10 Best Hotels in Ikebukuro, One of Japan’s Top Pop Culture Meccas

The 10 Best Hotels in Ikebukuro, One of Japan’s Top Pop Culture Meccas

1. Sunshine City Prince Hotel Ikebukuro

Sunshine City Prince Hotel is a high-rise facility within Ikebukuro's Sunshine City complex, which also contains leisure facilities such as an aquarium, a planetarium, and a shopping center. The hotel is very easy to get to as it’s the departure and arrival point for Haneda Airport limousine buses.

The hotel boasts over 1,000 rooms spread across four unique floor types: the Panorama Floors, Sunshine Floors, Concept Floors, and City Floors. The Sunshine Floors’ guestrooms sport modern Japanese interiors inspired by gorgeous cityscapes of Ikebukuro and traditional Japanese aesthetics. The high-rise hotel also offers unparalleled bird's-eye views of Tokyo, especially from the Panorama Floors (33F – 37F), which will allow you to experience a whole new side of Japan’s capital.

One of the biggest highlights of Sunshine City Prince Hotel Ikebukuro is the "IKEPRI25" Concept Floor (25F). Leaning into Ikebukuro’s image as a hotspot for geek culture, the floor is heavily inspired by manga, anime, and games, and hosts various pop culture events throughout the year.

The hotel also caters to the needs of Muslim guests with a prayer room on the 6th floor.

For those interested in a more traditional Japanese experience, there are five Japanese-style suites that can accommodate up to six people.

2. Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro

To fully enjoy your trip, you’ll need to leave your heavy luggage behind and have easy access to public transport. This is the concept behind the Metropolitan hotel chain, which operates 15 facilities in the Kanto, Tohoku, and Nagano regions, including Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro, conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station.

There are 800 guestrooms of various types at this hotel, including Japanese-Western and universal rooms. If you want to enjoy the city's night views, we recommend anything on floor 16 and above, like the luxurious Executive Room located on the Metropolitan Floor (24F), which is equipped with spacious 160-centimeter-wide beds for a restful night’s sleep.

For breakfast, you can enjoy a buffet of Japanese and Western dishes in the dining room or have a breakfast plate or a Japanese set meal delivered to your room. At Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro, you decide how to start your day. The bread and cakes come particularly recommended and make for great snacks.

3. Hotel Wing International Ikebukuro

It’s just an 8-minute walk through the downtown area outside Ikebukuro Station’s East Exit to Hotel Wing International Ikebukuro. The facility is also located a 5-minute walk from the popular Sunshine City complex. Despite this, the area around the hotel is very quiet and peaceful and the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. The reception is open 24 hours, making Hotel Wing International Ikebukuro especially recommended for solo travelers.

Walls featuring pop illustrations can be seen at the front desk and inside the building. These were painted during public performances, which is exactly what you’d expect from Ikebukuro, a city of art. The guestrooms are simple and neat, but offer a feeling of openness created by the large windows and high ceilings. What makes this hotel truly special is that it offers dog-friendly rooms for travelers reluctant to leave their furry friend behind or put them up in a pet hotel.

The breakfast buffet offers Japanese and Western dishes served in a bright and inviting dining room. Ochazuke, where tea is poured over rice with pickles and other ingredients, is one of the most popular dishes among guests who just need a quick bite of something delicious in the morning.

4. hotel hisoca ikebukuro

hotel hisoca ikebukuro opened in March 2022 as "a place where you can be yourself and feel at peace." It’s located a 2-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station’s West Exit, right next to the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre and Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park, the latter of which has an outdoor stage.

The stylish and modern rooms feature dusty color accents typical of designer hotels, as well as large bathtubs and saunas. Imagine enjoying a high-temperature dry sauna or a mild-temperature mist sauna in total privacy, allowing you to relax to the fullest and unwind after a day of traveling. The guestrooms range from twins to those that can accommodate up to six people, making this hotel ideal for families and groups.

If you choose the breakfast plan, you’ll be able to enjoy a selection of breads, soups, salads, yogurt, and more all packed into a cute basket and brought to your room at a time of your choosing. The bread comes from the hotel bakery and was created under the supervision of a famous French restaurant in Ikebukuro. If you like it crispy, use the premium toaster in your room to toast the bread to your liking.

5. Centurion Hotel Ikebukuro Station

Located a 3-minute walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station, Centurion Hotel is one of the most convenient facilities for getting around the city or shopping thanks to its proximity to large electronics retailers and comic bookstores. The chain aims to be the best place to relax and experience Japanese hospitality. The hotel furnishings exude an air of traditional "wabi-sabi" aesthetics celebrating transience and imperfections, starting from the front desk combining classic Japanese and modern designs, which is also seen throughout the rest of the facility. It is so quiet and calm that it’s hard to believe the hotel is located in the city's center right next to the downtown area! For this reason, the hotel is especially recommended for adult travelers looking for a touch of class and tranquility.

There are a total of 147 guestrooms at the hotel with a warm, inviting atmosphere that skillfully incorporates Japanese patterns into the interior design. The accommodations range from single rooms to family rooms and accessible rooms. The beds are made by Slumberland, a brand that has received a royal warrant from the British royal family, while the amenities include such items as an original shampoo that was the first Japanese product ever to be certified as eco-friendly by the global Ecocert certification organization.

