Sunshine Aquarium (Ikebukuro, Tokyo)

Don’t let the fact that the Sunshine Aquarium is located on the top of a shopping center sway you from visiting. The Sunshine Aquarium (renovated in 2017) is a great city aquarium where kids and adults can view a variety of ocean and freshwater fish and aquatic mammals. The Sunshine Aquarium is positioned as an oasis in the sky which makes sense since it is on the 9th and roof of a major shopping and office building complex in Ikebukuro, Tokyo. Both educational and entertaining this should be added to your Tokyo bucket list if you have kids are in a Tokyo for a week or more. If you want to visit other Tokyo area aquariums or zoos check out our recommend list. Also couple with a visit to Sky Circus Observatory and Virtual Reality Space on the 60th floor.

***You must pre-purchase tickets due to COVID precautions.

Sunshine Aquarium, Ikebukuro

The highlight of the Sunshine Aquarium for my kids were definitely the every 20 min shows on the roof. (Performances are presently suspended due to COVID precautions). The staff explains in details about the animal/bird/fish to the audience in Japanese with some reference back-up pictures. It was amazing how close the animals were to the audience. The shows include pelicans, penguins, a sea otter and sea lions. The sea line show has kids involvement so if you child wants to be involved sit in the front row of seats. The shows alone make the 2,200 JPY adult ticket admission worth it.

Other highlights include the 240 tons of water Sunshine Lagoon tank where sea lions swim above your head with skyscrapers in the background; he Jellyfish tunnel which illuminates with different colors of lights is quite mesmerizing to watch, and the huge inside tank where scuba divers care for the aquatic life.

There are over 37,000 fish covering 750 different species in 80 tanks. This facility is both educational and entertaining, providing amusement while allowing you to observe the activities of a diverse array of creatures. There is also a very nice cafe in the roof level where you can buy a coffee, ice-cream, and other light food. You will pass through the gift shop as you travel through the Sunshine Aquarium, which is filled with hard to resist plush animals and fish and Aquarium novelty items.

Sunshine Aquarium Details

Address: World Import Mart Building (rooftop and 9th floor), 3-1-3 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-3989-3466
Open hours: 9:00-21:00 (;ast entry 20:00) seven days a week. Tickets must be purchased online and you must attend within a two hour window.

Admission Fee: 2,400 JPY (adults), 1,200 JPY (elementary and junior high school students), 700 JPY (4 years old or older preschool children), 1,700 JPY (65 years old and above), children 4 and under free. Get tickets here.
Access: 10 min walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, or a 3 min walk from Higashiikebukuro Station on Yurakucho Line
By car: Directly connected to the Higashiikebukuro exit/entrance of the Shuto Expressway Route 5, parking under building
Website:http://www.sunshinecity.co.jp/aquarium/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Sunshine.aquarium.official/timeline/

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