Is IKEBUKURO the new Akihabara? ✨ Tokyo, Japan

[@keithmpire]

I like Ikebukuro because it feels like a less overwhelming version of a lot of the bigger neighborhoods. The East side is like a smaller Akihabara as you mentioned, and the West side also feels like a smaller Kabukicho. You can still get a bit of the nightlife feel, but without the touts always trying to draw you in! Bonus!

[@cakeswithfaces]

That's true - it's more relaxed in that way, but still an exciting place!

[@gokaijourney2105]

I enjoyed my visit to Sunshine City about two weeks after this video was recorded. It was my first visit and I was so impressed by the number and variety of the shops. Thank you for sharing your trips (and tips!) and keep the train station noises coming!!!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Nothing as nostalgic as those train noises! 💖 I think Ikebukuro's quite under-rated! :-)

[@melissamarsh2219]

On my way to the airport now for my first trip with my son. Thanks so much for your content providing great tips!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Exciting!! Have an amazing time! And have a Fanta Grape for me! 🍇

[@ireneyeow3871]

We stayed at Prince Hotel Sunshine City this May and really enjoyed ourselves shopping in the area between Sunshine City and Ikebukuro Station. I love Japanese bookshops because I sew (and Japanese sewing books are the best), and there are two huge bookstores in the area - Junkudo just opposite the station, and Books Sanseido in the station itself. And we discovered a small bookstore in Sunshine City Mall (don't know its Japanese name) which sold eki stamp books which I couldn't find in the bigger bookstores! Thank you for introducing me to eki stamps, Amy!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Great recommendations, thank you! I hadn't heard about Japanese sewing books - dressmaking is a hobby I'd have if I had more time! Did you go to Nippori for fabric as well?

[@ireneyeow3871]

Yes, but not in this trip. I went to Nippori Fabric Town in my first Tokyo trip when my circle of sewing friends told me about it. This Ikebukuro trip I just visited Yuzawaya in one of the department stores.

[@MichWall22]

Your book arrived today, its literally perfect and going to help me so much, and such a cute postcard with it. Thank you!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thank you so much! Really happy you like it!! :-)

[@NonApplicableRecords]

Yes, Ikebukuro was fantastic. It was literally our first few days in Japan on our first trip this Easter. Your videos were an amazing source of inspiration and advice, especially for my wife before we went. We stayed in the big hotel you mentioned, the rooms were amazing as was the view! I preferred Ikebukuro to Akihabara simply because Akihabara has become SO expensive. When I compared retro gaming prices to similar stores in Kyoto for example, it was as much as 50% difference on some items! Crazy! Like you say, Super Potato in Ikebukuro seems to have people in it looking to buy, whereas the one in Akihabara was just fill of tourists wanting their photos taken! For anyone reading this who is a fan, there is also an official Evangelion store in the station somewhere.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that's so great to hear, thanks for reporting back on your adventures! Glad you liked that hotel - it's always something to have a room with a view, especially in Tokyo! 😍 We always call it the Akihabara Tax, how things are pricier there. 😂 Thanks for the tips!

[@au1k]

I went to Ikebukuro last December, and planning to go again next month! Tokyo Anime Station is also a nice place to visit around there

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that opened after I filmed this! I'll have to go there next time!

[@safakancar2343]

i live in ikebukuro for a while now and and I've been visiting japan for the past 13 years almost every year now and ikebukuro was always my place to say. i wouldnt say its the "new akihabara" or anything. its been like that for ages. its a huge neighborhood, great area with everything you need. nightlife, anime, fashion, malls, crazy amount of trains and connection and so on. its less touristy (except for the sunshine mall. its always been the classic tourist spot because of the pokemon, one piece store etc.)

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's an underrated place! As someone who lives there, in your opinion would you say the anime shops are still focussed on titles appealing to females (as much as I find that description stereotypical!) like Otome Road traditionally has been? I thought it feels like the new shops are much more generally appealing, but maybe that's just my take!