Guests have until 11 am to check out, so there’s no need to rush in the morning. Before going sightseeing, don't forget to have breakfast at the family restaurant on the 2nd floor of the hotel.

6. Hotel VARKIN

A 3-minute walk along the railroad tracks from Ikebukuro Station’s North Exit will bring you to the doorstep of the striking, jet-black building of Hotel VARKIN.

The guestrooms are all doubles with a chic, modern design using black as the base color, with some also offering panoramic views of the Ikebukuro cityscape. Every room is furnished with top-quality French beds with excellent breathability for a restful night’s sleep to shake off the fatigue of travel. In addition, all accommodations provide streaming services and Jacuzzi baths with underwater lighting.

The room bathrooms use soft, mineral-rich water that moisturizes the skin and gives hair a healthy, beautiful shine. A soak in a hot soft water bath is a luxurious experience like no other, so look forward to it. Another highlight of the hotel is the room service menu featuring over 100 dishes ranging from pasta to hamburgers and much more. At Hotel VARKIN, the fun does not stop even after you return from exploring Ikebukuro.

7. the b ikebukuro

the b ikebukuro is conveniently located a 3-minute walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station. It is a cozy space that blends comfort with functionality, winning the praise of seasoned travelers from all over the world.

The guestrooms feature a simple and refreshing decor with no unnecessary bells and whistles, while such amenities as an LCD TV, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a desk, refrigerator, and hairdryer guarantee a comfortable stay, making this hotel perfect for guests who value functionality. Check-out time is until 11:00 am, which is great news for those who like to have fun at night and sleep in. International staff from China, Korea, and Nepal are ready to assist all manner of travelers, so there is no need to worry about communication issues.

For breakfast, enjoy a well-balanced menu at the Salvatore Cuomo & Bar Italian restaurant. Choose from three available dishes: a daily Japanese plate, French toast, and a salad plate.

8. Hotel Grand City

Located a 5-minute walk from the East Exit of Ikebukuro Station, Hotel Grand City offers peace and quiet in the heart of Tokyo’s busy downtown area.

Rooms vary from singles to triples and include accommodations on a safe and secure women-only floor, making the hotel perfect for groups or solo travelers. Another highlight of Grand City are the available amenities such as curling irons, foot massagers, humidifiers. All rooms also offer trendy duvet-style bedding featuring cover-wrapped comforters. This method used fewer sheets than typical bed-making styles, allowing for a more restful night’s sleep. The trendiest hotels worldwide are adopting this style, and you can experience it firsthand at Hotel Grand City.

Start the day on the right foot with a breakfast prepared by a certified vegetable sommelier chef. The morning buffet includes salads, Western dishes, Japanese dishes, bread, and desserts, which have been highly praised by the guests for their high quality.

9. Eisei Stay

The main goal of Eisei Stay is to create “an enjoyable space for everyone where time just flies by.” Located in a quiet residential area about a 7-minute walk from the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station, the hotel puts guests in the perfect place to discover the flavors of Ikebukuro by strolling through streets filled with various ethnic restaurants.

Eisei Stay is an apartment hotel that’s perfect for families and groups. Each accommodation is equipped with a kitchen, a spacious bathroom, cooking utensils such as frying pans and kitchen knives, a refrigerator, and tableware like glasses, plates, and cutlery to make you feel at home. Additionally, the rooms also feature ionizing purifiers that are most effective against various pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, and allergens floating through the air, providing a more comfortable stay for guests.

Who doesn't enjoy cooking while chatting with friends or talking about everything and nothing all through the night with those closest to you? Come discover the kind of comfort you can only find at an apartment hotel at Eisei Stay.

10. MIMARU Tokyo IKEBUKURO

MIMARU Tokyo IKEBUKURO just opened in November 2022 with a brand new concept in mind. At this facility, all the staff call themselves "travel partners" and help fans of Japan from all over the world create personal journeys by sharing various tips and other inside knowledge with them. Consulting with the staff is especially recommended for those looking for a unique experience that you won’t find in any guidebook. The hotel is located a 9-minute walk from the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station, but it will feel as if it’s just around the corner as you head through the bustling downtown area and enjoy its lively atmosphere.

Among the 107 guestrooms, you’ll find accommodations with loft beds, Japanese-style decors, and even private projectors. In addition, all rooms are equipped with ready-to-use PCs so that you can plan for the next day or take care of some work.

The kitchens feature cooking utensils, dishes, a microwave, and more, so you can cook and then enjoy your meals around a dinner table with your companions just as you would at home. Furthermore, the hotel offers separate sinks and bathrooms, which comes pretty handy if you’re staying with a large number of people. Thanks to these features, this hotel is perfect for medium to long-term stays.

Discover a World of Japanese Pop Culture Beyond Akihabara!

We hope our guide has been of some help to you. Ikebukuro is a fascinating place that offers something different depending on whether you’re exiting Ikebukuro Station’s East, West, or North Exit. Of special interest is the last one, as the area has become home to various ethnic restaurants in recent years, attracting visitors from all over. Ikebukuro may not be the biggest city center but it has so much to offer, and you can spend weeks exploring its unique charms that stand apart from, say, Shinjuku or Shibuya. But to discover them on your own, first you’re going to have to choose a hotel that’s right for you. Safe travels!

 

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