I would budget around 2000 yen per person. It is possible to make a phone reservation (Japanese only so ask your hotel to do this) but walk-ins are also fine. This restaurant accepts most major credit cards and is an entirely non-smoking establishment.
POMME NO KI CLASSIC IKEBUKURO
東京都豊島区西池袋1-25-1 池袋東武スパイス 11F
11TH FLOOR, IKEBUKURO TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE “SPICE” SECTION, 1-25-1 NISHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU, TOKYO
OPEN 11AM-10PM
SUPERMARKET WITH ORGANIC FOOD OPTIONS
For a supermarket with lots of organic options in this same department store, Tobu, try Bio C Bon in Ikebukuro. They sell fruit and vegetables, deli options, general groceries ( including baby items.)
BIO C BON, TOBU IKEBUKURO STORE
西池袋1-1-25東武百貨店池袋店イートーブ地下2階
BASEMENT 2 FLOOR, EAT-TOBU SECTION, TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE, IKEBUKURO STORE, 1-1-25 NISHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 10AM-9PM ( OPEN SUNDAYS 10AM-8PM)
BIO C BON
BIG 100 YEN STORE
Massive 100 yen store (and other 300 yen – 1000 yen stores)
And while checking out the two options above, I also recommend exploring the massive 100 store Daiso and two other versions of affordable handy Japanese store. Threppy ( a 300 yen store) and Standard Products (homeware goods for sale between 300 yen – 1000 yen.) Daiso can be found on the 6th floor of Tobu Department Store. Unlike many other 100 shops, this Daiso does accept most major credit cards.
DAISO, THREPPY , STANDARD PRODUCTS, TOBU IKEBUKURO STORE
西池袋1-1-25東武百貨店池袋店イートーブ6F
6TH FLOOR, EAT-TOBU SECTION, TOBU DEPARTMENT STORE, IKEBUKURO STORE, 1-1-25 NISHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN 10AM – 8PM
SEGA IKEBUKURO GIGO (ARCADE GAME CENTRE)
For a really fun family activity, the video and claw game arcade Sega Ikebukuro Gigo is worth checking out. So many interactive arcade games – many of which cannot be found in any other countries. Even if you don’t want to part with your cash, it is sooo much fun to watch the hard core gamers dance it out on the dance games or go into taiko drum battles.
This arcade centre is 10 minutes walk from JR Ikebukuro via the East Exit.
This centre has an elevator and is entirely non-smoking.
SEGA IKEBUKURO GIGO
豊島区東池袋1-22-12
1-22-12 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 10AM-11PM
SEGA IKEBUKURO GIGO WEBSITE
ALL YOU CAN EAT PIZZA FOR LUNCH IN IKEBUKURO?
3 minutes walk from the Ikebukuro West Exit is the Italian pizza chain Salvatore Cuomo. On weekdays, if you are seated at opening at 11am you can eat all the pizza you can for 980 yen for 45 minutes.
For other times on weekdays ( lunchtime) you can choose one pizza or pasta and it is all you can eat salad for 1000 yen.
SALVATORE CUOMO, IKEBUKURO
西池袋3-21-13 ウェストパークタワー池袋 1F
GROUND FLOOR, WEST PARK TOWER IKEBUKURO, 3-21-13 NISHI-IKEBUKURO
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11AM – 2:30PM
OPEN FOR DINNER 5PM- 11PM
OPEN ON WEEKENDS 11AM-11PM
OPEN EVERYDAY OF THE YEAR EXCEPT FOR JANUARY 1ST
A KID-FRIENDLY IZAKAYA
For dinner, I recommend walking for 3 mins from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station and heading to Oto Oto Ikebukuro. The interior is very modern and sleek and the menu is huge – and also includes a children’s menu.
It’s best to make a reservation here.
I would budget 2000 yen for an adult meal at lunch time, but more like 7000 yen for dinner.