[@necococo]

Ikebukuro is underrated. I far prefer it over Akihabara, and I am not only saying that because I have a history of being fujoshi, but because I just think there's way more variety of fun things to do and see. They're still both worth checking out at least once. But especially if you are more leaning to liking BL or Joseimuke genres, Ikebukuro (Otome Road in particular) is THE place to go. It's great for people who are not interested in anime/manga too because of the nice shopping experience in places like Sunshine City, especially if you are into Japanese fashion and J-Alt Fashion (Lolita, Subculture Jirai/Ryousangata, etc), and it's not nearly as crowded as Shibuya/Harajuku or Shinjuku. Ikebukuro station is also very walkable to one of the few ethical cat cafes in Japan, Neco Republic. Highly recommend to any cat lover, as they actually help rescue cats and help get them adopted, and the space is really cozy and intimate. Also, in my trip planning Ikebukuro station has been where I could still find budget hotels around $60/night that aren't capsule/hostel, within 5 minutes from the station.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Great points! Definitely agree that it's underrated! It feels so up and coming with all the new places that have opened there over the last few years too.

[@derogatory69]

Yay! Thank you for posting this- Ikebukuro is my favorite neighborhood 😊😊

[@cakeswithfaces]

I think it's under-rated! :-)

[@newlifein360]

Recently bought Cakes with faces book on Japan its so useful in planning your trip to Japan, Love watching the videos with the tips and seeing the adventures

[@cakeswithfaces]

Aww that's so great to hear, thank you so much! ✨✨✨

[@naomigill9604]

Yay! So happy you did your Ikebukuro video ❤ AND you highlighted the hotel we are staying in ❤❤ thank you 😊

[@IKIGA]

Random question but how are the beds in the hotel? 😜 I love Ikebukuro (we stayed there this year) and our hotel was fine except for the bed. But it’s hard to know what kind of bed you’re getting when you’re booking a hotel haha

[@cakeswithfaces]

Great choice! You'll have to let me know how it is!

[@cakeswithfaces]

You can only tell by looking at reviews and seeing if anyone's complaining... but then everyone has a different preference for what's comfortable for them so it can be hard to know! :-)

[@JP_is_me]

The Mikado Game Center in Ikebukuro has my holy grail arcade machine, FZero AX. Ikebukuro was a great place to spend a day and quite underrated.

[@cakeswithfaces]

A true retro games arcade!

[@saz1241]

Ikebukuro has long been my favorite place in Tokyo, it's a really nice vibe and so many fun places!

[@cakeswithfaces]

I think it's quite under-rated!

[@ShondraLee]

when I visited in June 2024, I found that Ikebukuro was the best place to get all of my niche anime/ manga items + great clothes and accessories shopping. Akihabara is still top for anime figures specifically, however Aki seems very men centered with lots of options for maid cafes as well as dojinshi centered towards men. However, Ikebukuro is much more friendly towards non-men and great for Fujoshi!

[@cakeswithfaces]

That's a good point - other people have commented they were disappointed it's mostly figures in Akiba; Ikebukuro is better for a wider range of merch.

[@TamashiiRyu]

Spent my last few days in Japan staying in Ikebukuro as my "base of operation". I really enjoyed that district. Spent a lot of time at Taito Game Stations in the area when I needed a break from wandering around Tokyo. Clearly I missed a bunch of spots but I did go to the Pokemon Center in Sunshine City & passed through that park. Man, I miss Japan already....lol

[@cakeswithfaces]

I know that feeling!! There are some good arcades in Ikebukuro!

[@Beclu86]

A great run through some of the Ikebukuro highlights. Looking forward to riding the Ikebus some day.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's such a cute little bus! Love how it has an owl on top!

[@reefatbakht]

Hey! Thanks for your videos on Sakurajima back in the day. Because of you, I decided to travel to Japan in 2019 and I loved visiting Kagoshima and Yakushima.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah so glad you went! I was back in Kyushu earlier this year - love it there! I'd love to go to Yakushima one day - how was it?

[@Oddish08]

Ikebukuro is def my fav place to stay when in Tokyo, it's always felt like our secret spot with not too many tourists around :P Sunshine City Price Hotel also connects directly into the floor of the shopping mall so its super handy in the rainy seasons!

[@cakeswithfaces]

That's a great tip. You must be able to get all the way to the station without going outside then... if you can find the right route!

[@rillystar]

glad I caught this video. Ikebukuro has changed so much since I last went. Def will be wandering around there since I'm staying in the area for several weeks :) Thanks so much for sharing all this handy info. I had wondered what happened to the Hands building when I was looking at Google Maps (it used to be a landmark I would use to get around lol guess that's now going to be the Nitori shop)

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's a huge shop isn't it! I was surprised how much new stuff there is in Ikebukuro - and since I filmed this there's also Anime Tokyo Station, which has exhibitions, etc.

