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Views & landmarks

Sunshine 60

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Sunshine 60

Views over Ikebukuro from a 1970s landmark

Sunshine 60 is a 60-story tower in Ikebukuro that was the tallest building in Asia when it opened in 1978, a status it has long since lost. Most visitors go for the observation deck near the top, which gives a wide view over northern Tokyo, including distant sightlines toward Shinjuku's towers and, on clear days, Mount Fuji. The building is part of the larger Sunshine City complex, which also holds an aquarium, a planetarium, and shopping floors, so the tower itself is really one stop within a bigger indoor destination.

Getting there

Ikebumuro Station is one of Tokyo's major rail hubs, reachable in roughly 15-20 minutes from central areas like Shinjuku or Tokyo Station by train. From Ikebukuro Station, it's about a 10-minute walk to Sunshine City, partly through underground or covered passages.

How long to spend

Allow 45 minutes to an hour for the observation deck itself. If you plan to also visit the aquarium or planetarium in Sunshine City, budget half a day for the complex as a whole.

When to go

Late afternoon into early evening lets you see the city in daylight and then watch it turn to lights after sunset, which tends to be the busiest window as a result. Weekends and school holidays bring more visitors to the whole Sunshine City complex, so a weekday visit is calmer.

Nearby

  • St. Mary's Cathedral (1.9km) is close enough to combine with a walk from Ikebukuro.
  • Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower (4.6km) and Kabukichō (4km) sit toward Shinjuku, better grouped together on a separate outing.
  • Shinjuku Gyoen (4.8km) also pairs naturally with a Shinjuku-focused day rather than being added onto Ikebukuro.

Updated September 20, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors

Tickets & tours

Admission prices and opening hours change often, so we don't list them here. Check what's on sale and at what price below — booking ahead can cut the queue at some places.

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Stays near Sunshine 60

Sorted by distance, walkable ones first. Distances are straight-line.

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Good to visit alongside

St. Mary's Cathedral

Temples & religious sites

St. Mary's Cathedral

St. Mary's Cathedral is the seat of the Archdiocese of Tokyo, located in Sekiguchi, Bunkyo Ward. Some visitors come as the spiritual center of Tokyo's Catholic community, while others arrive drawn by its striking curved concrete exterior and interior, a favorite among travelers interested in modern architecture. Rather than ornate decoration, the space is defined by contrasts of light, shadow, and curved form.

1.9 km away

Kabukichō

Shopping & districts

Kabukichō

Kabukicho is an entertainment district east of Shinjuku, packed tightly with bars, clubs, host clubs, love hotels, and restaurants. True to its nickname "the town that never sleeps," it's fun just to watch the streets light up with neon signs and crowds after dark. Shinjuku Golden Gai, a warren of tiny bars crammed into narrow alleys, also falls within Kabukicho, making it easy to explore both together.

4.0 km away

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower

Views & landmarks

Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower

This 50-story, 204-meter tower in Nishi-Shinjuku is actually an educational facility housing vocational schools for fashion, medicine, and IT. Its distinctive cocoon-shaped exterior makes it hard to miss while walking through Shinjuku's western skyscraper district; since it's a working school, the main draw is admiring and photographing its facade and night view from the street rather than going inside.

4.6 km away

Shinjuku Gyoen

Zoos & aquariums

Shinjuku Gyoen

Shinjuku Gyoen is a large park straddling the border of Shinjuku and Shibuya, once the estate of the Naito family in the Edo period, later an imperial garden, and now a national park managed by the state. With expansive lawns, ponds, and a greenhouse, it offers a pleasant place to stroll or relax in the middle of the city.

4.8 km away

Ueno Zoo

Zoos & aquariums

Ueno Zoo

Ueno Zoo, run by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, is Japan's oldest zoo, opened in 1882. Located within Ueno Park in Tokyo's Taito ward, it's a popular spot for families thanks to close-up views of pandas and many other animals.

5.0 km away

Jinbōchō

Shopping & districts

Jinbōchō

Jimbocho is a neighborhood packed with old secondhand bookshops, publishers, and antique stores. Dozens of used bookshops line a single street, making it a place better suited to browsing shelf by shelf than hunting for one specific title. Many specialty stores dealing in art books, out-of-print paperbacks, old magazines and maps, and prints make it especially appealing to book lovers and collectors.

5.1 km away