Oto Oto accepts most major credit cards. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. They also have space to store strollers while you dine. See pictures of what the restaurant looks like on the Oto Oto Website here.
You can also see the full Oto Oto Ikebukuro Bamboo Garden menu here.
OTO OTO, IKEBUKURO
南池袋1-19-5 ＭＩプラザビル5F
5TH FLOOR, MI PLAZA BUILDING, 1-19-5
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11:30AM-3PM & 5PM-11PM
OPEN WEEKENDS 11:30AM-4PM & 5PM-11PM
See here for my tips regarding Japanese dining etiquette.
SUKIYAKI & SHABU SHABU
This hot-pot style of eating is so much fun for families and just interactive with kids. This restaurant Syabu-yo is a chain restaurant.
Syabu-Yo Ikebukuro Sunshine 60 Branch is 500 metres from Ikebukuro Station.
Diners choose the amount of time they would like to have unlimited meat brought to their table (usually 60 or 90 mins) and that price also includes access to a salad and vegetable buffet and ice-cream. The instructions on how to make your meal at the table are here on the Syabu-Yo website but the staff will also help you. My kids prefer sukiyaki to shabu-shabu as it is so sweet and more-ish.
This style of restaurant is tricky if everyone has different dietary requirements (for example if one family member is vegetarian etc) as all the food is cooked in one pot. I guess you could get around this by getting two tables with two separate pots. Sometimes they have pots like the one pictured below that has two sections. This is mostly so you can cook two different flavours but it could also work for a meat side and a veg side too, I guess
To eat here I would budget for around 3000 yen per adult. The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Syabu-Yo accept most major credit cards.
If you like this restaurant – I’m pretty sure you will! Then you are in luck as you can always google your closest Syabu-Yo branch as they are all over Japan.
They have free wifi.
They also have the little robots that bring the meat to your table. My kids love this!
This restaurant is open every single day of the year. Best to have your hotel make a reservation on your behalf (unless you plan on trying your luck by walking in ) or you can try via the Hot Pepper website here but you need to use google translate.
SYABU-YO, IKEBUKURO SUNSHINE BRANCH
豊島区東池袋１－２９－１ サントロペ池袋ビル６F
6TH FLOOR, SANTOROPE IKEBUKURO BUILDING, 1-29-1 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN 11AM-11PM (FROM 10AM ON WEEKENDS)*Lunch menu switches to the dinner menu at 4pm
RAMEN
I don’t recommend this spot for small kids but if you are travelling with kids who are 10+ or are teens, I recommend visiting a ramen restaurant called Ore Ryu Shio Ramen. Shio Ramen means “salt ramen” – as the ramen stock/soup is quiet simple and mild. The tables are filled with different condiments – you can make your ramen spicy or garlic-y or sweeter etc. First thing to do is try the broth and then add as you go. A bowl of ramen here will cost a little under 2000 yen. They sell ramen and tsukemen here. There is also fried chicken and gyoza on the menu here. This is a walk-in restaurant only (no reservations.) Cash only.
They have an English and Japanese menu. See here for instructions on how they recommend you add the condiments and flavours to your ramen.
The restaurant is 5 mins walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station. The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
ORE RYU SHIO RAMEN
豊島区東池袋1-40-9 第89東京ビル 1F
GROUND FLOOR, DAI-89 TOKYO BUILDING, 1-40-9 HIGASHI-IKEBUKURO, TOSHIMA-KU
OPEN EVERYDAY 11AM-10:55PM
Extra Tip: If you need to charge your phone while in Ikebukuro, go to Bic Camera in Ikebukuro (the MAIN STORE , referred to in Japanese at the HONTEN) and there is a charging station on the ground floor. Instruction on how to use it are offered in English and Chinese. 30 mins of express charging costs 100 yen.
Remember that Ikebukuro Station is a few stops from Shinjuku (here are my Shinjuku with Kids recommendations) and Ueno ( here are my Ueno with kids recommendations.)