[@tealeavesread6203]

Love the video 😊 Ikebukuro is my favourite place to stay in Tokyo ~ There's always a nice atmosphere in the evenings. I went to Sunshine Aquarium last time later on (I think it close at 9pm) and you get a lovely outdoor view for sunset (depending on the time of the year). 💖

[@cakeswithfaces]

Oh that must have been lovely! Great idea!

[@AlanVByrnes]

Thanks for more helpful and fun stuff around this famous area in Tokyo too 👏👏👏 I might pay a visit and have also become interested thanks again you two 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵

[@cakeswithfaces]

There's a lot of new stuff in Ikebukuro over the last few years!

[@sarahaimwithmoore]

I visited ikebukuro in 2023, and loved the vibe of that part of Tokyo!💜 I'd love to stay there next time I go🥰

[@cakeswithfaces]

It'd be a great place to stay! The hotel prices are pretty good there too.

[@madtitan-va]

Salute to you for putting in all those steps in Chuck Taylors! 🫡

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha, I wear them pretty much every day, they're my go to! 💪

[@pumpkinhill4570]

10:40 It's the only way to describe Japanese fruit lol. Trying to explain to people who have never had it you just sound like Willie Wonka: "The strawberries taste like strawberries!!"

[@cakeswithfaces]

The sad fact is they often don't in the UK! 😂 On a mission to try more fruit now!

[@michaelludvik]

I like Ikebukuro as a place to say. Its got plenty to see (and buy) but its quieter at night and its well-placed for transport to Shinjuku/Shibuya - and Nippori if you're coming off the Keisei Skyliner

[@cakeswithfaces]

I always think it looks a bit out the way when I'm booking a hotel, but it really isn't! It'd be a great place to stay!

[@nstocks261]

I definitely preferred ikebukuru to akihabara. I felt like akihabara was just the same shops over and over again. Ikebukuru had better quality shops and more around the area to explore. My son wanted to go in the one piece shop and they gave us a ticket to come back in an hour so we went out for a walk. We saw a temple on the map which turned out to be in a cemetery which was really pretty. When we got to the temple, people were praying so we didn't go in. Someone noticed us and invited us in, gave us some green tea and showed us round. great experience. My favourite thing was that I got a great tote bag with a cat on, saying arigato gozaimasu for 100 yen. I wish I got loads more now.😂

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah that sounds like a lovely experience! Sounds like you went to Zoshigaya - a perfect contrast to the shops!

[@nstocks261]

@@cakeswithfaces I've just looked on a map, it was gokokuji temple.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@nstocks261 Great find!

[@MissiBoo]

I'm definitely going to stay there 😊 It looks like it's got a better vibe. Are there any shops that sell Studio Ghibli merch? I noticed a Tottoro sign. I'm so glad that you decided to release this video Amy, thank you 🙏🫶

[@sumehaumann3089]

There is a lovely Studio Ghibli shop inside the mall, yes. loved it ... should have shopped more :)

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, there's an official Studio Ghibli shop! It's called Donguri Kyowakoku, which means Acorn Republic! 🌰

[@helenstratigos4862]

We really enjoyed Ikebukuro! Sunshine City has many unique Japanese brands all in one spot. :) The vibes on the streets were comparable to Akihabara, and of course we love the street style! 💜

[@cakeswithfaces]

Definitely an under-rated place! :-)

[@briannotbryan3888]

Ikebukaro looks to have changed a lot in recent years. Wonder if the Pringles Chicken is still available though. 🤤

[@cakeswithfaces]

There's a lot of new stuff there! Since I filmed this, Anime Tokyo Station opened there as well, with mini exhibitions. Keep an eye on those konbini special editions, you never know what there might be!

[@hehuho890]

I would like to visit ikebukuro someday, almost did last year March but it was raining back then. Also, I heard it's lean towards shoujo so yeah 😅

[@cakeswithfaces]

There's always somewhere for next time!!

[@Sashimi_luv]

I did enjoy it!

[@cakeswithfaces]

🎶✨🌈

[@zoeyc5851]

Can't wait to go, excited to go to otome road

[@cakeswithfaces]

I'm sure you'll love it! ✨

[@JaydenKane]

Just subscribed 💯❤️🎉 hopefully im going to Japan finally next year 🙌🏼

[@cakeswithfaces]

Welcome to my channel! Where are you looking to go in Japan? :-)

[@JaydenKane]

@@cakeswithfaces Tokyo as start point and Nagoya Kyoto Osaka probally have to make a planning probably go around 2 weekss

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@JaydenKane Sounds good - all the highlights of Japan!

