Sunshine City is one of Tokyo’s most popular entertainment and shopping complexes, being visited by an estimated 30 million people every year. Although famous for its attractions such as the Sunshine Aquarium and Konica Minolta Planetarium, the complex is also home to some very notable stores.
If you are on the hunt for character goods, Sunshine City is one the best places you can go. Whether you love Pokemon, Hello Kitty or even Sesame Street, Sunshine City has a great range of dedicated stores for some of the world’s most popular characters.
Although you can find other character stores across other parts of Tokyo, Sunshine City is special in the fact that it is home to some of the biggest and first dedicated character stores.
Keep reading to see the top ten best character stores in Ikebukuro’s Sunshine City!
① Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
Undoubtedly one of Sunshine City’s most popular shops, the Pokémon Center is the best place to buy official merchandise, trade cards and play Pokémon game booths. Although there are a few Pokémon Centers scattered around Tokyo, the Ikebukuro branch is one of the most popular since it is so big and stocks an insane amount of plushies, sweets, toys and more. You can even find exclusive products here, which can’t be bought anywhere else, making it the perfect place to shop for souvenirs and collector’s items.
Next to the main shop, you will find a little Pikachu-themed cafe called Pikachu Sweets. This take-out style cafe sells a range of Pokémon themed sweets and drinks for you to enjoy. The Ikebukuro Pokémon Center is also the first to have opened the Pokémon GO Lab, a space where Pokémon fans can hang out, play Pokémon GO and shop some more exclusive merchandise.
Given that many people visit Sunshine City purely for the Pokémon center, we recommend visiting as early in the day as possible to avoid waiting in a long queue.
② KIDDY LAND
Are you a lover of Snoopy, Rilakkuma or another well-known cartoon character? Then KiddyLand is somewhere you may want to stop by. This toy and character goods shop stocks a wide range of cute character products, ranging from plushies to homeware. Although the main shop is in Harajuku, you can still find a solid selection of character goods in the Sunshine City branch. Fans of the famous beagle, Snoopy and adorable bear, Rilakkuma will definitely want to visit, as this KIDDY LAND has its own dedicated Snoopy Town and Rilakkuma store which both sell original Ikebukuro-themed items.
Make sure to take a photo with the special Snoopy and Rilakkuma statues which are located in front of the store too!
③ Donguri Kyowakoku (Ghibli Store)
Over the last few decades, people from across the world have fallen in love with Studio Ghibli and its characters. At the official Ghibli store, known as Donguri Kyowakoku, fans can get merchandise of their favourite characters.
Although relatively small in size, the Ikebukuro Donguri Kyowakoku has a few different sections which stock merchandise from specific films such as Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service. That said, you will also find merchandise of other characters from different films. At this store, you will mainly find plushies, stationary and books, but you can also find some rarer items which are not sold anywhere else.
Even if you are not wanting to shop, it is worth just visiting, as you can come face-to-face with and take photos of some of the most loved characters including Totoro and Calcifer.
④ Sylvanian Families
Sylvanian Families have a special place in many people’s hearts, especially because it is such a nostalgic toy range. It was only last summer that this Sylvanian Families store opened its doors in Ikebukuro and since then it has become a fan-favourite.
At this special store, you can find a range of Sylvanian Families products which are only available in Japan and sold exclusively at the store, as well as see large size versions of your favourite animal characters. Any avid collector who is looking for rarer or original goods, will want to stop by this store and have a browse at the range of products on offer.
⑤ Sanrio Vivitix
For those wanting to stock up on Sanrio goods, then head to Sanrio Vivitix. Here, you will find some adorable gifts, clothes and accessories of characters such as Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin and Kumori, just to name a few. You can also buy tickets for Sanrio Puroland, the Hello Kitty theme park in Tama, here as well.
Sunshine City is not only home to Sanrio Vivitix but also the Sanrio Cafe, located on the bottom floor. Here, you can try some delicious Sanrio-themed food, sweet treats and drinks, as well as buy some exclusive food-themed Hello Kitty merchandise.
If you are still searching for even more merchandise after visiting Sanrio Vivitix and the Sanrio Cafe, you can always stop by Sanrio Gift Gate which is just a short walk away from Sunshine City.
⑥ Disney Store
Japan loves Disney and all of its characters. That’s why in just Tokyo itself, you will find a few dedicated Disney stores selling one-of-kind merchandise designed for both adults and children. At this store, you will find a large range of plushies, accessories and homeware, in addition to all the limited edition items.
It is truly a magical experience visiting this store – inside there is a special imagination tree which lights up as well as Disney songs playing in the background.
⑦ Marvel Store
In Sunshine City, you will also find Japan’s first Marvel speciality store. This store has a lot to offer – with its interior being inspired by the iconic Marvel comics and it being the one-stop shop for limited edition Marvel goods. Fans of the film and comic franchise can shop for clothes, figures and other miscellaneous goods of all the best Marvel characters including Spider-Man, Captain America and Iron Man.
If that wasn’t enough to convince you to visit, the store also hosts Marvel-themed events from time to time and is the only official Marvel shop in Japan.
⑧ ONE PIECE Mugiwara store
One of Japan’s most famous and loved anime has its own store. Although fans of One Piece can get official merchandise from other places like JUMP SHOP, the One Piece Mugiwara Store stocks many more unique items including stationery, sweets and clothing.
It is worth mentioning that the Ikebukuro store is also the largest One Piece shop and stocks over 10,000 original and exclusive products. When visiting, you should also make sure to take some photos with the various characters located in the store.
⑨ Crayon Shin-chan Cinema Parade
The first ever Crayon Shin-chan Cinema Parade Store is located in Sunshine City. Here, you can buy merchandise related to the Crayon Shin-chan movies in addition to a large number of limited-edition products. From tote bags to stickers to clear files, you will find a good selection of products featuring Crayon Shin-chan and his friends.
The store is also home to a collection of movie sketches and life-sized figures of some of the characters from the films. A golden statue of Shin-chan, which is said to look like an Oscar statue, stands at the front of the store to welcome guests.
⑩ Sesame Street Market
Having just opened late last year, the Ikebukuro Sesame Street Market is the first in the world. Selling items including plushies, mugs and sweet treats, this shop is the dream destination for those who love Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird and the other Sesame Street characters.
Visitors can also enjoy some snacks at the American-style diner, attached to the market. Here you can try some New York-style pizza as well as character-inspired doughnuts. These can either be taken home or enjoyed in the cafe space.
Which of these character stores will you be planning to visit first?