[@SophienLeMer]

Thank u for this 😊, i got a doubt, how common to find manga in english in there?

[@cakeswithfaces]

The vast majority is in Japanese - frustrating if you can't read Japanese as there's such an amazingly wide choice! I think it's possible to find manga in English, but you'd need to know where to look.

[@judeffr]

Did you say there is a pui pui molcar cafe??? I'm in Japan rn. I need to go 👀

[@cakeswithfaces]

Sadly it was just a pop-up. They're doing a pop-up at Mother Farm in Chiba, starting from 5th October - their Twitter's a good source of info for Pui Pui Molcar! The cutest! 💖

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

Awesome job amy

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thank you!

[@awesomeadamfrom2099]

No problem

[@markuspleu6588]

Nice video. We love Ikebukuro, especially Sunshine City. ❤ But did the Animate flagship store not open last year? We've been there last year on golden week, so it was more than full in the store.😂 A week later it was chilling empty 😎

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, it fully opened a few days after I was there! This is a video I filmed last year & never got round to editing 😅

[@ShardSpyder]

I’ve been multiple times, and what I’ll say is that it is. . . for mostly women though. All of the Mandarake, Toranoana, Lashinbag and Animate stores there had merchandise more catered to female’s interest in anime compared to the ones in Akihabara, Nakano and even Namba. I felt completely out of place there as the stores were packed with mostly women rifling through all the merchandise.

[@judeffr]

Do you think it's also good for fudanshi?

[@nineteenseventyfive6709]

@@judeffr yes, I’d say so! Lots of BL manga at Animate for example, and if you’re looking for doujinshi there’s a lot of that too (Suragaya, Lashingban, etc). To be honest, even if you’re not a woman/fudanshi, Ikebukuro is still a great place for mainstream anime merchandise, both new and secondhand. Overall I find it much more accessible and pleasant than Akihabara, which is a little too stereotypically ‘otaku’ and male-oriented for me.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes, traditionally, Otome Road was aimed at women. Do you feel like it's become slightly less oriented that way over time? It feels like the newer stores (eg Animate's new flagship and the Bandai Namco Cross Store) are much more general interest. I was never that comfortable with the "aimed at females" description, although it's true that certain genres of anime were featured more heavily in Ikebukuro.

[@ShardSpyder]

@@cakeswithfaces I definitely feel like it still is. The multitude of times I’ve been there over the years I still see the same kinds of merchandise being sold and the same type of clientele there, again mostly women. I don’t know if there was a more concerted effort to make it more all encompassing for anime fans in general over the years, but from what I can tell it certainly doesn’t feel that way. The stores were packed with girls looking through BL manga and doujin. It felt completely different than Akihabara and even Namba/DenDen Town which was much more all encompassing/male focused. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing Ikebukuro has its own vibes, but it’s a very specific vibe and you’ll definitely feel out of place if you don’t really fit that demographic of customer there. Maybe they are looking to change that image, but it definitely feels like it will take some time for it to be finally reflected.

[@MakeSureYouCleanUp]

I'm sold.

[@Omni0404]

Last year I had some time to kill before my Warner Bros Harry Potter tour and went to Ikebukuro. But by the time I made it to Sunshine City I would have only had 15 minutes to walk around. I just turned around and walked back, lmao. Not this year! I'm giving Ikebukuro the respect it deserves.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Sunshine City alone is a huge mall where you could spend hours, and then there's the rest of Ikebukuro outside too, 15 mins is way too short! 😅

[@xXNekou]

I love that banana soy milk but it was a bit hard to find, not every conbini had it :((

[@cakeswithfaces]

I'll have to look out for that one! It's always fun hunting for something in all the different conbinis!

[@sufamidan1006]

Unrelated but I’m going back to Japan with my son. I visited last year and utilised the visitjapan site, do I need to register tax free again or will my old stamp in passport be valid? Cheers. Also, I registered my son as family but can’t see his passport photo on the site, although it does say he is registered?

[@cakeswithfaces]

When you're using Visit Japan Web for the second time, the good news is you don't have to fill in the whole thing again. You're already registered, so you just need to add the details of your upcoming trip. However, I'm not sure about the tax-free shopping section; I've only filled that in once myself as my previous trip was before it was introduced. Sorry that's not very helpful! For your son's details, there's a dropdown menu somewhere with the names of your party, to see the sections for each person - it's not that user-friendly tbh!

[@joanafigueira4548]

Can we buy those games for the playstation and Nintendo and use them in Europe? They will work in a playstation/Nintendo bought in Europe? My nephew asked some Nintendo switch games but I'm afraid that they will not work in here. Thank you in advance

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes! PS4, PS5 and Switch games are region free so you can play them on non-Japanese consoles (Phil works in games so I checked with him!). I have a Japanese copy of Densha de Go on PS5 (a train-driving game!) that works fine here in the UK. They are of course all in Japanese, so it can involve some guesswork/Google Translate.

[@joanafigueira4548]

​@@cakeswithfaces thank you so much... I will buy some games for my nephew as a souvenir

[@theegocollective2695]

Is this also where Otome Road is?

[@cakeswithfaces]

Yes that's the one! I think these days, instead being aimed at women (which was kind of a strange idea anyway!), it seems much more general anime.

[@judeffr]

You just taught me this is a thing. I love joseimuke sm. Bless your soul 💖

[@nelsontan8178]

pringles flavored fried chicken 😲

[@cakeswithfaces]

I know right!! You've gotta try it...! 😂

[@orlandopotts4819]

When was this film good video

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks! It's from spring 2023 - I never got round to editing it at the time.

[@merrynpreston9446]

Ok I suggest you watch an old video of Anthony Bourdain in Japan this will show you why so many people eat the egg sando. 😂

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah is that what started it? The hype is justified tbh!

[@Bluntteh]

I got lost in sunshine city and got pissed off and left lmfao. I should've given it a fairer shot

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha, I can see how that could happen! The first time I went to Ikebukuro, I didn't know where to go and didn't like it at all!

[@coloradocolorado1527]

Was this 3 days ago?? It’s quite hot now but people wearing jackets

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's a video I filmed in 2023 and never got round to editing - in the comments last week people said they wanted to see it anyway! Japan's very hot right now - summer's lasting longer than usual this year.

[@coloradocolorado1527]

@@cakeswithfaces Ah great to know thanks!! I was asking as I am back in Tokyo on 17 October which I think it won´t be that hot so wanted to see if I should bring a lightweight jacket or something? Thanks again for your videos.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@coloradocolorado1527 If it helps, all the videos in this playlist were filmed in the first 2 weeks of October: kzbin.info/aero/PL-YXkErUfa4lHnPn_vIoMA2tOGs3WnSiN It's usually warm at the start of the month, and can be a bit humid, but cools off as the month draws on. So yes, a jacket or hoodie will be a good idea for the evenings and cooler days. Keep an eye on the forecast, as it's stayed hotter for longer so far this year.

[@coloradocolorado1527]

@@cakeswithfaces many thanks again.meill watch the links with interest.

[@MarkPuke13]

Ive been saying this aha Akihabara isnt the place it used to be

[@cakeswithfaces]

There were plans for a redevelopment of some of the buildings that looked like it'd change the atmosphere of that section completely, so it's interesting to see what will happen in the future.

[@kklchau]

Tastes like a beanie

[@cakeswithfaces]

😋😋😋

[@jamiestacie4847]

how... how have you been to japan this many times and not gotten an egg sando. by the 3rd visit you should have firm arguments with people over who has the best. the answer is 7 eleven.

[@cakeswithfaces]

I know!! 🙈 Sometimes the hype is justified, I should have believed it!!

[@18godman18]

何で冬の映像なの？

[@cakeswithfaces]

It was filmed in March 2023. (I never got round to editing it at the time!).

[@18godman18]

@@cakeswithfacesさん　そうでしたか了解です。これからも日本の良い所を紹介してください😀。Thank you.

[@towada1066]

hooray for me! ... foreign tourists don't go to Monzen-nakacho and Mitaka ! (^_^)

[@cakeswithfaces]

Only the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka! 😝

[@towada1066]

@@cakeswithfaces actually, quite a few authors lived in Mitaka, ... Dazai Osamu committed suicide there ...

[@麻婆ドン]

女性向けが多いですね。もし男性で池袋に行くとしたら女性ばかりで気まずいかもしれません…

[@OK-hl6qd]

No

[@cakeswithfaces]

Akihabara will always be the original!